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Epsilon Sigma
EΣ
Founded	October 23, 1976 (1976-10-23) (47 years ago)
College	University of Virginia
Location	Charlottesville, VA
Homepage	Epsilon Sigma Homepage
Media related to Epsilon Sigma Chapter

University of Virginia, founded in 1825 in Charlottesville, Virginia

Epsilon Sigma founded October 23, 1976 with 43 charter members - 10 Charter Members

1,292 initiates (as of June 2013)

Charter Members: Robbin Atkinson, Andrea Barton, Joann Barton, Sharon Biache, Mary Bodie, Elizabeth Bracken, Mary Brown, Carol Burins, Joanne Canoles, Kimberly Christy, Carol Close, Katherine Cole, Katherine Duguid, Julia Etheridge, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Sheryl Gibson, Charlyn Hall, Mary Holahan

Some of Epsilon Sigma’s Outstanding Alumnae (If you have chapter alumnae who have received recognition in any of these three categories, please list them with the date(s) of recognition.)

Fraternity Officers:

Elizabeth Meyer, Chapter Consultant 1978-1980; Talby Hardy (Brennan), Field Secretary 1980-1982

Fraternity Loyalty Award Recipient:

Fraternity Alumnae Achievement Award Recipients: Beth Meyer, 2014, landscape architecture, architectural history and historic preservation

Chapter Awards:

1980 - Cultural Program

Additional Outstanding Epsilon Sigma Alumnae

The University of Virginia

Chartered in 1819 by the General Assembly under the sponsorship of Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia still bears the imprint of its founder. Jefferson designed the buildings and campus, gathered the faculty and shaped the organization. The university was the most liberal institution of learning of its time, with curriculum totally elective, no religious tests of practices, faculty all equals, and students under the honor system. Many of the ideas of administration and curriculum that dominate American universities today were anticipated by Jefferson.

The university opened to instruction in 1825, in the beautiful and traditional setting of Charlottesville with grounds occupying more than 1,500 acres of historical interest in Blue Ridge Mountain country. The Rotunda and its attached colonnades of student rooms interspersed with Federal style two-storied “pavilions” housing administrative officials front on the “lawn” and form the central focus of the campus. Small public gardens behind the residences, separated by serpentine brick walls and an outer row of student rooms on the “range” complete the setting.

Installation of Epsilon Sigma Chapter

Epsilon Sigma was installed on October 23, 1976, when 43 new members were initiated at the University of Virginia.

The installation headquarters for the weekend was the Boar’s Head Inn, Ednam Forest, Charlottesville, and it was a gracious old Virginia setting providing rooms and dining facilities. Friday evening service was held at the beautiful home of an alumna, with a large living room and double fireplaces. Following the service, the Charlottesville alumnae gave an informal reception serving coffee, punch and cookies to all attending (about 120). This was the first chance that many had to make friends with the new members and to meet the actives and alumnae attending and assisting with the weekend events.

The Westminister Presbyterian Church offered perfect accommodations on Saturday for Installation. Installing officers were Jean Hess Wells, Georgia, Fraternity President; Jane Lindsay Koke, Denison, Treasurer and Sally Moore Nitschke, Ohio State, Director of Membership.

The reception before Saturday evening’s banquet was held around an open fire at one end of the large banquet hall of Boar’s Head Inn, which easily accommodated the 158 guests attending. Flowers and candlelight gave a special atmosphere to the evening. Banquet chairman. Dale Brubeck, William & Mary, was a dynamic speaker for the evening; The William & Mary President offered a toast to the new chapter, and the Epsilon Sigma President responded. The President of the Charlottesville Alumnae greeted all with enthusiastic welcome. An award badge formerly belonging to an alumna was presented to the Fraternity President for presentation to the new chapter’s President.

