Changes
→Highlights of 2019
|Image= [[File:Epsilon.jpg|200px]]
|Founded= {{start date and years ago|1873|11|25}}
|College= [httphttps://www.baylor.edu/ Baylor University]
|Location= Waco,TX
|Province= Theta
|Homepage= [httphttps://wwwbaylor.kappa.org/ Epsilon Upsilon Website]|Media= [httphttps://wiki.kappakappagammakkg.org/index.php?title=Category:Epsilon_Upsilon Media related to Epsilon Upsilon Chapter]}}
'''Baylor University, established in 1845, Waco, Texas
==Highlights of 2015==
Two Thousand Fifteen was an outstanding year for the Epsilon Upsilon chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Last January, we had another successful recruitment and were blessed with an incredible new member class. Our Sing chairs worked really hard to create a great Sing Act called “Weird Science”, which was shown in Pigskin Review in the Fall of 2015. The social chairs planned date dashes, the annual Sapphire Ball, pledge dance, and a take-a-date. There was our Spring Swing-a-thon where we raised and donated money to the Waco Humane Society Last Spring was also full of many afternoons spent at Parkdale Elementary School serving as mentors to second graders. In the Spring of 2015, our chapter won an award for partner of the year (2014-2015) for Waco ISD. The chapter participated in established traditions, such as organizing the Annual All-University Baylor Beauty Style Show and arranging an Easter egg hunt for children of faculty. Spring finals arrived too quickly, but summer did not bring the end to Epsilon Upsilon’s involvement. Together, members studied abroad, interned across the country, and took summer classes. Regardless if we are meeting each week, it is never hard to find a Kappa! Before we knew it, August arrived, and summer came to an end. We started the year with Greek Week events, intramurals, and a dodgeball crush event on campus. Even amidst the chaos that Fall semester brings, it is truly wonderful to see our chapter come together to celebrate both Kappa and Baylor traditions. The seniors have enjoyed “seniors only” social events, while our new members have continued to learn pledge songs for recruitment. We honored Founders Day at McLane Stadium with our Waco Alumnae Association. Our chapter was so excited to celebrate the 145th year. Partaking in our ritual together was a great reminder that Kappa truly is for a lifetime. Epsilon Upsilon has continued to volunteer weekly at Parkdale, held the Fall Swing-a-thon benefiting the Waco Humane Society, volunteered at the Parkdale Halloween carnival and kicked off our annual book drive. Nights approaching Homecoming weekend were spent with the men of Phi Kappa Chi at our float site. Kappa had a Junior member, Sydney Taylor, selected as a Homecoming Princess this year. We also performed “Weird Science” in Pigskin Review Homecoming weekend. We hosted our third Kappa Karnival this year, it was very successful. Throughout the Fall we spent time gearing up for another exciting recruitment, getting to know many potential new members and legacies. We ended the semester with the Kappa Pickers performing at multiple functions.
Baylor built a new Business School, which opened Fall 2015, it is very nice. There are also many other changes going on in the growing Baylor community. The nature of our chapter is very positive, growing, graceful, friendly, loyal, and loving. There is a strong focus on RIF, supporting other chapters, including all Kappa chapter members, and University related events (SING, Homecoming Float, Steppin Out, Pigskin etc.).
April 9- Legacy Tea in the Kappa room for PNM Baylor Legacies
April 11- Kappa hosted the 66th Baylor Beauty Charity Style Show, where ladies nominated campus wide competed against each other to be named baylor beauty. All ticket proceeds went to our philanthropy.
April 13 - For the first time, we have one of our own selected to serve as a Leadership Consultant, Sydney Taylor.
April 28- Parkdale Partner Lunch
May 14-21: Baylor Kappa goes on mission trip to Antigua, Guatemala
Tommye Lou Davis
==Highlights of 2018==
At convention, we received awards for PR and Risk Management. Our chapter hosted Outdoor Voices for a pop-up shop to raise money for Reading is Fundamental.
