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→Highlights of 2018
'''Omicron founded April 10, 1880; Closed 1890 - 65 iniiates initiates (as of closure 1890)'''
'''525 535 initiates (as of June 20162018)'''
Our chapter chose these organizations by either voting on where the entire chapter wanted to spend our time or the Philanthropy chair decided our locations. Also, a few of these projects we have been partnering with for many years.
==Highlights of 2016==
The Omicron Deuteron chapter had a very successful year in 2016. Our members were able to thrive in their academics, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. We prospered in the face of adversity and ameliorated our sisterhood with events and activities throughout the year.
Our year started off with a nutrition program, where we learned about the importance of being conscious regarding what we put into our bodies. The semester continued with many other fun events including Mother- Daughter Day, Kappa Kisses, Monmouth Duo, and Spring Formal. Throughout the fall we had additional events, including a homecoming tailgate, Father-Daughter Day, Fall Formal, and Kappa Krush. Each semester we held an open house so people outside of Kappa could see our wonderful home and the changes that had been made to it. We also held Love and Loyaltea in February, where alumnae were invited back to spend a day reminiscing on their dear Kappa days, meeting current members, and sharing stories with the girls.
During the spring semester, we had three girls studying abroad: two in Argentina and one in Tahiti. Through their studies, the girls were able to enjoy a new and different lifestyle. As one of the girls put it, “the lessons I learned will follow me throughout my entire life.” Kappas were also able to explore foreign lands during their Mayterm adventures. Some of the girls traveled to New Zealand, while others went to the Dominican, another went to Costa Rica, one went to Jordan & Israel, and some event went to Paris!
The Academic Excellence committee put in a lot of effort this year to help our girls be as successful as possible in their classes, and it worked! We were able to win back the grade cup with our 3.594 GPA. The grade cup wasn't the only academic award we received this year either! Our president, Madi, traveled to San Diego for the Kappa convention, where we were honored with the Academic Excellence Award! In 2016, we truly surpassed the term “wise owls”.
Over the summer, our house was renovated with new paint throughout the first floor and the stairwells. Simpson purchased new couches and chairs for our informal living room; and additionally, house board purchased a new sanitizer for the kitchen and made it possible for us to get a new entertainment stand and new tables to go with the furniture. They also supplied the house with some new decor!
Simpson saw some changes this year, too. The art education program was terminated as a major, causing two art instructors to no longer teach classes at Simpson. The school replaced their positions with a full-time graphic design professor. Simpson added a new major, clinical health science. The clinical health science program was introduced, in part, to replace the athletic training major. Students interested in pursuing graduate degrees in Athletic Training, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, or other health-related programs are encouraged to explore the Clinical Health Science major as it “can provide the hands-on skills and knowledge necessary for admission to a variety of graduate programs.” Senior Vice President and Academic Dean Steve Griffith retired in the spring; and in the fall, it was announced that long-time professor Fred Jones, who taught classes in sociology and criminal justice, would be retiring at the end of the school year. Kappas, along with the rest of the Simpson community will miss their presence dearly.
Kappa made some changes to our Chapter Bylaws and Standing Rules with hopes that the changes will resolve any foreseeable issues within the house. The definition of acceptable excuses for absences was redefined to include a clear definition of what immediate family members consist of and to clarify that a chapter member’s birthday is an acceptable excuse. There was clarification on what appropriate formal meeting attire is and when it is acceptable to be out of formal meeting attire on Dress to Pin days. Finally, our biggest change was in the way we decide on rooming and parking. Both will now be determined by seniority using the lottery system for each pledge class. This lottery system is the same as what Simpson College uses, which is fitting since they own our home. Making the changes was tedious and took a while, we even had to table the first meeting where we
were supposed to vote on them to make further clarifications, but we believe it was worth it to create the best environment for our sisters.
We are very proud of our girls in how they have handled our challenges. The standards committee used sisterhood activities to pull the house together, boost chapter morale, and remind each other that above all, we are sisters and no matter what is going on in our lives, we will always be there for one another.