A formal reception was held on a rainy Sunday afternoon at the old Alumni Hall on campus. With fire in the fireplace, the new Epsilon Sigmas and Fraternity officers met campus officials, Greek representatives, friends of the chapter, and many parents who had traveled from as far away as Connecticut to add their welcome to their daughter’s new chapter. Approximately 250 people attended. A model chapter meeting followed by a formal pledging ceremony for 10 new members completed the festivities.

Other notable Kappas attending this important weekend for Lambda Province included Fran Alexander, DePauw, former Fraternity President; former Province Directors Ann Harter, Syracuse; Jesse Kirk, North Dakota State; Ellen Lawther, Maryland; Louise Wise, Illinois; Martha Flatt, Cincinnati; Polly Beall, George Washington; Field Secretaries Mary Flo Squires (Ridley), SMU, and Jan Harenberg (Stockhoff), New Mexico; Editor of The Key, Diane Selby, Ohio State; and Director of Communication for Fraternity Headquarters, Jean Elin, Ohio State.

Campus Life in the 1970s

Student population at the time of Epsilon Sigma’s founding was more than 14,000 with teacher population around 1,500. Prior to 1970, female students were admitted only at the graduate and professional level. By 1974, 41 percent of the student population was female. These women were entering a strong fraternity system, with 35 chartered fraternities. As the enrollment of women increased, the desire among women to form their own Greek-letter groups grew. National Panhellenic Conference groups already on campus in 1976 included Zeta Tau Alpha, Delta Delta Delta, Gamma Phi Beta and Kappa Alpha Theta. Epsilon Sigma Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma was the fifth national women’s fraternity to be installed at the University of Virginia.

Sorority life was not, however, new to Epsilon Sigma. By the time of Installation, the members had already existed as a group for a year and a half. The university required that any sorority or fraternity must exist for a year as a local before it could petition a national. In April of 1975, seven young women had formed the local sorority Kappa Gamma, with the obvious intent of petitioning Kappa Kappa Gamma for a charter at the end of our year as a local.

During this year and a half, the Kappa Gammas set traditions, planned community service projects and joined in campus activities including a clothing drive for a mental hospital and participation in the first Sigma Chi Derby Days. The group participated strongly in the InterSorority Council, helping to coordinate and execute the first formal rush on campus. Kappa Gammas were on the university field hockey and women’s lacrosse teams, worked on both of the university newspapers, and, at the time of Installation, Kappa Gamma led the sorority powder-puff football league, holding the record for most points scored in a single game!

Until mid-October 1975, the local group concentrated its efforts on increasing membership. By that time, the number had increased to 19. At Christmas time, they held a formal sit-down dinner, which they prepared themselves. For many of the men there, it was the first sorority party they had ever attended, and most were genuinely impressed. This event became an annual tradition, although as they grew in number, they were no longer able to do the cooking themselves.

The Kappa Gammas also began several other traditions including the “Outstanding Kappa” award—a silver bowl that was given by the seven original founders of the local group as an installation gift. Another tradition is that each chapter President leaves something in the house after her term of office.

Installation week was more than just joining Kappa Kappa Gamma for these new members—it was the culmination of a year’s work and a year’s wait. Helping to introduce Epsilon Sigma to the Fraternity was William & Mary, the Big Sister Chapter. Other Kappas came from the following chapters: Maryland, North Carolina, George Washington, and Tennessee. The alumnae associations from Northern Virginia, Richmond, Roanoke, Baltimore, and Suburban Maryland were present as well. Each group gave a warm welcome and the love to the newest members of Kappa.

Kappa Kappa Gamma happily established Epsilon Sigma Chapter with a sense of historic celebration in the year of the American Bicentennial!

Highlights of the 1980s

Our greatest source of pride for Epsilon Sigma in 1985 was our involvement in the initiation of the charter members of Zeta Mu chapter at Virginia Tech. Almost half of our chapter became big sisters for the charter members. We are also proud of our campus and community activities and the fact that we had the second highest grade point average of the 16 sororities on campus. By the mid-80s we had 85 active sisters. Epsilon Sigma was one of three chapters receiving a Rehabilitation Grant from the Fraternity, which went to support the Charlottesville Rape Crisis Group.

