Eta Kappa
| Eta Kappa | |
|---|---|
| HK | |
 | |
| Founded | March 4, 2007 |
| College | Knox College |
| Location | Galesburg, IL |
| Homepage | Eta Kappa Homepage |
| Media related to Eta Kappa Chapter | |
Knox College established in 1837 in Galesburg, Illinois
Founded March 4, 2007 - 31 charter members
125 initiates (as of April 2014)
Outstanding Eta Kappa Alumnae
Fraternity Officers:
President Katie White
Vice President of Standards Taylor Wayment
Vice President of Academic Excellence Taylor Gladfelter
Vice President of Organization Shannon Perry
Registrar/ Marshal Ashlee Pitts
Recording/Corresponding Secretary Courtney Hopps
Treasure Allison Whitehill
New Member Chairman Susannah Lodge-Rigal
Education Chairman Jessica Oakley
Public Relations Chairman Elizabeth Clay
Philanthropy Chairman Chloe Vollenweider
Event/Risk Chairman Annie Ford
Membership Chairman Keegan Dohm
House Chairman Riya Tiwari
Panhellenic Exec Emily Powers
Panhellenic Delegate Lauren Langham
Historical Highlights
Founded because there were only two sororities available on campus at the time, and the girls felt there should be more options
The group was first formed by 6 women: Catherine Ray, Meryl Leventon, Stephanie O'Brien, Caroline Allen, Sibel Karabeyoglu, and Jenny Davis
After a lot of hard work preparing the Alpha document, the group went to Xavier Romano, Dean of Students, gained his support, and set up a formal colony
TSO was officially founded on March 10, 2005 and included 10 women
Their first Unofficial Chapter Council Meeting consisted of Catherine Ray, Stephanie O'Brien, Meryl Leventon, Kat Manly, Jenny Davis, Nerissa Montes, Sibel Karabeyoglu, and Caroline Allen
Their first philanthropy event was the Polar Plunge, a tradition of Eta Kappa carried on until 2009
Held their first informal recruitment in fall 2005
Not allowed to participate in Formal Recruitment for Winter 2006, but TSO continued to grow
Spring 2006, TSO had been a colony for a year and could begin to look for national affiliation
TSO ultimately decided to affiliate with KKG because of their dedication to leadership, philanthropy, and scholarship
TSO affiliated with Kappa on October 16, 2006 and became the Eta Kappa colony
Allowed to participate in their first Formal Recruitment in winter 2007
Illinois Wesleyan (Epsilon Chapter) acted as mentors and key sisters for the Eta Kappa colony
Eta Kappa was installed as a chapter on March 4, 2007
The national President of the Fraternity, Denise Rugani, came to install Eta Kappa
Fall 2008, Eta Kappa got their house!
Began a tradition in spring 2008 of holding a scholarship banquet to recognize professors and build positive Kappa-faculty relationships
Formal Recruitment 2009, the women of Kappa Kappa Gamma were the only sorority to reach quota (Went over!)
Co-hosted Province in February 2009 with Monmouth College (Alpha chapter), and received a Membership Award at the banquet
TSO met at the pool at Knox to finish their Alpha document because Stephanie was lifeguarding at the time
Greek Week Champions 2007, 2012, 2013
Started Win-A-Date (previously called Date Auction) fundraiser in 2007 to help schools in Uganda. It raised $1,500 that year, and has been geared towards a different philnathropy every year since. 2013 raised $2,056!