Our chapter also came together in a big way to support various philanthropies. In the spring we held our first ever Kappa con Queso, a competition-based event where people used their purchased tickets to vote for their favorite queso dip. In the fall, we decided to replace the Kappa Car Wash with a book drive to make our fall philanthropy event something that would get girls excited about humanitarianism. The new events were a huge success! Between them, we raised over $500 and collected over 200 books!
In the fall of 2016, the Omicron Deuteron chapter initiated 11 new members! Our house was blessed with an extraordinary group of girls from Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Oklahoma. The girls are each beautiful and unique in their own way and we are so happy they have found a home in Kappa!
The year had many ups and downs, especially being that it was an election year. Politics and current events without a doubt affected our lives on a daily basis. From caucuses to presidential debates, our girls were able to be involved with the election in a variety of ways. We had a standards activity where girls registered to vote and learned more about how caucusing works. This was a great, as it was the first time the majority of us would be able to vote. Simpson was also very fortunate in that a majority of the presidential candidates actually took time to visit our campus! Kappas took advantage of this, and some even got to ask candidates questions regarding their plans for the nation. Campaign stops brought a lot of attention to our little school in the heart of Iowa.
Simpson also received a lot of attention towards the end of the year for a devastating reason. Two police officers who were alumni of the college were shot and killed while working the night of November 1st-2nd. The passing of Justin Martin, ’15 and Tony Beminio, ’01 has been extremely difficult for students to deal with, but in light of the circumstances it has shown our community’s resiliency and willingness to come together, despite our differences. Kappas have shown support for the fallen officers in a variety of ways: baking cookies for the Urbandale & Des Moines Police departments, attending candlelight vigils, and donating to the families dealing with an inconceivable pain. We even came together with our arch enemy, Central, and showed support by participating in their “blue out” to pay respects to Officer Martin and Sergeant Beminio.
One Kappa has had to deal with a difficult time of her own. Over the summer, she was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. After undergoing surgeries to remove the tumor, she spent two weeks off-campus going through radiation to kick cancer’s butt. Not seeing her smiling face in the house created quite a void. Our house was missing something, and the day she came back to us was one of the highlights of 2016. We are ecstatic to say our president, homecoming queen, and more importantly, our sister, is doing extremely well!
2016 was quite a year. It was one in which we proved the strength and bond within our sisterhood. We have continued to be active on campus and represent Kappa well through our involvement in a variety of clubs, organizations, and activities. And in the years after, with tears and with laughter, we’ll always remember our dear Kappa days.
==Highlights of 2017==
The first Saturday back from winter break, we opened our doors to PNMs as a part of the Secondary Recruitment Open House. The following week we held two Continuous Open Bidding events, during which we ate snacks, worked on a craft for Reading is Fundamental, and got to know our PNMs better. On Monday the 23rd many of us met in the art gallery on the second floor of Kent to extend bids. Over the course of the next week, 8 lovely new members accepted their bids and on the following Monday we got to celebrate Bid Day after meeting.
On Saturday, February 4th we had a former member of the Bush administration visit our chapter to present about her achievements and staying motivated. Seven of our new members pledged on the 8th and the final member of our new pledge class pledged on the 9th. On Valentine’s Day, we spread the Kappa love by placing Kappa Kisses (cards with Hershey kisses) around the buildings on campus. For our sisterhood event, we went roller-skating at Skate South in Des Moines. The following week, we had our second annual Kappa Con Queso philanthropy event to raise funds for Reading is Fundamental. Teams from various organizations on campus made their own queso and competed to win best queso. The 25th was our Mardi Gras themed Mother-Daughter Day. We had a full house of moms and actives here to make masks, have snacks, and give house tours.
