374
edits
Changes
→Highlights of 2013
==Highlights of 2014==
The year of 2014 brought a rebuilding year to the history of Epsilon Phi chapter. Not only did we rebuild our chapter sisterhood by achieving our goals, but we also rebuilt our home by adding on an extension. We are proud to say that we successfully added on a $1.7 million 5,000 square foot addition to our chapter house before the 2014 Recruitment process started. We are thrilled to welcome our Fall 2014 new member class into Epsilon Phi. We were shocked to receive such a large new member class, consisting of 90 girls. These new members are a group of promising girls who are already representing our chapter in the best way possible by becoming involved in the chapter, and on campus.
We also rebuilt our sisterhood by creating more opportunities for our sisters to learn more about our campus, the Greek governing body, and our chapter's philanthropy. Every Monday during chapter, we would inform our sisters on any and all opportunities for them to flourish, such as applications, service opportunities, and fun events. We improved education of our chapter by providing informational sessions during the New Member period to explain the system and develop more support for the Panhellenic community.
Epsilon Phi even improved education of our chapter by encouraging our sisters to study more. Each year, our academics are continuing to improve. For Spring 2013, our chapter GPA was 3.42. By Spring 2014, our chapter GPA was an amazing 3.51. You can see how hard we worked on academics in 2014 by comparing our GPA with the 3.47 average GPA for all sororities on campus. We worked extremely to have our girls focus on academics above all. We hold weekly study hours and make challenges such as Geek of the Week and Smarty Pants. In these challenges, girls can earn prizes to encourage academic achievement. We even have plans to re-design our study room to make it more useful for our chapter.
We even raised awareness of our philanthropy by having our Philanthropy Chair explain Kappa Kasino and Reading Is Fundamental more thoroughly throughout the semester with reminders and fun facts. In 2014, we raised $1,000 dollars and collected over 300 books for RIF through Kappa Kasino and our book drives. We participated in Dance Marathon again, the largest philanthropy on campus where you stand for 26.2 hours in place of kids that can't. We raised about $26,000 as a chapter, and we are hoping to increase that amount in the upcoming years. All of our sisters participated by giving donations, holding staff positions, or dancing in the event. Even though we all worked together to raise all of this money for these philanthropies, we faced a serious challenge on philanthropy and chapter involvement overall. Our sisters are extremely busy and have many commitments outside of Kappa. We understand this, but continue to push involvement in our chapter, on campus, and in the community as well. We have created more chair positions under our executive board and positions on committees so that more girls can become active in the improvement and functioning of our chapter. We highly encourage girls to come out to all the Kappa events, especially the philanthropies we participate in. We try to give the girls a greater notice of when events are coming up, and more information about them, so that girls will be more likely to attend. By the end of 2014, more of our chapter was participating in Kappa events, which positively increased our exposure to the Greek and University of Florida community. Throughout 2014, we worked on having our chapter become more involved, and our chapter is thriving because of it. Even through all the challenges we faced, our chapter has remained strong. We continue to persevere and work together to improve Epsilon Phi. We are all thankful for the help of our wonderful advisors, who guide us through difficult times. By overcoming the obstacles we encounter, Epsilon Phi has become and maintained a chapter of positive, ethical principals with members who will always be womanly and true.
Our goal of increasing campus involvement throughout 2014 is clearly seen. Kappa’s further enhanced our campus presence by becoming involved in the following organizations: Florida Cicerones, CRU, Doulos, Navigators, Panhellenic Executive Council, Junior Panhellenic Council, University of Florida Women’s Crew Team, UF Synchronized Swimming Team, UF Water Polo Team, Dean’s List, Teaching Assistants, Florida Bright Futures Scholars, Women’s Student Association, Florida Equestrian Team, ACCENT, AWARE, FLA, AMSA, UF Women’s Chorale, Model UN, College Youth in Government, Volunteering at Shands Hospital Campus Diplomats, Warrington College of Business Diplomats, Dance Marathon, Floridance, Danza, Student Government Senate, Action Student Government, Gators March for Babies, honor societies, and many more. In addition to these extracurricular accomplishments, Epsilon Phi earned a 3.51 grade point average in the spring of 2014, which ranks fourth among all sixteen Panhellenic chapters.
Epsilon Phi participated in the following campus-wide Greek Philanthropies:
Sigma Lambda Beta Stroll Off, Beta Theta Pi-“Beta Bring It On”, Pi Kappa Phi Rose Queen Pageant, Alpha Tau Omega Red, White, and Pull, Pi Lambda Phi Powderpuff, Phi Kappa Tau Safe Sets, Delta Zeta Turtle Tug, Alpha Epsilon Pi Bake-Off, Delta Chi Earthball, Delta Tau Delta Miss Greek, Phi Delta Fever, Theta Chi Kickball, Alpha Tau Omega Build a Better Bear, Alpha Gamma Rho Buck Off, Phi Sig Spike, Delta Zeta Clay Classic, PIKE Halftime, Phi Tau Safe Sets, KA American Gladiator
Chapter:
Chapter Goals 2014:
-Improve committee involvement
-Improve the chapter's understanding of Epsilon Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma history
-Improve the knowledge of our campus Greek governing body
-Create information sessions during the New Member Period
-Improve our understanding of the Standards policies
-Improve our home by creating an interior decorating committee
-Create a positive and lasting experience for all members during Recruitment
-Increase morale and enthusiasm to do service for others
-Raise awareness of our philanthropy
-Improve our graciousness to each other and guests through sisterhood events
-Improve chapter image, both internally and externally
Chapter Philanthropies: Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon, Kappa Kasino benefitting Reading is Fundamental, and All Greek Service Day.
