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|Image= [[File:Eta_Alpha.jpg|200px]]
|Founded= {{start date and years ago|1994|03|29}}
|College= [httphttps://www2.furman.edu/Pages/default.aspx Furman University]
|Location= Greenville, SC
|Homepage= [httphttps://kkgfurmanfurman.webskappa.comorg/ Eta Alpha Homepage]|Media= [httphttps://wiki.kappakappagammakkg.org/index.php?title=Category:Eta_Alpha Media related to Eta Alpha Chapter]}}
'''Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina, established in 1826'''
'''700 755 initiates (as of June 20152018)'''
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'''Fraternity Officers:''' Libby Weith, Leadership Consultant 2006-200072007
A visit from our LC Caroline Washnock in September and Kappa Trainer Audrey McCall in November gave us great ideas and motivation for the next semester and for our chapter in the future. They encouraged and supported our weaknesses in the chapter’s involvement and being held accountable as sisters, as well as being more of a presence on campus. They also highlighted our chapter’s strengths and brought to light how close our bonds in the sisterhood are. They noticed what an aspiring group of young talented women we are, clearly noticing how Kappa values are represented within the chapter.
==Highlights of 2015==
For the year 2015, Eta Alpha chapter started the fall semester with 95 members and a revamped public relations committee. Our continually successful philanthropy event, Kappa Cook Off, held in October raised $1,399 for Reading is Fundamental. We welcomed the Greek and non-Greek community alike to enjoy homemade burgers, desserts and live a cappella out on the field. An addition to our philanthropic involvement, due to our dedicated philanthropy chair, has been volunteering at Duncan Chapel Elementary School. Each week since the beginning for the year Kappas have been helping low-risk students in the after school program with homework and reading skills. In October, after the flooding that devastated South Carolina, Eta Alpha donated $300, won from attending a Tri Delta event, to the Kappa Foundation to help fellow SC sisters.
Spring semester included a large and appreciated turn out to Relay for Life where Kappas supported sisters and their families, as well as the surrounding community. On April 9th our annual Reading is Key philanthropy event was a fun and heartwarming event where sisters read donated books to elementary students. Study day for finals Eta Alpha sponsored a stress free snow cone truck that provided free cones to Furman students. For Greek Week, Kappas handed out cheesy macaroni to raise money for Reading is Fundamental. We strive to be involved in philanthropy and that includes supporting other Greek philanthropies. Kappas had an amazing stroll team this year held by AKA where sororities and fraternities perform in a dance competition. Eta Alpha took second in Tri Delta Triple Play softball game for their philanthropy St. Jude’s Hospital. We also supported Kappa Delta in their first ever Kappa Quesadillas in September and the Delta Gamma Anchor Splash. Eta Alpha also attended Tri Delta Dhop with our fellow sister and Leadership Counselor Katherine Latta who was visiting at the time. The 2015 fall semester was an exceptional one for Eta Alpha chapter. We proudly supported National Hazing prevention month in September by attending a campus wide prevention speaker with almost 100% attendance and by making a banner for the dining hall. We put on our very first Kappa Kappaccino where our sisters handed out free coffee and awarded coffee mugs and stickers to those who found golden tickets hidden around the library. Thanks to our phenomenal recruitment chair it was so successful that we hosted Kappa Kappaccino again during finals in December. Homecoming this year was highlighted by having our cherished recruitment chair be nominated for Homecoming court where she was escorted by her adorable brother. Our Homecoming partners were Sigma Chi and ZTA, our theme was Clue and we won overall spirit in the Greek competitions. Founder’s day this year was celebrated with alumni who afterward helped us practice conversation for recruitment. In October, a handful of sisters participated in Furman’s Halloween Fall Fest, which brings underprivileged children to trick or treat in a safe environment on campus. Kappas are a presence in the PanHellenic community where we shared a successful evening with Chi Omega meeting potential new members as wells as an all sorority PanHellenic night. Apart of our PanHellenic relations in September we enjoyed a Night Owls mixer with Chi Omega, our recruitment partner. We also participated in Eta Alphas very first fraternity mixer with Sigma Chi over homecoming, which