We attended Province Meeting in Morgantown, WV in the spring of 1987 bringing home a revitalized knowledge of ritual and renewed interest in the national Fraternity. Some of our members attended the installation and initiation of the Zeta Omicron chapter at the University of Richmond, serving as big sisters to the charter members. At the Biennial Convention in Boca Raton, Florida, we received Honorable Mention in chapter finance and a silver Revere bowl in honor of the chapter with the best Cultural Program.

In support of new alcohol awareness programs, a new service at UVA was started in 1988 called “Sorority Formal Swap.” Two sororities are paired to work at each other's formal to insure there is no drinking and driving. It was a huge success.

We have members involved in many campus activities such as Honor Educators, Honor Advisers, University Guides, Madison House Volunteers, theater productions, newspaper staff, intramural sports and more. A challenge to increase participation was met with delegation, so everyone felt as though they had an important Kappa job, plus forming three teams, the owls, the keys, the fleur-di-lis getting points for your team each time you participated in a Kappa activity.

We participate Annual Phone-A-Thons making calls to alumni around the country to solicit donations for the University. We also presented our portion of a grant awarded by the Fraternity last spring following our proposal to benefit the Charlottesville Rape and Crisis Group. We sponsor a needy child from Brazil by raising funds through a Balloon Day. We now have a wonderful new house mother and through her efforts and those of the chapter we won the ISC's Clean House of the Month Award. We achieved our goal of “Renewed Respect” working on ritual respect, established the thought of the week to increase respect among the sisters, and pairing new ideas and respect for the old ideas to achieve this goal.

In 1988-89 one of our members, who is also Inter Sorority Council President, was selected as the most outstanding Greek woman, a coveted award at UVA. We raised more than $1,000 for the American Cancer Society with a two-night fundraiser, Kappa for Cancer. We continue to work with the Barrett Day Care Center, a non-profit center for underprivileged children. Our lasagna dinner raised funds to continue to support our child in Brazil as well as the American Heart Association.

One of the most exciting things our chapter did as the decade comes to a close was the involvement in the initiation and installation of the charter members of Zeta Tau chapter at Washington and Lee. Our chapter was chosen to be their big sister chapter. In addition to becoming more involved in the community and campus life, we have become more involved with other sororities with exchange dinners and with fraternities with mixers, allowing us to get to know a lot of new people. We hosted a Mardi Gras dinner to raise funds for the child we sponsor through the Christian Children's Fund, held four parties at the Barrett Day Care Center. We also played bingo at a nursing home and painted cartoon characters on the walls of the Kluge Rehabilitation Center.

Housing:

The chapter house is located at 503 Rugby Road, nicknamed The Kappa Palace.

Philanthropy:

The Billy Hill Race, an annual relay race in Charlottesville to benefit the National Heart Association, a Yard Sale to benefit the Billy Hill Race, Annual Phone-a-Thons to raise funds for the University, sponsoring a foreign child, Kappa for Cancer fundraiser, and participating in other groups' philanthropies.

Chapter Convention Awards:

1988: At the Biennial Convention in Boca Raton, Fla., we received honorable mention in Finance and won a silver Revere bowl in recognition for the best Cultural Program.

Highlights of the 1990s

The year 1990 began with the pledging of 36 new members and our involvement on campus grew every year. We are represented in all aspects of life at UVA; sports, Madison House, University Guides, Honor Advisers, Honor Educators, etc.

Our GPA increased from 3.2 in 1990 to 3.27 in 1991, with more than one third of our girls with a GPA of 3.4 or above. We regularly further the Greek system interaction by participating in exchange dinners with other sororities. At Convention in 1994 we received first place for our Cultural Program, and honorable mention for Excellence and Membership Selection.