In the 2007-2008 year, Eta Kappa made an appearance in every issue of The Key
We are Region 5, which includes many schools in Illinois, Michigan, and Iowa
We are the Epsilon South province, which includes Monmouth (Alpha) and Illinois Wesleyan (Epsilon)
Fraternity Loyalty Award Recipients:
Fraternity Alumnae Achievement Award Recipients:
From the beginning
Installed in early March, 2007, Eta Kappa Chapter at Knox College is located only 13 miles from Monmouth College and the Stewart House Museum, home of Founder Minnie Stewart. The college was founded by social reformers who opposed slavery and believed in the potential of all to learn, grow, and contribute to the greater good of the community. Knox was one of the first colleges to admit African Americans and women and remains one of America's historically significant liberal arts colleges and is the only remaining site of the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858. The City of Galesburg, approximately 50 miles east of the Mississippi River, is a unique town in that it was a planned city whose purpose was fostering religious education. Knox College was the main reason for its existence. (From an official letter, November, 2006)
Kappa Kappa Gamma accepted the invitation to install its 132nd active chapter at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. The Knox Student Life Committee voted to invite Kappa Kappa Gamma to join the Greek community at Knox. Installation of Eta Kappa Chapter took place on March 4, 2007. The chapter is supported by the Galesburg, Monmouth, Peoria and Moline Alumnae Associations. Knox is consistently ranked in the top 20 liberal arts colleges in America. Most notable is its appearance in Loren Pope's book, Colleges That Change Lives, where forty schools are discussed that change the lives of their students through the students’ access to their PhD professors, an administration that is supportive of the Greek community, a high percentage of students succeeding in their graduate school pursuits, and other plaudits. Princeton Review, U.S. News and World Report and many other publications applaud this fine academic institution Knox is a private, independent college committed to the liberal arts as the best educational preparation for life. The student enrollment in 2007 was 1,245, of which 54 percent were female. More than 20 percent of the student body is Greek with five national fraternities and chapters of Delta Delta Delta and Pi Beta Phi founded in 1889 and 1884 respectively.
Kappa Kappa Gamma was honored to accept the invitation of the exceptional women of a local sorority to affiliate with the National Panhellenic Conference Fraternity. These dedicated women made a name for themselves by winning at the spring's Greek Week in their short eighteen-month history. These new Kappas were recognized for their philanthropic efforts on campus and in Galesburg.
Highlights of 2007 - 2010
On a cold March morning, members of Eta Kappa took a Polar Plunge at Lake Storey in Galesburg, Illinois. With a minimum pledge of $75.00 for the icy dip, more than $23,177 was raised for the Illinois Special Olympics.
The evening of Thursday May 8, the Gizmo on the campus of Knox College was packed with excited sorority and fraternity members clad in neon green shirts which read, “Greekalodion,” the Greek Week theme. Members had gathered to watch the popular Greek talent show and find out the winners of Greek Week events. The show was filled with a variety of acts including Kappa Kappa Gamma’s singers and dancers playfully mocking Knox Greek organizations to much applause. As it would turn out, the chapter skit would win the award for funniest performance.
Greek Week began with Sunday’s Greek Olympics with stations set up throughout campus. Monday was trivia night, which had a large turnout. Tuesday was devoted to philanthropy with a blood drive. The Boys and Girls Club donations went on all week, and each Greek organization earned points for the supplies donated. The Greeks were able to raise $125 for The Boys and Girls club as well as boxes of school supplies. Wednesday was the awards banquet. Many of the Greeks present were happy for such a relaxing, fun week, especially concerning the difficulties Greek life has taken the past year concerning local colony admittance to becoming Greek organizations. Overall, Kappa Kappa Gamma came in third place with 122 points.
For the last three weekends in October in 2008, women of Pi Beta Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma got together for a twenty minute drive north of campus to scare the pants off people. The two sororities tried something new for both of them - a joint philanthropic venture. Being sister sororities, the women realizing both of their organizations were founded “up the road in Monmouth” with both of their nationals’ philanthropy geared toward literacy, it made for a great pairing. Both chapters liked the idea of using the philanthropy as a sisterhood bonding event. The women joined together at the Country Corner Farm Market and Pumpkin Patch to work in the corn maze, running the stand or scaring people inside, and afterwards the proceeds from the ticket sales are split up among the organizations based on how many hours each works. The Kappas put their money toward Reading Is Fundamental.