Socials: Alpha Gamma Rho PinUps and PushUps, Pi Kappa Phi What Happens In Sochi, Pi Kappa Phi 90s, Phi Tau Jurassic Park After Dark, AGR Margaritaville
Date Functions: Be My Date Grab-a-Date, Halloween Horror Nights
Dinner Events: Tau Epsilon Phi Exchange dinner, Alpha Tau Omega Exchange dinner, Chi Phi Exchange Dinner, FIJI exchange dinner, Lambda Chi Exchange dinner,
Events With Sister Chapters: Delta Gamma exchange dinner, Alpha Omicron Pi Valentines FTK, Chi Omega Yoga Class, Kappa Alpha Theta Cookie Decorating, Yoga with Kappa Delta
Other events: Ghouls, Goblins, and Greeks, New Member Lip Sync with Kappa Sigma, Homecoming Pageant, Kickboxing sisterhood event, Valentine’s Day Sisterhood event, Kappa Kafe Registration Party sisterhood event, New Member retreat Rock-climbing, Dads Weekend, New Member retreat to Crescent Beach, Family Weekend, Founders Day/Ribbon Cutting, Homecoming with Kappa Sigma, Kappa Kafe Registration Party sisterhood event, The Best of Me Sisterhood Event, Disneyworld Sisterhood Trip, Professor Dinner, Kappa Kappa Gatsby Semi Formal
Chapter Honors:
ATO Red White & Pull 4th place
Phi Tau Safe Sets 3rd place
Greek Water Challenge 2nd Place
AEPi Bake-Off 1st Place
Won $1000 from the Pepsi Challenge for RIF
Delt Miss Greek Top Fundraiser
4th highest GPA for the semester
3rd KA American Gladiator
3rd ATO Build a Better Bear
Outstanding Anti-Hazing Initiative Florida Greek Award
Individual Accomplishments:
• Valerie Crum- President of the Journalism College Council
• Emily Dennis- Student Program Assistant at UF Levin College of Law, Intern at Williams and Co. Events/Gainesville Fashion Week, Intern at Visit Gainesville, Linda “Dr. T” Thornton Scholarship award recipient
• Anna Dosev- Debutante for the Pensacola Charity Cotillian Ball
• Kathryn Dowling- Assistant Director of Panhellenic Service, Member of Jr. Pan Service Committee, Selected Outstanding Member in Service
• Sarah Falls- UF Anderson Scholar with High Distinction, Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation Scholarship, UF Housing and Residence Education Peer Mentor, Teaching Assistant, Employee of the Month at Cracker Barrel
• Kristin Fields- Customer Service Specialist at College Manor Apartments, Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, Florida Rural Rehabilitation Scholarship
• Meghan Hettenbach- St. Francis House Homeless Shelter Volunteer, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Student Occupational Therapy Association, Volunteer at Achieve Pediatric Therapy
• Marissa Kappus- Assistant Director of Leadership Development, Director of Freshman Leadership, Assistant Director of Scholarship on Panhellenic, Campus Representative for Headbands of Hope, Volunteered with Color Run
• Francesca Leeds- SAILE
• Kaitlyn Mamak- UFCC Fundraiser Chair
• Meghan Mapes- Floridance Dance Company Member
• Bridget Parr- Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Internship with Hartfield Insurance
• Meg Rivera- Florida Leadership Academy, Warrington Welcome Peer Leader
• Jaclyn Ryan- Internship with UF's Social Media Division, Paid Internship with GE Foundation, Doulos PR Leadership, Kappa's PR Twitter Chairperson
• Delaney Sagul- Girl Scout Gold Award
• Carly Salomon- Nova Southeastern
• Rachael Schaaf- Lee County Panhellenic Alumnae Association Scholarship, Helen Cashatt Drais Memorial Scholarship, St. Francis House Homeless Shelter Volunteer, HerCampus UFL Blog Editor, CLAS Dean's List and Anderson Scholar, Kappa Vice President of Oraganization, UF English Department Lipsky Scholarship
• Angela Sengupta- CLAS Dean's List, Started LLTGators as Secretary
• Brittany Stolzenberg- Florida Blue Key, Director of Sales for Gator Growl and UF Homecoming
• Catie Switalski- Internship with two NPR affiliate public radio stations
• Sarah Vititoe- Studied abroad in the Dominica Republic, Volunteered in the Clinica del Primer Nivel, Volunteered at Shands, Laboratory Assistant, Extreme Dance Company, Project Mascot Mentor, CLAS Dean's List, Junior Pan Committee of Philanthropic Events
• Amanda Wald- Macy's Store Management Internship, Macy's EDP Program
• Olivia Warren- Debutante for the Pensacola Charity Cotillian Ball
In Epsilon Phi, we hold chapter meetings in our new addition to the house. The new addition is an extended space to our dining room. In between the dining room and the chapter room, we have a privacy wall that can be closed off, or opened for even more room. Because the chapter room is inside of our house, the chapter room is owned. Our house is on the University of Florida Campus, but it is owned by our house board which is run by volunteer Kappa Alumni who come from all over the state of Florida to run our house board.
Currently, we have a chapter house that houses 52 girls. Before our renovation last year, the house could only hold 40 girls. Our new addition added not only 6 extra bedrooms, but also an extended dining room area, designated chapter room, additional bathroom, and a second laundry room. The funds for the addition came from every active member from the past and present. This is the third renovation of our Epsilon Phi chapter home since we purchased it in the mid-1980's. We needed the addition to the house to accommodate the growing presence we have at the University of Florida with over 200 members.
==Highlights of the 2020s==
