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Highlights of 2018
[[File:Epsilon Kappa Chapter Room.png|thumb|Epsilon Kappa's Chapter Room 2017]]
==Highlights of 2018==
'''Chapter and School Timeline'''
Chapter Council meetings at 5pm on Sundays
Chapter meetings at 7pm on Sundays
Standards meetings at 7pm on Mondays
House Board meetings one Tuesday per month
1/16/18 – first day of class
1/28/18 – sisterhood chair, t-shirt chair, banner chair, outreach chair, percent night chair, and philanthropy public relations chair announced
2/4/18 – new member assistants announced
2/11/18 – committees announced
2/18/18 – Epsilon Kappa’s founders’ day
2/25/28 – new member recruitment workshop
3/4/18 – Daily Gamecock announces KKG as USC’s best sorority
3/10/18 to 3/18/18 – spring break
3/21/18 to 3/23/18 – inspiration period
3/25/18 – new member recruitment workshop
4/22/18 – chapter-wide recruitment workshop
4/27/18 – philanthropy hours due
4/29/18 – makeup recruitment workshop
4/30/18 – last day of class
4/30/18 nominating committee chair elected
5/1/18 – reading day
5/2/18 to 5/9/18 – final exams
5/11/18 – payment application plan due
5/11/18 – status applications due
5/11/18 to 5/12/18 – Spring Commencement
8/6/18 – House live-in girls and Chapter Council move-in
8/8/18 to 8/15/18 – recruitment workshop
8/16/18 – 8/17/18 – round 1 of formal recruitment
8/18/18 – 8/19/18 – round 2 of formal recruitment
8/20/18 – 8/22/18 – round 3 of formal recruitment
8/22/18 – new student convocation
8/23/18 – first day of class
8/25/18 – preference round of formal recruitment
8/26/18 – Bid Day
8/28/18 – new member pinning
8/29/18 – makeup new member pinning
9/4/18 – 10/9/18 – new member meetings held on Tuesdays of this period
9/7/18 – new member retreat
9/9/18 – event assistant, percent night chair, outreach chair, and philanthropy public relations chair announced
9/16/18 – initiation review
9/17/18 – fireside review
9/18/18 – initiation review
9/19/18 – initiation review
9/23/18 – committees announced, homecoming and dance chairs announced
9/24/18 – initiation and fireside review
9/25/18 – fireside review
9/26/18 – initiation review
9/30/18 – initiation review
10/1/18 – initiation and fireside review
10/3/18 – initiation review
10/5/18 – 10/7/18 – parent’s weekend
10/7/18 – nominating committee elected
10/7/18 – initiation and fireside review
10/8/18 – initiation review
10/9/18 – big little reveal
10/10/18 to 10/12/18 – composite pictures taken
10/12/18 – fireside
10/13/18 – initiation
10/14/18 – individual slate and preference forms due
10/14/18 – initiation brunch
10/18/18 to 10/21/18 – fall break
11/4/18 – formal chapter ritual review
11/4/18 – presidency bylaw voted on
11/6/18 – no class because of general elections
11/11/18 – slate presented
11/18/18 – chapter elections
11/21/18 to 11/25/18 – thanksgiving break
11/26/18 to 11/30/18 – big appreciation week
11/26/18 – house contracts are submitted
11/27/18 – makeup composite pictures are taken
12/1/18 – status applications due
12/2/18 – leadership day for new officers
12/2/18 – installation of new officers
12/7/18 – last day of class
12/10/18 to 12/17/18 – finals exams
'''Special Events'''
• 2/11/18 – Behind Happy Faces programming seminar - All freshmen and sophomore members attended this seminar focusing on how to deal with mental illness and how to help sisters struggling with it.
• 2/14/18 – 50 Shades of Grey premier sisterhood event
• 2/22/18 – Good Will Hunting function
• 3/28/18 – Sweet Tea with KKG
• 3/29/18 – Glow with the Flow function
• 4/8/18 – senior sisterhood event: Senior Tea
• 4/9/18 to 4/13/18 – Greek Week - Kappa was partnered with Theta Chi and Iota Phi Alpha, Main events of the week were a social media competition, a blood drive, Night at Strom, MGC Cultural Food Fest, Greek Life Through the Ages presentation, and Greek Sing (a dance and lip-singing competition between the teams), Kappa won a Delta Zeta social media challenge with Pelican’s so $100 was donated to RIF
• 4/11/18 – senior sisterhood event: Mad Platter
• 4/13/18 – strawberry picking sisterhood event
• 4/14/18 – formal
• 4/19/18 – Fireflies baseball game sisterhood event
• 4/30/18 – Pelicans Snowballs and Sweat Cycle class exam breaker
• 5/1/18 – Cool Beans tab exam breaker
• 5/2/18 – exam goody bags and Insomnia cookies exam breaker
• 5/3/18 – Starbucks exam breaker
• 5/4/18 – piñata exam breaker
• 9/14/18 – Kant Be Tamed function
• 9/30/18 – pumpkin patch sisterhood event
• 10/4/18 – t-shirt swap sisterhood event
• 10/5/18 – Parent’s Cocktail - During Parent’s Weekend, all families were invited to a social event that included dinner, dancing, and conversations.