After spring break, we hosted Kappa Kupcakes to raise money for the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. We also hosted an alumni event, Love and Loyaltea on the 18th, where alums were welcomed back into the house and able to relive their dear Kappa days. The recently pledged new members received their bigs on March 13th. I-Week was the following week and consisted of a sisterhood event, ritual practices, and Blue and Blue dinner. We initiated six members the morning of the 25th and two on the evening of the 27th. On the 30th we hosted an open house for students, alums, friends, and family to get a peek inside of what Kappa life is like.
On Sunday, April 2nd, the seniors attended a presentation on post-grad financials given by an advisor. Simpson’s annual Campus Day was cancelled due to rain, but that didn’t stop us! Some of our sisters traveled to Park Avenue Elementary to put on a carnival for second graders. After students won a carnival game, they picked out a book and read it to a Kappa member. We loved seeing the direct impact we could have on a child’s life. The next week was Greek week. We kicked things off with an all-Greek service project. All members of the Greek community attended a SARA (Sexual Assault Response Advocates) presentation. The next day, Greek pairings competed in a volleyball tournament, which we, along with SAE, won. Everyone’s favorites ultimate musical chairs and lip sync were the next two days, and one of our very own members won Greek Woman of the Year. Kappa Kappa Gamma won second place in Greek Week. After Easter break, we honored our seniors with a senior appreciation night at their last meeting. The following week was finals and graduation. We had 12 seniors graduate on April 29th.
Many of our members participated in various May term courses and learned about music, pop culture, and the ethics of WWII. We also had sisters travel abroad for May term to London, Italy, France and Wales. After a full year of activities and traveling, we all welcomed summer vacation!
Kappas enjoyed the summer sun, but many were also hard at work with summer internships. Our sisters were out doing amazing things such as interning at Impact7G, a medical fellowship in Peru, teaching an ACT English course for high school students, and working with team Europe for the Solheim Cup in Des Moines.
As the end of summer drew closer, Omicron Deuteron chapter moved back to campus on the 22nd. We partook in a very beneficial and efficient workweek where we focused on our values and bonded as a chapter. Greek life as a whole helped the first-years move in on the 26th and classes started on the 29th. We kicked off primary recruitment events with the Greek BBQ where active members were able to mingle with potential new members and play yard games.
In the month of September the members of Omicron Deuteron participated in a three-day Panhellenic Primary Recruitment. The chapter recruited 15 new members. In addition, they added 4 more new members through COB. The new member class of Fall 2017 pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma on September 18th and September 25th. On September 23rd, the chapter held their annual Kappa Krush event where they utilized the new fire pit on campus. The girls roasted marshmallows and played games with the newest members of Kappa. Simpson announced that for any student applying for graduation from now on would pay a graduation application fee of $100.
Chapter pictures took place on October 1st. Members participated in a stomp routine for Yell Like Hell during homecoming weekend, in which we placed second. The day of homecoming was very dreary, but that didn’t keep us down. Kappa set up a tailgating tent with a photobooth in it that was very popular during the rainy day. After fall break, we had a Halloween themed big/little reveal on the 30th. Simpson approved an honors program on campus starting in the fall of 2018.
On Simpson College’s campus, we are fortunate to have the Monmouth Duo of Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi. For our event this year, we hosted a joint philanthropy event called Breakfast for Books. The proceeds went to Reading is Fundamental and Read Lead Achieve respectively. The first Full week of November was I-Week where members were able to reflect on their love for this organization using daily hashtags on social media and then veg out during a “spa night” sisterhood event. We rounded out the week with Blue and Blue dinner at the house and imitated 18 new members. During I-Week, we also had a leadership consultant stay with us. She was very helpful for all our officers and during the initiation process. On the 18th, members and their dates attended the Kappa Gamma Gala in the Kent Campus Center. Right before Thanksgiving break, we had our third annual Kappa Thanksgiving where we were all able to sit down and eat together as a family. We ended the month with an education program on Body Positivity presented by one of our seniors. Simpson announced the “Simpson Promise” which is the first year of tuition for students the following year that fall under a parental income of $60,000 or less will be free.