was so fun we held a second mixer with Beta. Kappas also made it to intramural sand volleyball championships and got second place out of all the sororities this year. Outside of the Greek community Kappas are also very active. At this year’s Dance Marathon for Greenville Children’s Hospital there was great Kappa involvement where one sister organized a Kappa team. Over family weekend, despite the rain, the Kappa tailgate was a blast with good friends and family, food and cute tee shirts. Eta Alpha also has a large presence during football games where four sisters represent in the Furman Marching Band where one sister serves as trumpet section leader for marching band. We have other musically inclined sisters, with three in the Symphonic Band where the Principal Flute is a Kappa. We also have one sister representing in the Wind ensemble and another in the Furman Symphony Orchestra. Another achieving sister is an officer for FUISA, which won club of the year. One of our most athletic sisters competed in the Collegiate Cycling Nationals and had finish in the top ten. Eta Alpha is also very proud of our many sisters who were initiated into Phi Eta Sigma honors society this year. A particularly dedicated sister volunteers with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This year she participated in an Out of the Darkness walk and for the third time planned the International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day in her hometown to help those who have lost someone to suicide. In the philanthropic manner, for the second year, Eta Alpha hosted Kappa Klothing Drive to collect winter clothes for Miracle Hill in great quantity. At the beginning of the 2015 fall semester Eta Alpha encouraged academic success with Kappa pencils handed out to the Furman student body. Kappas take Furman’s opportunities to travel to further their educational experience. In the spring we had a sister in Copenhagen Denmark, one in Edinburgh, and another in China. Also in the spring for a little less than a semester six Kappas traveled to Africa for an immersion course in the study of poverty. This fall we had two sisters in Australia, two in Japan, and two in the British Isles. Back on campus, Eta Alpha was diligently working on improving our academic success with study hall ideas and studying incentives from our Academic Excellence chair. A visit from our LC Katherine Latta, Kappa Trainer Marcia Shearer and Kate Steiner in November gave us encouragement and motivation for the next semester and our incoming officers. They supported our strengths and had suggestions for our weaknesses. We collaborated on ideas about sisterhood and making chapter meetings more fun, as well as time management and public relations on campus. As a chapter Eta Alpha is an aspiring group of women who are individually talented and represent Kappa values as a whole. This year Eta Alpha has experienced a structural makeover, or face lift, if you will. Sisterhood within the chapter ahs been a focus as well as improving public relations and our academic excellence. Informal preparations for recruitment in January have been tip-top, setting strong groundwork for 2016 and our new members. Chapter Philanthropy: Towards the end of 2014 Duncan Chapel Elementary approached Eta Alpha looking for volunteers to help tutor their underprivileged students after school who required extra attention. In 2015 Kappas helped tutor each week on Wednesday and Thursday. We were excited about the opportunity and flattered by the invitation to personal make a difference. Duncan Chapel being just around the corner is near to our hearts and allows Eta Alpha to give back to the community we are so close to. It feels appropriate for Kappas to be helping kids with homework as we promote RIF and kids learning to read. ==Highlights of 2016== The year 2016 has been a fun year full of sisterhood and new developments for our chapter. In January we welcomed 30 new sisters to their “Kappily Ever After” on bid day. They were initiated on February 27th. Our chapter once again took the opportunity to pass out some love on Valentine's Day with Hershey’s kisses, more fondly known as “Kappa kisses.” We received our chapter grade report from 2015 and we were proud to learn we made the all sorority average. We held our annual Reading is Key event and our sisters gathered together to read books with elementary school students, and continue to send sisters to Duncan Chapel to read with kids every week. Our philanthropy chair also introduced a new fundraising event, Kappa Kornhole, for the spring with teams from other sororities and fraternities for a kornhole competition. In addition, we donated 60 books to Reading is Fundamental through Book Bunnies. Our Event chairmen put