• 10/7/18 – parent house tour - During Parent’s Weekend, all families were invited to the house for a presentation on what it means to be in a sorority, information on what dues are spent on, and to explore the rooms of the house.
• 10/10/18 – movie night with insomnia sisterhood event
• 10/11/18 – roller skating sisterhood event
• 10/21/18-10/27/18 – homecoming week, Kappa was partnered with Delta Kappa Epsilon, Main events of the week were the Kickoff Carnival, Spurs and Struts (a dance competition between homecoming teams), Color your Carolina (a banner competition), Breakfast with a Side of Trivia, a Talent Show, Cocky’s Canned Creations (each team built a display with food cans they had previously donated), the Stroll Off, and a parade of another display.
• 11/2/18 – Backwoods function
• 11/5/18 – Kappa Kappaccino
• 11/8/18 – Barre3 sisterhood event
• 11/29/18 – senior sisterhood event: Mad Platter
• 11/30/18 – semi formal
• 12/7/18 – holiday mixer with Sigma Phi Epsilon
''' Academics'''
In the Spring of 2018, our chapter’s grade point average was a 3.54 and we were ranked 5th out of the Panhellenic community. Gifts are awarded to each member to achieves a 4.0 for the semester. In the Spring of 2018, there were 67 4.0s. Each week at chapter, members are awarded “Geek of the Week” for outstanding test scores, and each receives a gift card. This Fall, the number of members who could receive “Geek of the Week” per week was raised from one to five. This Fall, we added “Study Sundays” every Sunday from 12-4, where study sessions are held at the house with snacks. Members willing to tutor fill out a form with their specialties so that members in need of tutoring can be matched with a helpful sister. We have organized an EK google drive including teacher and class recommendations as well as other academic resources. We also have an EK Chegg account to help members learn class material. This Fall we created a PowerPoint listing every member’s major so sisters know who to seek out for help and who to take classes with. In the Spring, we host “Sweet Tea with KKG” and in the Fall, we host “Kappa Kappaccino” where members are encouraged to invite professors to the house for tea/coffee and snacks.
'''Honors and Awards'''
The Daily Gamecock, the school newspaper, voted Kappa as the “Best Sorority on Campus." At formal each year, four awards are given to Kappa members. Three new member awards are given – the “Owl Award” was given to Rachyl Jones for being “wise beyond her years,” the “Key Award” was given to Katie Denson for being “sisterly,” and the “Fleur-de-lis Award” was given to Erynne Rasheed for being “true blue.” The “Woman of the Year Award” was given to Beth Poche for her outstanding role as president.
'''Programs'''
At Kappa Convention, Epsilon Kappa was awarded honorable mention in Panhellenic involvement. Leadership academy was attended by Lauren Haisfield. Convention was attended by Lulu Hawken, Katherine Meuse, and Ali Geary. One new member attended the New Member Experience Conference with USC’s Fraternity and Sorority Leadership
'''Traditions'''
Each chapter, one member who we call Lady Minerva stands up and reads a heartfelt letter to a sister that has played an important role in her life. The sister who is the subject of the letter then becomes the new Lady Minerva and reads a letter to a different sister at the next chapter. Each week, members can nominate each other for “Supportive Sister” and they are announced at chapter. At each chapter, “Geeks of the Week” are awarded gift cards for their academic achievements. Each month, the Recording Secretary sends a newsletter to active members, parents, and alumni with chapter updates and upcoming events. During each inspiration period, the chapter engages in a game of "I-ssasins,” where members split up into teams and play a game of campus-wide manhunt. A new-member sleepover is held the night before initiation and seniors come to bond with the new pledge class. At the end of the schoolyear, seniors are awarded with superlative sashes to highlight their best qualities. At the end of the schoolyear, senior wills are read highlighting funny stories and the members’ favorite memories in Kappa.