At Convention is Dallas in 1990, our president accepted awards for Epsilon Sigma, honorable mentions for service and philanthropies. We have seven girls from the Junior class who received Intermediate Honors for having a 3.4 or better GPA. We have started a “Best Buddies” program that connects a volunteer with a mentally or physically handicapped adult. Our alumnae have been active with us, sponsoring a Belgian Waffle Breakfast at the house, attending an area barbecue we held for their families, celebrating the 120th anniversary of Kappa with us at Founders Day.

We hosted our Fraternity President, Kay Larson, at a University-wide event called Collaboration Virginia. All Greek organizations and their national representatives met with administration and alumni, generating many ideas to strengthen Greek organizations. We held a desert party for Mrs. Larson, followed by a candlelight tour of campus. At Province Meeting we won the Philanthropy award and second place for Scholarship. In addition to service, we excelled in athletics, winning the intramural championship for lacrosse and field hockey.

A new and extremely rewarding project in 1991 was adopting a family of 11 for Christmas. We divided into groups, with each group responsible for providing gifts and necessities for each child and their grandmother. We plan to make this a tradition.

In 1993 our formal living room was redecorated by the House Board to bring us into the 1990's. Despite one of the coldest and longest winters in Charlottesville in years, we had a successful Rush. Icy weather caused us to cancel a round, but we welcomed 37 new Kappas. We enjoyed a mixer with a new sorority on campus, Gamma Phi Beta.

At Convention in Atlanta in 1994 we won three awards: The Cultural Award, honorable mention for Excellence in Membership Selection, and recognition to the Founders Circle for completing at least 90% of the Challenge to Excellence. In 1995, after a successful Spring rush which welcomed 32 new members,we faced the experience of Fall rush, a new and positive move for UVA sororities. We welcomed another 29 pledges. Both 1995 pledge classes began their Kappa journey with second, third and fourth year “buddy” weeks prior to Big Sister week, which allowed the entire chapter to interact. We participated in Sigma Chi Derby Days which raised funds for the Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center and the Children's Miracle Network. We continued our efforts with Barrett Day Care Center with Easter and Halloween events and raised money for Hands Against Hunger at Christmas.

Our sisters are involved almost every organization on campus and volunteering is a major aspect of Kappa life. Always very involved in academics with many sisters receiving high honors, during the 1997-98 year one of our seniors was chosen to live on the Lawn, one of UVA's highest honors. For the first time in three years we held a Spring Rush welcoming 31 new members. We had one of the best parent's weekends with dinner and dancing at the Boar's Head Inn, a tailgate at the UVA/Duke game, golf for the Dads, making it a huge success. At Christmas we had an “Angel Tree” to benefit underprivileged Chrlottesville children.

In November 1998 we put on our first annual Kappa for Cancer flag football tournament, with students competing against each other in a day full of different flag football games. The money earned went to the American Cancer Society. We continue our annual Halloween and Easter parties with children at the Barrett Day Care Center. Again we had an “Angel Tree” at Christmas and another dinner-dance at the Boar's Head Inn and tailgate before the UVA/UNC game for Parent's Weekend. Spring Rush brought us 24 new sisters who were wowed with our performance of “Annie” which was a huge hit. Our preference party was held in the Dome Room of the Rotunda with a very inspiring ceremony.

In 1999 we held our 2nd annual Flag Football tournament, Kappa for Cancer and volunteered at a Haunted House downtown on Halloween, where Kappas dressed up and painted faces and handed out goodies to local children. One of our sisters ran in the Chicago Marathon. We again supported “Angel Tree” at Christmas in conjunction with the Salvation Army. Parent's Weekend was a success held again at the Boar's Head Inn and a tailgate before the UVA/Duke game. Speakers came to educate the chapter on AIDS and STD awareness, sexual assault, alcohol and drug awareness and self-defense.