together a great event for our Hawaiian themed Kappa Krush. Our Academic Excellence chairman has been working hard this year and initiated a new event called “Sweet Tea with KKG.” During this event we invite a few professors to join our sisters for tea and refreshments to give professors and sisters a chance to get to know each other and make connections. Towards the end of the semester a wonderful sister of ours was considered for an LC position. We wrapped up the spring semester with a beautiful Masquerade semi formal before finals. Kappa Kappaccino was again a successful and appreciated event during finals. Fall semester was full of new and exciting events! Our Vice President of Standards worked hard to put together our chapter’s first Mother Daughter event. A huge success, we got to welcome our mothers onto campus for some quality time and crafts. Two of our sisters became Pi Chis to support potential new members going through recruitment. Due to changes in the recruitment set up we are substituting our usual skits with a sisterhood video. Two of our wonderful sisters put together a two-day photo shoot filled with cute poses, props, and lots of laughter to produce a great video that showcases our beautiful and loving sisters. Our chapter website has also received a full makeover thanks to one of our talented sisters. Our first function of the semester took place at the local baseball field, perfect for our “Draft a Date” theme. We also started a partnership with the Furman basketball team! Through this partnership we attend their games, host a book drive during half time for certain games, and members of the team join us on our Duncan Chapel visits each week to read with and tutor students. Kappa Cook Off was a success once again in raising money for Reading is Fundamental. Founders Day this year included a new history presentation that contained lots of information about our Fraternity's beginnings and the lives of our founders. Kappa rocked homecoming this year with our partner fraternity Phi Kappa Phi. We built a float dedicated to “Hey Arnold” for our Nickelodeon homecoming theme. We were delighted to win first place in the annual horseplay skits and third place in homecoming overall. This October our chapter hosted “Trunk or Treat” for children with autism. Our philanthropy chair organized sisters to bring their cars and decorate the trunks full of candy. All the sisters stationed with their cars were dressed up for the event. We also provided games and a face painting station. The children and our sisters had a wonderful time and we are so grateful for the experience. An alumna of ours got in touch with the founder of Kappa Keys and was moved to bring the group back. Originally a bible study our sister has re-introduced Kappa Keys as a place to be in a community of faiths and support for each other. During December we took part in the Berea Christmas Project and sisters donated money to buy Christmas presents for a fourteen-year-old girl. We wrapped up the fall semester with a Blue on Blue Tie Semi Formal event and headed straight on into finals. Outside of Kappa we had many sisters involved in Relay for Life and the Red Cross Blood Drive. Our sisters often call on the chapter to support them in the work they do outside of Kappa such as the Cinderella Project and Harvest for Hope. The Cinderella Project collects dresses for young girls who cannot afford one for their prom. On November 18th several sisters went to work at Harvest Hope food bank. This year Kappa has striven to commit to sisterhood and participation. We have worked on making chapter meetings more fun and informative by starting history blurbs and study tips along with our usual supportive sister award and snaps to acknowledge those who have been a blessing throughout the week. This year we were also delighted to receive the Kappa Heritage award. This year Eta Alpha has continued to work on sisterhood and communal participation. Academic excellence has also been a focus with more study halls and a presentation on helpful study techniques. Due to changes in the recruitment process, our sisters have worked hard to prepare a meaningful and fun experience for our new members. Overall we are continuing to strive to support each other and our community. We are excited to see what the next year brings! ==Highlights of 2017== The 2017 year has been filled with many success for our sisterhood. In the spring, we had a successful rush and welcomed 19 beautiful new members. We raised our cumulative GPA so that we now have the 4th highest our of all of the sororities. Eight sisters earned 4.0 for the semester. Our true accomplishment of the year was winning homecoming with our partners Kappa Delta and Beta Theta Pi. The overall