In the month of December the new Chapter Council was installed and received training in their new positions through joint-triplet meetings. The new chapter council also participated in a leadership day. On December 6th the chapter hosted a philanthropy event called Kappa Kappuccino where they sold cappuccinos to the Simpson community in front of the library. All proceeds went to Reading Is Fundamental, our national philanthropy. The chapter participated in “Scoops” and Kappa Christmas on December 7th, a joint celebration of academic excellence and the upcoming holiday season. Finals week began on December 12th, and on December 15th the girls of Omicron Deuteron began a much-needed winter break!
New on the Simpson campus this year is The Simpson Promise, beginning in the fall of 2018. This allows low-income students whose parents make less than $60,000 a year come to Simpson tuition free for the first year. Every year after that, they will have to pay the difference in the tuition increase. Simpson Alumni Association funded a project to get a firepit on campus, which we utilized earlier this fall. In the fall of 2018, Simpson will begin an honors program. Every student applying to graduate will now have to pay a graduation application fee of $100.
Our chapter is the most cohesive group of people we've had at Omicron Deuteron in a long time. We have had a lot of difficult things (death, other harships, etc.) to support our sisters through this year, and we have done so with grace. We work well together and hope to continue in improving our chapter.
We mainly raise money for RIF and the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. This past year, we helped raise money for the Children's Miracle Network through Dance Marathon and events for dance marathon. We have many girls that participated in the second annual dance marathon in February, and we help their committees raise money. When Kappas help with committee fundraisers, half of the money goes to RIF.
==Highlights of 2018==
Our year started off in with an open house for informal recruitment on the 20th of January. PNMs were able to tour the house, eat snacks and work on a craft for Reading is Fundamental. We were able to extend bids and gained 3 awesome new members. We hosted a bid day before meeting for our new members with the theme "Happy I Amma" in early Feburary to celebrate.
On February 5th, we were able to pledge all 3 of our new members. That same week we hosted Kappa Con Queso. Many organizations around campus came together for our annual queso competition. Teams made their queso and students on campus could pay to come try and judge them. All of the proceeds from this successful event went towards Reading is Fundamental. On Valentines day, Kappa's went around and put Hersey kisses with small loving notes on tables in Kent Campus center for students to enjoy. At the end of February, we hosted a Mother Daughter day with the theme Sweet Tea with the Fleur de Lis. Mothers of the Fraternity women came to the house for tours and to get to know the other women of the house. Many of the members purchased matching tshirts and were able to take pictures with their mothers.
March was a busy month for the members of Omicron Deuteron. Big/Little Reveal took place on March 11th where the new members found out who their bigs were during a candle passing reveal. Greek Week started the very next day with a Hollywood theme. The greek community was able to participate in event such as a lip sync battle and greek games. Kappa had a very sucessful Greek Week and won Greek Week as well as having two of our women win Emerging Greek Woman of the Year as well as Greek Woman of the year. The following week we kicked off I-Week with Love and Loyaltea on the 18th. Many alums were invited back to the house to see the house again and relive their deam kappa days. The new members were then initiated at the end of the week on the 24th. On the 27th, we hosted our first Dodgeball tournament as a philanthropy event for Reading is Fundamental. Teams could pay money to sign up for the tournament and also pay to get members back into the game. On the 30th we were able to have a sisterhood and education event where we were taught self defense. Marched wrapped up with a visit from Senator, Joni Ernst. She came to share her story and answer questions from the girls in the house.
Simpson's annual Campus Day took place in early April. Members were given the option of participating in Campus Day activites by cleaning up the local area or volunteering at local elemantary schools to read to kids. We all enjoyed making a difference in various aspects of our community. The next day, Kappa partnered with Pi Beta Phi for a Monmouth Duo event where we painted canvases. Spring Formal took place on the 14th where we were all able to dress up for A Black Tie Affair themed formal. We received a nice dinner and a night full of dancing and pictures. The next week, we celebrated Scoops where we recognized those who did well in their academics and raffled off Kate Spade items. At the end of April, we had our senior appreciation event where we were able to recognize our seniors before they graduated on the 20th.