Convention Awards:

1990: At Convention is Dallas, our president accepted awards for honorable mentions for service and philanthropies; 1994: At Convention in Atlanta we won three awards: The Cultural Award, honorable mention for Excellence in Membership Selection, and recognition to the Founders Circle for completing at least 90% of the Challenge to Excellence.

Highlights of 2000-2010

In Feb. 2005 we were recognized as raising the most money for Dance Marathon. Our Kappa Kicks Cancer philanthropy is one of our most successful, this year donating to the American Cancer Society division in New Orleans. Several of our members are from New Orleans so that makes this special.

We continue to work on our Chapter Action Plan and implement the items on our focus letter, by updating our ByLaws and working on our ritual, attendance, etc. Our ISC representative has been a part of a campus discussion on transferring to Panhellenic.

A Founders Day celebration was held Nov. 5 , 2006 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Epsilon Sigma with a special brunch attended by many alumnae and founding members. As part of our Action Plan to educate members, the Archives in a Box from Headquarters was on display for a week. In the Fall we welcomed two transfers from Eta and Beta Delta chapters in Wisconsin and Michigan.

In 2009 we welcomed 38 new members and proudly met the terms of our focus letter. We had two visits from the Leadership Consultant in the Spring and again in the Fall who helped us improve our chapter. We worked closely with ISC and IFC to improve our alcohol policies and met our risk management standards. Twelve of our members took part in the 3-day Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk in Washington, D.C., wearing Kappa t-shirts and raised $30,000.

At the end of 2009, our seniors won the Greek Giving Campaign with all members pledging to donate money to the University. In the Fall members enjoyed a day of apple-picking on nearby Carter Mountain, and our Parent's Weekend formal at Boar's Head Inn was a success. Our flag football philanthropy, Kappa Kickoff, raised more than $3,000 which was donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation in support of the sisters who participated in the 3-day walk.

Highlights of 2011–2019:

2012

2012 was an extremely successful and busy year for Epsilon Sigma! Returning from winter break, the chapter fulfilled recruitment with a wonderful and positive attitude despite the tragedy of losing a 2009 Epsilon Sigma alum, Sydney Owens. Sydney’s death was hard on many current chapter members and alumna, yet Epsilon Sigma proved a support system for all.

After receiving excellent return rates, we welcomed 38 new members to our chapter. We changed our process for big and little sisters to mutual selection, allowing for weeks of bonding activities between the first and second year new member classes. This change led to diverse interactions and friendships between the two grades. In February, we raised the most money of any sorority for Dance Marathon, the largest philanthropy at the University of Virginia that supports the UVa Children’s Hospital.

Initiating the new members in early March, Epsilon Sigma received the return of many alumnae, especially mothers and sisters to the girls in the new member class. Initiation allowed for Epsilon Sigma to work on our ritual, something we have been working to improve. We held many practices to help, which proved successful in solidifying our chapter’s ritual.

After returning from Spring Break, Epsilon Sigma geared up for sisterhood events and philanthropies. We hosted a key drive for the Keys for Hope Foundation, which raises money off of recycled keys. Collecting over 60 pounds of keys, Epsilon Sigma donated the money to the Sydney Owens’ Scholarship Foundation. Furthermore, we held another philanthropy, Tug for the Town, which supported the Charlottesville Free Clinic as well as the Sydney Owens’ Scholarship Foundation. In conjunction with Beta Theta Pi, this philanthropy saw the involvement of over 200 students, both non-Greek and Greek. As the semester came to a close, and we said goodbye to the graduates, we held a sisterhood event “Zumba in the Garden”.

A recent goal of our chapter has been to increase sisterhood events, and this was a great start! As the graduates said goodbye to UVa, we celebrated their presence in Kappa by presenting surprise letters and slideshows from their parents. Returning on grounds in the fall, Epsilon Sigma Chapter Council worked diligently to revamp Standards and Risk Management, especially concerning their involvement with social events. Although it was a challenging process, Chapter Council expertly gained support from the entire chapter through transparency.

