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→Highlights of 2015
Why did your chapter choose this organization(s) to support? Reading is Fundamental is Kappa’s nationwide philanthropy so, as a chapter, we have contributed to raising money for it. There are many under privileged elementary schools in our community and we believe in the power of books as an opportunity. Many of our members have little sibs, tutor at elementary and middle schools, and volunteer all over Charlottesville. As a whole we have seen the need for helping to educate fellow members of our community and increase literacy. As mentioned above, this year we read books to kids in the children’s hospital and gave them all a free book, which I know mutually impacted them and us alike.
==Highlights 2016==
NOTE: The time period covered by this report is Jan. 1, 2016 through Dec. 15, 2016.
Summary:
Information about the previous calendar year, scholarship, group honors/awards, Convention awards, traditions, special events, philanthropic involvement, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, or world/local events that you participated in or helped with (e.g., presidential campaigns, natural disasters, etc.).
Kappa started the year with a very exciting and successful recruitment! We welcomed a wonderful new pledge class to the sorority at the end of recruitment. To make them feel comfortable and at home in the Epsilon Sigma chapter, we had many bonding events in the following weeks, encouraging new members to meet each other and older girls in the sorority. One highlight was the bonding retreat for the new pledge class at Jump Cville, an indoor trampoline park. To ensure the older members got to know the new pledge class, we set up a spreadsheet pairing two upperclassmen to be paired with two new members for a dinner or fun activity. In April, the new members were officially initiated into the Epsilon Sigma chapters. Following ritual we had a wonderful breakfast where moms and other family members also congratulated the new members. Our chapter also hosted the RESPONSEibility workshop open to the entire Greek community in the spring.
As the spring semester concluded, our fourth years walked the lawn for graduation, moving on to exciting jobs in Washington DC, New York, and other various new places. Annie Clark received the Ray of Light Award, which is awarded a student whose “radiant character has left an enduring mark on the University community through his or her consistent optimism, selflessness and humility.” Another fourth year, Grace Muth, received a Fullbright Scholarship!
Throughout the past year, our Education Chairman, Katie Wright organized informative and fun FOAs for chapter. Some of these include a One Love workshop, information about health and wellness, starting a small business and Excel training. Academically, the Epsilon Sigma chapter had a great year. Five third years were accepted into the UVa McIntire School of Commerce, and two third years were accepted into the UVAFrank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Olivia Lebeau studied for the MCAT and earned a 98th percentile on the exam. In the spring several members earned GPA of 4.0. Ellie Sohm conducted research in the Faulkner archives and was awarded a prize by the Center for Faulkner Studies in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Various members of Kappa have also participated in research involving history, biology and psychology. Throughout the past two semesters, the Vice President of Academic Excellence, Olivia Lebeau has encouraged hard work and studying with our study nights held on Wednesdays in Kappa. At the end of the spring semester we rose in academic sorority ranking. To gather our knowledge and advice about difficult classes, we continued to update a spreadsheet about classes and recommendation for doing well in them. In the spring semester, we were able to rise in the overall rank of UVa sororities academics to number 4 out 16.
We have also welcomed our new house mom, Mary, to the Epsilon Sigma chapter. She has been a wonderful addition, supportive of our studies and helpful in so many ways. Mary has been a great person to see in the house every day, if only to have a conversation over lunch. She has already been making improvements to our home, and she has provided the cookies and snacks that help us survive finals season. We are so thankful for a caring house mom and have appreciated all her hard work this semester.
This fall one of the favorite sisterhood events was our evening at Carter’s Mountain apple orchard, enjoying apple donuts and a beautiful sunset. Close to Halloween, our Vice President of Standards, Avery Portland, also organized a sisterhood event to carve pumpkins and decorate Halloween cookies.
To promote bonding within Kappa families, we held an instagram contest with a prize for the best family photo. Close to Thanksgiving, each family contributed one dish for our Kappa Thanksgiving dinner sisterhood event. Our Founder’s Day celebration was a success this fall. We had finger food and refreshments while mingling with members of the Charlottesville Alumni Association at a UVA garden off of the lawn. We had a great turnout and were able to properly celebrate the founding of Kappa!
As the house geared up for a new, creative philanthropy, the members living in the house helped decorate for the holidays. Girls worked together to hang festive lights and banners to advertise our philanthropy, Kappasta, and to celebrate the holiday season. It made the house more festive and cheerful before the upcoming weeks of difficult studying and daunting exams. We have had such a productive and amazing 2016, and I know all our members are so excited to see what our next semester holds!
==Highlights of 2020s:==