Many Kappas participated in May Terms this year and were able to take classes such as Love and Death of Harry Potter and Call of Service. Some women were even able to study abroad to places like Spain, the Dominican Republic and Finland.
Kappas enjoyed the summer with lots of travel and relaxing, but many also kept busy with work oppurtunities and internships. Two of our women also returned back from a semester in Chile in early July.
As summer came to a close in late August, the Kappa women moved back into the house excited to start work week. We had a very efficient work week where we were able to bond with one another and learn what to do when for formal recruitment. At the end of that week, Kappas helped the incoming first-year class move in- a tradition for Fraternity and Sorority Life on Simpson's campus. Kappas were excited to get back to work when classes started on the 28th of August. On the 30th, the Greek community hosted a barbecue where we were able to meet PNMs and tell them about sorority life. During this month, we found out that we had won the academic cup for the previous semester
September started off with an Ice Cream Social where PNMs could come and get ice cream and learn more about sorority life and how recriutment later that week would work. The theme of formal recruitment was No matter the letter, we all rock together and took place the 7-9th. Many Kappas helped organize Recruitment by being Rho Gammas and officers on Panhel. Recruitment was very sucessful and we gained 12 new members. The new members were able to run home and enjoy our Rock n Roll Bid Day with a DJ, snacks and dancing. Most of the new members were able to pledge at their first meeting on the 10th. That weekend, Kappas took chapter pictures in Buxton Park. The next week we started informal recruitment where we had events where we played games, gave tours and made a craft for Reading is Fundamental. We were able to gain 5 more new members and held another bid day for them before the meeting where they pledged.
The last new member was able to pledge on October 1st. The first weekend of October was Homecoming. Kappas were able to participate in many Homecoming activities including a stomp routine where we partnered with Kappa Theta Psi and Lambda Chi Alpha. On Saturday, we held an Halloween themed openhouse where people from the community could tour the house and enjoy snacks. We also had a tailgate where people could come and take fun pictures with props. The next day, Kappa hosted a Father/Daughter day where women of the house could give their dads tours before going to Black Box to play yard games and eat chilli. On the 15th, Kappa had their Big/Little Reveal where the Big hid in a box and popped out to surprize their little. In late October, Kappa hosted Kappasta, an event where people of the community could pay 5 dollars for unlimited pasta. The proceeds of this event were given to the National Alliance on Mental Illness to show support for members of the community after an incident on campus earlier in the year.
The month of November started off with an educational program that helped Kappa women with creating resumes. Fall formal took place on the 10th where women and their dates were able to dance and take pictures with one another. I-Period started the following week which was kicked off with a sisterhood event where we put on facemasks and watched movies. Initiation took place on the 17th and 16 members were initiated. November was finished with officer elections and a visit from a Leadership Consultant to assist with officer transitions.
December started off with the new Chapter Council getting installed and receiving training in their new positions. Our chapter celebrated Kappa Christmas before meeting on the 3rd in order to celebrate the festive season. Kappa Kappaccino took place on the 4th where we sold coffee and hot chocolate to the Simpson Community. Later that night, Senior Appreciation and Scoops was held to recognize our three graduating seniors and recognize those who have done well this semester academically. Before finals, house board hosted a destress event for all of the girls in the chapter to enjoy. Finals week began on the 11th and on the 14th the girls of Omicron Deuteron began a much-needed winter break!
This year, Omicron Deuteron decided to create a new structure for their Chapter Council. The goal of the new structure was to try to get more members involved in the chapter. The newly elected officers will be the first to try this new structure.
We mainly raise money for RIF and the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. This year and in past years, we have helped raise money for the Children's Miracle Network through Dance Marathon and events for dance marathon. We have many girls that participated in their annual dance marathon. This year, we also supported the National Alliance on Mental Illness due to an incident on campus earlier in the year.
==Highlights of 2019==
==Highlights of 2020s:==