September marked our annual philanthropy with Kappa Sigma, Kappa Kickoff. Raising money for Reading is Fundamental and the American Heart Association, Epsilon Sigma was able to honor both our national philanthropy and a philanthropy that is personal to a current member. In September we also sent one member of the Epsilon Sigma 2012 class, Haya Yaish, to the Kappa Leadership Academy. Haya was able to expand the Epsilon Sigma network, and brought back a lot of ideas for our chapter.

Again welcoming recent alumna back to Epsilon Sigma, current members and recent alumna helped to organize a charity concert for the Sydney Owens’ Scholarship Foundation. In remembering a dedicated and loved member of Epsilon Sigma, this event helped to again provide a support system for all levels of the chapter. As the weather chilled, many current members in various new member classes ran the Color Run, which supported Hands On Greater Richmond, which helps to organize volunteers in Richmond. Following, Epsilon Sigma held our elections. Utilizing new technology with electronic clickers, the process was streamlined, which helped to make elections run all the more smoothly.

At this time, Epsilon Sigma also welcomed the presence of Britt Nelson, a leadership consultant. Britt was wonderful to help the newly elected members of Chapter Council as well as offer general council, especially concerning ritual, which we have continued to improve. As 2012 came to a close, we held a sisterhood Thanksgiving Potluck, allowing the entire chapter to socialize before preparing for exams. Lastly, tragedy struck the entire Greek community, as a much-loved member of Alpha Phi passed away while on Semester at Sea with members of Epsilon Sigma. This experience personally affected many members of our chapter, yet first and foremost they all hoped to support Alpha Phi, and we did so with letters of condolences and home cooked meals. Despite the pressure of exams, the entire Greek community was able to rally to honor such a wonderful spirit of the Greek community.

The Greek community made large efforts in the last year to strengthen its ties not only with the wider UVa community but also the Charlottesville community. Furthermore, the Inter-Sorority Council (ISC) reworked their judiciary system and bylaws in the spring of 2012, thereby creating a clearer wording of their punishments and guidelines. The Inter-Sorority Council came to each chapter to answer any questions concerning these rules.

As ever, Epsilon Sigma is a tight-knit sisterhood with bright, diverse, and spirited members. In tendency with the rest of the Greek community at UVa, which has a higher average GPA than the UVa-wide average, Epsilon Sigma has incredibly hardworking students. We have held our stance as one of the top average GPAs in the Greek community. Furthermore, Epsilon Sigma has benefited greatly from the diverse array of organizations that our members are involved with outside of the Greek community. In this manner, the Epsilon Sigma has a presence not only in the Greek sphere, but also the entire UVa and Charlottesville community.

Our increased dedication to philanthropies around grounds is evidence of this presence. Furthermore, members of Epsilon Sigma have been increasingly dedicated to our chapter and to Kappa nationally. Leadership on Chapter Council helped to solidify these bonds through information presented on Kappa nationals and the Kappa foundation to all members. The work of Epsilon Sigma to reach out to local alumna shows the outward view that Epsilon Sigma has taken concerning the benefits and abilities of Kappa. We hope to maintain our wonderful membership in the future that help benefit Epsilon Sigma, UVa, and Kappa.

Highlights of 2020s:

(To be filled out by the chapter Registrar.) Highlights (scholarship, group honors/awards, special events, philanthropy and service projects, etc.):

Philanthropy:

Housing:

Convention Awards:

Note to Chapter Registrar:

Please refer to your chapter archives including chapter meeting minutes and back issues of The Key to fill in any gaps in the above historical highlights. If your chapter archives are not complete, please research your university library, campus newspaper and yearbook archives for newsworthy information about your chapter. Please double check your work for accuracy. Contact chapter Advisory or House Board members, local Alumnae Association members, or your Province Director of Chapters for assistance.

Your efforts will ensure a complete and accurate history of your chapter for future generations to enjoy!