Baylor has undertaken several changes in the Greek community this year. Through this election of Alpha Phi to join Baylor Panhellenic thechapter has had the opportunity to strengthen unity with other chapters. Epsilon Upsilon looks forward to officially welcoming Alpha Phi to Baylor's campus this spring and working to encourage the growth of their chapter. The nature of the chapter is positive and excited for this season of change and the idea of building a stronger unity with other old and new chapters on Baylor's campus. Our chapter supports Reading is Fundamental but works weekly with Parkdale Elementary.This year we continued our partnership with Parkdale Elementary because our existing relationship has proved very effective. Our members love going each week and it's really funto continue working with the same teachers and occasionally seeing some of the kids you've worked with before. We wanted to make sure we continue to establish a relationship with the Waco community. This provides the chapter with the opportunity to raise funds for Reading is Fundamental but also an opportunity to work weekly with local students who need extra assistance in reading. Our chapter meets in the The Stacy Riddle Panhellenic Forum in our own Kappa room. Oral History Tommye Lou Davis
Our chapter hosted Outdoor Voices for a pop-up shop to raise money for Reading is Fundamental.
Chapter Philanthropy
Reading is Fundamental but works weekly with Parkdale Elementary
This year we continued our partnership with Parkdale Elementary because our existing
relationship has proved very effective. Our members love going each week and it's really fun
to continue working with the same teachers and occasionally seeing some of the kids you've
worked with before. We wanted to make sure we continue to establish a relationship with
the Waco community. This provides the chapter with the opportunity to raise funds for
Reading is Fundamental but also an opportunity to work weekly with local students who
need extra assistance in reading.
Chapter FacilityOur chapter meets in the The Stacy Riddle Panhellenic Forum in our own Kappa room.
Oral History
Tommye Lou Davis
Rene Taylor
Beth Musgraves
Gretchen Eichenberg
==Highlights of 2020==
Pre-covid chapter events of 2020 read as follows. January 11: 89 new members pledged Kappa. January 30: Big little reveal. January 31: New Member Dance with theme “Kappa Kappa Glow” where new members and dates and active members dressed in neon clothing, danced, and performed new member songs. February 1: KOT Fishery, philanthropy event. February 7: Sapphire Ball Formal. February 9: beginning of Inspiration Period for Initiation. February 14/15: Initiation of 89 new members. February 29: Participated in All-University Sing paired with Kappa Sigma for our act, “Ship of Dreams.” Received first place and a bid to Pigskin. Following spring break, we did not return to campus due to COVID-19. We began to adapt in the spring semester by sending out news letters to encourage and engage the chapter. Our social media presence during this time became another way for our chapter to stay connected. Our PR chairs created a beautiful postcard to mail to each of our members to the location in which they were quarantined. We began social media campaigns to encourage one another and stay connected, including “What we miss Wednesday,” “Sister Spotlight,” and “Senior Saturday.” Each of these were intended to highlight a particular member and share about what makes our chapter special to them. In addition, we began posting Instagram Stories for every members birthday, as we were not able to sing to them in meeting like normal. When we returned to campus in the fall, we began to hold virtual meetings every Tuesday at 5:15pm over Zoom. Our Philanthropy week took place November 8-14. This included a book drive for our local elementary school, Parkdale Elementary. We had profit shares all week at popular Waco restaurants which we promoted through our social media, including Andy’s Frozen Custard and Mamaka Bowls. On Thursday we had a Zoom Zumba class where participants paid $3 which went to RIF. On Friday we had a virtual raffle with amazing prizes including $100+ gift cards to local restaurants, football tickets, gift cards to local boutiques, and many more.
Reading is Fundamental, works with Parkdale Elementary weekly, reading to second grade students. This weekly practice was put on pause with COVID.This year we continued our partnership with Parkdale Elementary because our existing relationship has proved very effective. Our members love going each week and it's really fun to continue working with the same teachers and occasionally seeing some of the kids you've worked with before. We wanted to make sure we continue to establish a relationship with the Waco community. This provides the chapter with the opportunity to raise funds for Reading is Fundamental but also an opportunity to work weekly with local students who need extra assistance in reading. Even through COVID where we could not continue to meet with our students weekly, we participated in a drive-by at the beginning of the school year to encourage the students and show our support.
To support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within our chapter, we elected two officers to support this effort. One officer’s responsibilities included communicating with Baylor’s Panhellenic community to support our community’s DEI efforts. Our second officer was elected to internally implement DEI within our chapter. Through chapter discussions and training, we have continued to make strides with DEI and look forward to continuing this growth and understanding in our
community.
To celebrate Kappa’s 150th anniversary in a safe, socially distanced manner, we held a
virtual Founders Day ceremony over Zoom. In addition to the Zoom ceremony, we