theme was “A Land before Furman” and our theme was Pirates. Our sisterhood came together and worked hard in each event. Our hard work and dedication was rewarded, as we came in first in skits and first overall. This boosted moral, encouraged sisterhood unity, and showed what we can achieve if we work together a whole. The Event Committee put on four dances this past year: Kappa Constellation Crush, Formal, Rave, and Kappa Kingsmen Semi. We also held successful study halls including an all day study hall with Chick Fil A and pizza during finals week in the sprig and in the fall. However, sisterhood reached beyond the boundaries of Furman’s campus, and sisters went apple picking at Sky Top orchard in North Carolina. One interesting factoid: our incoming President Jessica Greene has two twin sisters, and they have both joined Kappa this year - one at Oklahoma University and the other at the University of Georgia! '''Philanthropy''' This year was all about trying new things. In the spring we partnered with the basketball team and put on Hoops for Hope book and clothing drive. We also hosted the first ever Grilled Cheese with KKG. Sisters sold unlimited warm grilled cheese, snacks, and homemade desserts. The event was a huge success and we raised over $1100 for reading is fundamental. In the fall we hosted a number of small events including Lemonade for Literacy Bake Sale outside the library, Lollypops for Literacy consisting of raffling off a yeti cooler in which sisters sold lolly pops for a dollar, and a Chipotle fundraiser. In total was raised $500. In the fall we also threw our second annual Trunk or Treat. This event partners with Agapi, a behavioral consultant organization for children with mental disabilities, in order to allow kids who would not be able to go trick or treating on Halloween night to have a fun halloween experience. Sisters handed out candy from the back of their halloween decked out cars. It was a big success and kids, parents, and sisters alike all had fun. ==Highlights of 2018== The 2018 year has been filled with many successes and accomplishments for our sisterhood. In the spring, we had a successful rush and welcomed 27 beautiful new members. Our bid day theme was "Pajama Party". At the spring 2018 Greek awards we won most improved chapter GPA and moved up two slots in the all-sorority average. We also had members attend a Kappa Convention. This year for Homecoming, we were paired with Delta Delta Delta and Tau Kappa Epsilon. Our overall theme was Jet Setters and our theme was London. All of our hard work and dedication paid off, as we came in first in horseplay skits and chalking. These awards boosted our moral and showed that we can come together and show our appreciation for our Greek members and Furman University. The event committee put together four dances this past year: Kappa Crush, Formal, Rave, and Kappa Kasino Semi. During the spring and fall, we also held study halls including breakfast and dinner. In regards to recent changes, we had a large shift in attitude within the chapter. Our sisters are coming together, attending and putting on great events, and doing an amazing job in showing their support for Kappa. We were also received an action plan, which has been a great opportunity for our chapter. This action plan has given us guidance, support, and feedback, for strengthening our chapter communication and overall functionality. This semester we also initiated a COB into our chapter. Over the summer, we lost a newly initiated member, Reilly Simmons. The Furman University community and our chapter held beautiful memorial services for her. Our chapter came together and celebrated her life. We received many letters from other Greek organizations, as they sent their thoughts and prayers to her and her sisters. She was truly a sapphire sister and she will be deeply missed by her friends, family, and sisters. '''Philanthropy''' Our chapter supports Duncan Chapel Elementary, our local organization philanthropy. Through large campus events this year, we raised over $7,000 for RIF. During parents weekend, we held a silent auction and raised $500 for the Foundation. Overall, we donated 60 hours to Duncan Chapel, donated 100 hours to campus service projects, and 853 hours donated to community service projects. We also collected 79 books through small events and donations. Regarding philanthropy, in the Spring semester, we hosted Grilled Cheese with the KKGs for the second time. Our sisters sold unlimited warm grilled cheese, snacks, and homemade desserts. This event was a wonderful success, as we raised over $5,000 for Reading Is Fundamental. In the spring, we hosted Kappa Kupcakes, in which our sister's made cupcakes and the student's who bought tickets got to come