On the evening of October 24th, 2008 the ladies of the Eta Kappa chapter brought students, parents, and other members of the Greek community together for their second annual “Win-A-Date” event. $1,856.15 was raised to support Girl Effect through BRAC programs for Safe Spaces and Small Loans for Teenage Girls in Tanzania. The evening was the culmination of a week of fundraising through change wars between Greek organizations on campus. The two members from each of the social Greek organizations Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Delta Delta, Pi Beta Phi, Phi Gamma Delta, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu, and colony, ATP, as well as from the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity and Sigma Alpha Iota Music Sorority volunteered to be hosts and hostesses for the dates. Local businesses donated dinner, movie, and bowling certificates, which were given as prizes to the winning bidders and their dates. Among the many generous donations made that evening was one exceptional date that sold for over $230. Eta Kappa members felt a special connection to this particular cause not only as women, but also from the personal experiences of its members. One active’s travels to Uganda inspired the first Uganda Initiative event in 2007. Another member, studied abroad in Tanzania in 2007. With this in mind, Eta Kappa chapter was inspired by Girl Effect and was proud to support the education and empowerment of women internationally.
Individual honors and awards by the chapter members included: AAINA (co-president); Alpha Phi Omega (VP Membership, Pledge Marshall, Co-chair of Book Co-op); Asian Student Association; Business Club; Campus Progress (PR chair); Carl Sandburg Literacy Coalition Tutor; Circle K; Class Officer – Secretary; Co-ed Water Polo (captain, treasurer); College Art Association; Costume Shop (T.A.); Cottage Hospital Volunteer; Cross Country; Dance Squad; Film Production Club (treasurer); Galesburg Civic Art Center Intern; Golf team; Habitat for Humanity (Event Coordinator); Harambee; Hillel Club; Intervarsity Christian Fellowship; Invisible Children (Secretary); Jazz Combo; Junior Great Books; Knox Ambassadors; Knox Bloggers; Knox College Sign Language (Treasurer); Knox County Jail Literacy Project (lead tutor); Knox County Regional G.S.; Knox Galesburg Symphony; Knox Sandburg Community Concert Band (Percussion section leader); Knox String Ensemble; Making Things Craft Club; Mortar Board (Membership chair); Odyssey Mentoring; Office of Admissions; Orchestra; Order of Omega (Vice-President); Prairie Players; Pre-Vet Club; Reading Buddies; Rep Term XV; Residential Adviser; Residential Quality Committee; Rotaract; Rugby (co-captains); SASS (PR chair); SHAG (secretary); Soccer team (captain); Spanish Club; Student Athletic Advisory Council; Student Athletic Trainer; Student Senate; Student Senate Finance Committee; Studio Theatre (Director); Swimming team; Tennis team (captain); Terpsichore (PR chair); Track and Field ; Union Board; Women’s Chorale; Women’s Water Polo (captain, treasurer); Writer’s Forum; WVKC and Yoga Club
Philanthropy 1-2-3:
As individuals with time, talents and treasures, Kappas first support their sisters; second, participate in local service projects; and third, serve the greater good. The chapter women support elementary schools, Relay for Life, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Habitat for Humanity to name a few. Chapter fundraising events support causes such as the American Cancer Society, breast cancer/Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, tsunami relief, and multiple sclerosis research. Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) was supported through the donation of thousands of books and volunteer hours to Boys and Girls Clubs, elementary schools and hospitals. The chapter also supported the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation with financial gifts and Rose McGill magazine subscription sales to help fund scholarships, confidential aid, education and training, and support of the two Kappa museums.
In May of 2009 Sigma Chi and Kappa Kappa Gamma co-hosted an ultimate frisbee tournament to raise money for the FISH Food Pantry. Proceeds from the event were donated to the pantry that provides families in need with enough food to feed them with three nutritious meals a day.
