Eta Upsilon
Highlights of 2013
In the fall of 2009, Alexandra Miller and Phoebe Holeman created the local sorority, Gamma Epsilon, at Wichita State University (WSU) campus. They created this group with the intention of bringing a new sorority to the Wichita State campus. During the following spring semester, Alexandra and Phoebe recruited Peggy Ward, faculty member at Wichita State, to serve as the Gamma Epsilon faculty adviser. In the fall 2010 semester, Phoebe and Alexandra, along with Lindsay Ann Dickmeyer, Laura Gerber, Julie Scherer and Ashley Abedini, all founders of Gamma Epsilon, recruited the first class of Gamma Epsilon. They also created the symbols and ritual during this semester. In the spring 2011 semester, Gamma Epsilon presented their intentions to become an NPC sorority to the Wichita State Panhellenic. The Wichita State Panhellenic community voted to open for extension in the fall 2012 semester. WSU sent information to NPC regarding the university’s and Gamma Epsilon’s intentions. During the spring 2013 semester, Gamma Epsilon became an associate member of the Women’s Panhellenic Association at Wichita State after growing to a member count of 35 women. Kappa Kappa Gamma and Phi Mu were each chosen to present to the Wichita State Panhellenic community. Gamma Epsilon and WPA voted to extend an invitation to Kappa Kappa Gamma to join the Wichita State Greek community.
During the rest of the spring 2013 semester and the following summer, Kappa Kappa Gamma worked with WPA and Wichita State to prepare for its upcoming colonization. Kappa Kappa Gamma participated in the first two days of formal recruitment in fall 2013. After the end of formal recruitment, Kappa Kappa Gamma began its marketing campaign which consisted of tabling, information sessions, communication with the fraternities and sororities, and use of display cases and bulletin boards around campus. Kappa Kappa Gamma also participated in the WSU Back to School Bash and the Student Involvement Fair.
On September 26, Kappa Kappa Gamma held two Colonization Kick-Off Events in the National Institute for Aviation Research building on WSU’s campus to formally introduce interested women to the opportunity of membership in Kappa Kappa Gamma. The colonization team was assisted by several Wichita area alumnae and women from the Gamma Alpha chapter at Kansas State University. The weekend continued with Kappa Interviews conducted by Wichita alumnae on September 27 and 28 in Devlin Hall on campus and an invitation-only final preference round on September 29 in the National Institute of Aviation Research building. The celebrations continued into the afternoon with Greek reception and bid day activities.
The 40 new members of the Eta Upsilon colony were given their first Kappa t-shirt, a KKG tote bag and several KKG swag items. Their chapter supplement and Kappa Notebook were also given to them to use during the New Member program. The colony also took its first official bid day pictures with large wooden blue KKG letters made by a local alumna’s husband. The New Member program started the following day on September 30 and ended on November. At the end of the week, the chapter’s fireside was held at a local country club and the installation ceremony took place at the Marriott on November 16.
As new members, the original women participated in many activities that could support the bonds of sisterhood. KKG women participated in Shockertober fest capture-the-flag events and won first place. They also participated in intramural flag football, volleyball and supported other WSU and Greek events such as Songfest, Delta Gamma’s Anchor Splash, Sigma Phi Epsilon’s Chili feed, Gamma Phi Beta’s Grilled Cheese feed, Phi Delta Theta’s Spaghetti Feed, Delta Upsilon Teeter-Thon and many more activities. KKG women also personally supported Wishes over Wichita by volunteering to sell tickets and assisting in running the event at the Benton airport. They also had a few sisterhood events including movie nights, a new member retreat and various outings. Also during the New Member Program the women learned exactly what it means to be a kappa.
Inspiration week began with Leadership Consultants, Jordan Newsom and Madison Taylor, coming back to Wichita to install Eta Upsilon with Chelsea Dyer, Chapter Consultant. On the first night of Inspiration Period, the last new member meeting consisted of officers being elected. Throughout the rest of the week, the new members went to a local corn maze and decorated pin boxes for their keys. Friday November 15, Eta Upsilon began the chartering process by joining Gamma Alpha chapter of Kansas State University, and alumnae for Fireside at a local country club. On November 16, 2013, the official Eta Upsilon chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma was chartered with Julie Leshay, the current Fraternity President, who resided over the Installation.
After installation, the ladies of Eta Upsilon had two official meetings before the end of the semester. They discussed their plans to help Kappa grow into a lasting sisterhood. With a strong start, the women of Eta Upsilon know they have all the keys for success.
Wichita State University has been under construction since 2012. Different buildings are being remodeled including the Rhatigan Student Center. The main parking lot on campus is becoming a new student dormitory, Shocker Hall. These changes are projected to be done, hopefully, by this coming summer of 2014. Marshallville was a trending topic created by the student body at Wichita State during the Fall 2013 to raise support for the men's basketball team due to their achievement of making it to the NCAA’s Final Four Tournament in their previous season.