and decorate their cupcakes with toppings. From this event, we raised over $2,000 for Reading Is Fundamental. Also in the fall, we hosted a small event, a Lemonade for Literacy Bake Sale, outside of the library. Sister's baked homemade desserts that were sold to students. We raised $100 for our local philanthropy, Duncan Chapel Elementary. In the fall we also hosted our third annual Trunk or Treat event in which we partnered with Agapi, a behavioral consultant organization for children with mental disabilities. This was a wonderful chance for kids with mental disabilities to Trick or Treat in a low-maintenance environment. Sisters had a great time decorating their cars, dressing up, speaking to kids, and handing out candy. We chose this organization because our sisters appreciate getting to work with kids one on-one, as we are able to get to know the kids and spend quality time with them. We appreciate getting to do hands-on work with the kids by reading, talking , and doing activities with them. [[File:HA 2018.jpg|thumb|HA 2018]] ==Highlights of 2019== In 2019 Eta Alpha received 7 total Panhellenic awards for the 2018 calendar year during the Greek Awards ceremony in April, including the Founder’s Award that went to Kirstin Mintun. Leadership Consultant Hannah Greene came for two extended stays to assist the chapter with its development. This year, the Eta Alpha chapter celebrated Founders Day by renting out J300 and providing sisters with refreshments. This included a variety of Brickstreet cakes, snacks and sodas. After welcoming the sisters to the 149th Founders Day and telling everyone what an important day this is for Kappa’s history, the Marshal conducted the candle lighting ceremony with six seniors. Secretary also brought some past composites for us to look at previous Kappa sisters at Furman. Our semi-formal this November was themed “Sapphires are Forever” in honor of our upcoming 150th anniversary, and we've been promoting the Herff Jones 150th anniversary jewelry to the chapter. The Panhellenic Council has changed the bylaws to have better representation of sororities during the Panhellenic Council slating process by having a representative from each chapter be present during the interviews, and all convening to decide the slate for the new Panhellenic council. We also coordinated our spring philanthropy event with Zeta Tau Alpha’s Big Man On Campus and promoted attendance of their event as it took place right after ours. We won 3rd Place in homecoming this fall, and partnered with Chi Omega and Beta. During homecoming, we had a bake sale with our homecoming partners to raise money for our philanthropies. We have also held mixers with Tri Delta, to foster positive Panhellenic relationships, and Beta, to foster positive relationships in anticipation of homecoming. '''Philanthropy''' The chapter held Grilled Cheese and Kappa Kupcakes philanthropy events in the Spring and Fall semesters, respectively. Proceeds from the events benefitted Reading is Fundamental. We support Reading is Fundamental and the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation nationally. This year we have been in the process of finding a new local philanthropy that represents our values and goalsas a chapter and is willing to work with our philanthropy chair to schedule events. ==Highlights of 2020:== During Covid-19, we are preparing for recruitment in 2021 to be totally virtual. Rounds will take place over zoom and will utilize breakout rooms. All meetings and events have been switched to virtual, including chapter. Some of our virtual events include virtual game nights, homecoming, senior programming, Founders Day, AE Banquet, and COB Initiation. We developed extra programming for Covid-19 and mental health during a pandemic, and we created an action plan for Covid-19 scenarios and expectations. We have two members of our chapter that have received Kappa scholarships. Our chapter received Convention recognition for: Honorable Mention: Heritage Award and Honorable Mention: Panhellenic Award for the 5-7 Panhellenic groups category. We also requested and implemented an action plan created by the District team and created several internal actions plans as well, relating to campus connections, alumnae connection, and sisterhood within the chapter. This year we partnered with the Hilton Head alumnae association. We are planning several programs with them, including career mentorships, alumnae panels, and sisterhood events with members of both our organizations. [[File:Eta Alpha 2020 (before COVID-19).JPG|thumb|Eta Alpha 2020 (before COVID-19)]] '''Philanthropy''' As well as the KKG Foundation, we support Neighborhood Focus, Reading is Fundamental, and Loaves and Fishes. For Neighborhood Focus, we chose