'''Campus'''
Unfortunately, USC was impacted by two more hurricanes this year. Hurricane Florence was a serious threat to South Carolina and the campus was closed from the afternoon of September 11th through the 14th. Luckily, it did not hit Columbia as hard as expected. Later in the year, Hurricane Michael closed the campus on October 11th, but the city recovered quickly. The Panhellenic community discussed the possibility of adding a 14th sorority to campus, and while Kappa voted for the change, it did not pass the 2/3 vote from other sororities. Going on inside the chapter, two bylaws were changed this year. One bylaw created a GPA minimum for mandatory Period of Concern. That minimum was set at a 2.7. The other bylaw addressed presidency, making it so that any Sophomore or Junior in good standing could be president, taking out the clause of previous chapter council experience.
'''Philanthropy'''
The Kappa Kappa Gamma foundation is important to us because part of being in a sorority is understanding how expansive the organization is and how Kappa is still there after graduation. We are proud to give back to the Kappa community especially after everything Kappa has given us. All of the money made from percent nights goes to this organization.
We also support Kappa’s national philanthropy, RIF. We are lucky enough to have a direct impact on our surrounding community on top of raising money. Through Literacy is Key and Cocky’s Reading Express, we visit kids at local elementary schools, give them books (for some of them, this is the first book they can call their own), and do crafts with them. The money from our Spring and Fall philanthropy events goes directly to RIF. It is so important that children are not only given the resources to learn but are encouraged to learn as well. We love encouraging the education of children in our local community.
Lastly, we are honored to be chosen to participate in Girls’ Academy. We fundraised for this event by spreading the word on our campus’ busiest street and by sending letters to our family and friends. We have now raised all of the money and are so excited for our event coming up in the Spring. Girls’ Academy is important to us because we have all been at that age where it is so easy to lose confidence in yourself. As strong college women, it is important to be there for girls who are going through the socially challenging times of middle school.
• 1/29/18 - Chipotle percent night - $136.70 was raised
• 2/5/18 to 2/28/18 – book drive battle with Pi Beta Phi
• 2/9/18 – Literacy is Key event
• 3/26/18 – Southern Belly % percent night - $17.96 was raised
• 3/20/18 – Literacy is Key event
• Barefoot percent night - $16.54 was raised
• 3/24/18 – Spring philanthropy event: Kappa Kar Wash - At Kappa Kar Wash, members washed cars in the community for donations to RIF, $1,360 was raised
• 10/2/18 – Fall philanthropy event: Singo - At Singo, the community bought tickets to engage in a game of bingo with music, $2,208.56 was raised
• 10/16/18 – Entourage percent day
• 10/26/18 – Freaky Friday Halloween Carnival at Satchel Ford Elementary School
• 10/29/18 – Chipotle percent night, $262.47 was raised
'''Community events'''
Kappa members are very engaged with the Panhellenic and USC community. These are the events which members participated in.
• 2/13/18 – Delta Zeta’s Sweet Caroline bone marrow drive
• 2/21/18 – Alpha Chi Omega’s Alpha Male pageant
• 3/3/18 – Dance Marathon - The Kappa team had 94 members and raised $19,813 to the total amount of $1,025,171
• 3/20/18 – Kappa Delta’s roller-skating event
• 3/22/18 – Kappa Delta’s philanthropy concert
• 3/25/18 – Zeta Tau Alpha’s Think Pink 5k
• 4/13/18 – Relay for Life, The Kappa team had 25 members and we raised $5,000
• 4/21/18 – Gamma Phi’s Moonball
• 4/21/18 – Delta Zeta’s Bark-BQ
• 4/22/18 – Alpha Delta Pi’s Kicking it for the Kids event
• 4/24/18 – Pi Chi roll call, 13 Kappas served as Pi Chis, helping potential new members find their home in a sorority.
• 4/29/18 – Phi Mu’s Hailey Bordeaux Memorial Brunch
• 9/19/18 – Circle of Sisterhood’s t-shirt drive
• 9/24/18 to 9/28/18 – hazing prevention week, This week, Kappa was paired with Theta Chi and partook in a social media challenge to raise awareness for hazing. There was also a banner competition between the sororities and we placed 3rd.
• 9/27/18 – Phi Mu’s Bonnamu
• 10/3/18 – Alpha Chi Omega’s paint war
• 10/4/18 – Pi Beta Phi’s Burgers and Phries
• 10/28/18 – Delta Zeta’s Turtle Trot
• 10/30/18 – Trick or Treat with the Greeks, At this event, families trick-or-treated in Greek Village and Kappa members gave out candy on the front porch.
• 11/3/18 – Delta Delta Delta’s Gameday event
• 11/5/18 – Zeta Tau Alpha’s Big Man on Campus
• 11/10/18 – Alpha Gamma Delta’s Give Thanks with Alpha Gam event
• 11/10/18 – Alpha Xi Delta’s day of service
• 11/15/18 – Chi Omega’s Cookoff
• 11/16/18 – Gamma Phi Beta’s G-Live at B-Live
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'''Note to Chapter Registrar:'''