Eta Kappa chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma brought 14 Greek organizations and students together along with 35 businesses from Galesburg on Friday, October 16, 2009 in the campus Gizmo for the purpose of raising money for Valhalla Experimental Station in Guatemala. The total amount of money raised for Valhalla exceeded $1,000 dollars. The behind-the-scenes work was described as “really hard to orchestrate.” Previous to the event, the chapter did fundraising through “change wars” with a jar for the president of each Greek group at their table during meals. The president’s jar with the most money earned the title of “ultimate date” and received the biggest gift certificate. Gift certificates for places such as Q’s Café, Kaldi’s, pizza restaurants, and bowling alleys went with each date. All of the certificates were donated by businesses in Galesburg.
During the May 2010 Knox Greek Week, Eta Kappa members earned two awards: Adviser of the Year and Emerging Female Greek Leader.
Thursday, October 28, 2010 the Business Club’s Halloween Crafts Day provided an opportunity for Knox students and children from the local Boys and Girls Club to bond over Halloween-themed crafts and games. The multidimensional club along with members from Alpha Phi Omega and Kappa Kappa Gamma hosted 30 children, ranging from six to nine years old. The afternoon began with a game of freeze tag, followed by Duck, Duck, Goose and Red Light, Green Light. Refreshments were served.
On Friday, November 5, 2010 the women of Eta Kappa hosted its fourth annual ‘Win-a-Date’ event to fundraise for the BeLikeBrit foundation. The women were interested in fundraising for BeLikeBrit because a member had a family connection with the organization. According to the organization’s mission statement, BeLikeBrit works “to serve the children of Haiti by establishing a safe, nurturing and sustainable orphanage in an environment where they can grow, learn and thrive.” The money the sorority raised went towards building a new orphanage. Before the event began, the Greek men and women that went with each date package were asked to describe their ideal date, including the place and atmosphere. Each also chose a runway song that played while they were onstage, several using the opportunity to show off their dance moves. Various date packages, such as gift cards to Jimmy Johns or Cherry Street Restaurant and Bar, were auctioned off to the highest bidder. Members of 10 different Greek organizations volunteered their time to accompany the winner on each date. The successful auction raised approximately $1,850 dollars and the event had a large turnout.
Highlights of 2011 - 2019
The fraternities and sororities at Knox have distinctly different ways of recruiting members. Notably one thing that makes the college different from many other schools is that no freshmen are allowed to join the Greek system during their first term at Knox. Sorority recruitment consists of three rounds. The first is sisterhood round, the next one is philanthropy round and the third being a preference round.
2012
We began 2012 by welcoming eight new members into Eta Kappa chapter with a successful formal recruitment. In February, we held our annual Reading is Key event at the Galesburg Public Library. In March, we celebrated the fifth anniversary of our chapter, and it was amazing to see just how far we've come in such a short amount of time.
After Spring Break, we also welcomed back three of our sisters who had been studying abroad in Spain and we held COB and welcomed another three new women into our chapter. That month, we also elected our new Chapter Council, a group of strong and capable who were installed in April. The incoming and outgoing members of Chapter Council participated in a weekend of bonding and training at our annual Kappa Kabin at an advisor's cabin.
In the spring, we also participated in our campus's Greek Week, in which we won first place against eleven other Greek-letter organizations. When we returned to campus in the fall, we began work on our annual Win-A-Date fundraiser. Through cooperation with other Greek-letter organizations on campus, we were able to raise almost $2,000 to benefit the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, which has aided one of our very own Eta Kappa members. We also won Sigma Chi's annual Derby Days, a friendly competition between all of the sororities on campus. Fall term we had the highest GPA average that we have ever had as a chapter and we currently have the highest GPA of all the Greek organizations at Knox.
In the spring, Teresa Amott, was installed as the 19th president of Knox College. It was an inspiration to our chapter and women across campus to see our first female president. In the fall, Knox's Panhellenic Council voted to lower total, so we were unable to hold informal recruitment. Since then, total has been raised and we are excited to hold informal recruitment again in fall 2013.
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!