this organization because they work with kids of all ages, from elementary to high school, providing a safe space after school to work on language skills, reading skills, and their homework. We also have been in close contact with this organization about potential volunteer opportunities in the future or ways to help raise money for them. We will also be donating money to the Kappa Foundation. For Reading is Fundamental, we chose this organization because not only is it our national philanthropy, but it also provides learning materials and books to teachers, parents, and children, which is especially important during this pandemic since it has led to isolated learning. We held a virtual 5k in support of RIF which raised almost 1,700 dollars. For Loaves and Fishes, we chose this organization because they provide canned foods for those in need in Greenville, which is important during the economic strain caused by the pandemic. '''Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion''' We held a program over the summer lead by the Furman Justice Forum about identity and supporting racial differences through Greek Life. We worked to overcome gendered language in our programming in order to support non-binary sisters in our chapter and all of Kappa. We supported and advertised a petition created by the Furman Justice Forum that pushed for increased diversity measures on campus, including religious diversity initiatives in recruiting/hiring, a diversity focused general education requirement, and a requirement for students to attend a certain amount of diversity focused programming on campus. '''Sesquicentennial Celebration''' We held a virtual Founders Day celebration through Zoom where we invited chapter alumnae from the past 10 years as well as alumnae from nearby alumnae associations. After conducting the candle lighting ceremony, we split off into breakout rooms (in a mix of active sisters, recent alumnae, and older alumnae) for a Kappa history trivia game. We then split off into a series of several randomized breakout rooms for additional conversations, games, and activities about Kappa’s history. ==Highlights of 2021:== In January 2021, the Eta Alpha chapter welcomed its new members with a “freshly-picked” bid day theme. The chapter held many fun sisterhood events in the spring, such as yoga, astrology, and improv workshops in March and a succulent bar in April. At the end of the semester, they celebrated graduating seniors with the Flowerside Ceremony, a dessert reception, and the senior ceremony. Two members received campus Greek shout-out awards. In Fall 2021, the chapter participated regularly in campus intramural sports. September brought a family weekend tailgate, and October had Kappa Kappa Disco, a Halloween celebration, and Homecoming….Kappa contributed to a Wizard of Oz float! In November, the chapter held both a Dad’s Cookout social and Semiformal. In November 2021, Eta Alpha Chapter made the difficult decision to suspend operations for a period of no less than five years. We know that the chapter will return stronger than ever when the time is right. [[File:Eta Alpha Carve & Chuck 2021.jpg|thumb|Eta Alpha Carve & Chuck 2021]] '''Philanthropy''' Eta Alpha supported RIF (Reading is Fundamental) with an April 2021 Campus Easter Egg Hunt. They also held a virtual craft session with kids from the chapter’s local philanthropy, Neighborhood Focus. In Fall 2021, the chapter announced its transition to the Fraternity’s new mental health initiative. Eta Alpha chapter chose to support NAMI (The National Alliance on Mental Illness), and the chapter held a Halloween Carve & Chuck pumpkin carving fundraiser. '''Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion''' Eta Alpha Chapter was committed to the use of inclusive language in chapter meetings, ceremonies, and activities. '''Operating in a Pandemic''' Spring 2021 offered a hybrid mix of in-person/virtual activities so members could choose. The chapter was fully back in person in Fall 2021. ==Highlights of 2022:== Spring semester 2022 brought a flurry of activity as the Eta Alpha chapter celebrated its sisterhood. April was the highlight of the semester, with three outstanding events: *KKG’s Grilled Cheese, raising money for NAMI (The National Alliance on Mental Illness)*KKG’s (Fun)eral – a summer/funeral-themed “darty” for the Furman campus celebrating the Eta Alpha chapter, including water fun, a DJ, and Kona Ice*Alumnae Transition ceremony - all current chapter members transitioned to alumna status At the end of April 2022, chapter operations were suspended as planned, and we look forward to the day when Eta Alpha Chapter returns to Furman’s campus. ------------------------ '''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!