Changes

'''3,011 044 initiates (as of June 20172018)'''

May C. Whiting Westermann, Fraternity President 1902-1904, Grand Secretary 1919-1902, Fraternity President 1922-1926; Ruth Kadel Seacrest, Fraternity President 1944-1948, Director of Chapter Programs 1940-1944; Kelly Riggs, Field Secretary 1978-1980; Stephanie Nelson (Whiten), Traveling Consultant 1996-1997; Lori Armiger, Traveling Consultant 2002-2003; Lizzie Fraser, Traveling Consultant 2003-2004; Ann Moernius, Leadership Consultant 2009-2010, Amy Johnson Sutton, Fraternity Treasurer, 2018-2020

Throughout the 2018 year, many girls bustled in and out of the big, blue door of the white, Kappa house at the 616. With a total of 168 active women in the chapter many activities, clubs, majors, jobs, and athletics kept Kappa’s members busy. At the beginning of the year, 18 new officers were installed at Formal Meeting, and Summer Baldwin became the 2018 Kappa Kappa Gamma Sigma Chapter President. The new council members became acquainted with their positions and advisors as they met with previous officers.  Within the Greek Community at the university, Kappa’s presence was made clear throughout the year. Sigma’s Panhellenic Delegate, Kali Dodd, attended weekly meetings with fifteen delegates from other chapters, acted as the liaison between Kappa and The National Panhellenic Conference, and created opportunities for Sigma Chapter to build relationships with other chapters on campus. For International Women’s Day, Kappa teamed up with Kappa Alpha Theta and handed out goody bags in front of the Student Union in the spring. This event was a huge success, and Kappa plans to do it again next year in 2019! Kappa had the pleasure of being paired with Beta Theta Pi and Delta Delta Delta for Greek Week in the spring. The Homecoming Week theme was “Bringing Tradition Home” in honor of Scott Frost’s first season as head coach of the football team. Kappa had very high involvement in all of the events and placed in the top three for the blood drive and lawn display competitions. Kappa was paired with FarmHouse, Sigma Chi, and Pi Alpha Chi for Homecoming. Sigma Alpha was added to the Panhellenic Community this year, and Theta Phi Alpha is no longer recognized as a Panhellenic chapter. Sigma chapter received an honorable mention for Panhellenic at the National Conference in Denver, Colorado. Kappa’s very own, Andrea Harris, was elected to serve as the 2019 Panhellenic President.  During Formal Recruitment in August of 2018 over 1000 women participated in the action-packed week, visiting a total of 16 chapters each. Kelsey Martinez, Sigma’s Membership Chairman, hosted all Potential New Members throughout the week and prepared for their arrival all summer. This year, Kappa had 5 members volunteer as Rho Gammas during the week, mentoring small groups of women and guiding them throughout the week. Bid Day came at the end of the week planned by Emma Tuttle, Sigma’s New Member Chairman. Bid Day was “Kappa Kandyland” themed with pascal colored props, tank tops, glitter, colorful lipstick, hair dye, and many excited new members and actives. Chapter Registrar, Andrea Harris, organized Bid Day photography to commemorate the special day. After 52 women ran into the arms of joyful Sigma Members, 51 of them successfully completed the new member program with Tuttle throughout the beginning of the 2018 fall semester. On October 26th and 27th, alumni came to initiate the 51 new members composed of daughters, sisters, granddaughters, and nieces. Jessica Moore, Sigma’s Marshal, planned a successful, exciting, and well-rehearsed initiation ceremony for the chapter. She emphasized Kappa’s songs and traditions throughout the process.  Many changes to the UNL campus happened this year. One was that the Cather/Pound Dorms behind Neihardt Residence Hall were demolished in late December of 2017. The lot on which both buildings resided has been vacant and blocked off for a year after. Just this December, nearly a year after the implosion, there have been workers cleaning up the site and adding sidewalks through the still roped off area. Another change to the atmosphere of UNL is the Tobacco-Free and Smoke-Free Campus Policy. This new policy at the university was approved back in August of 2017, and it was put into full effect starting on the first of the year in January of 2018. In the fall of 2018, the Nebraska Huskers welcomed back one of their own, Scott Frost, to be the head coach of the Nebraska Huskers Football Team. Many excited fans anxiously awaited his influence on the team which has not been performing as well as they would like. After the Huskers finished their 2018 season with only four wins and eight losses, Nebraskans are not as pleased with Frost as they expected they would be. The Husker Volleyball and Basketball teams have been doing well during their 2018 seasons, and other UNL teams continue to exemplify success and embody what it means to be a D1 athlete at UNL. Finally, the Cather Dining Center and College of Business recent builds have been easily accommodating students and contributing to academic success and university comfort this year.   Another project that’s projected to be done in the next month or so is the addition to Sigma Phi Epsilon across 16th Street from Kappa. The fraternity has been making an addition on the south side of their house and ensuring that it matches the rest of the house’s old, genuine, brick exterior aesthetic. Fraternity, Sigma Nu, just to the North of Sigma Phi Epsilon, remains abandoned and unkept. Fraternities Phi Gamma Delta, Delta Tau Delta, and Phi Kappa Psi still remain in band standing with the university and are working to rebuild and reconfirm their fraternity values and status in the Greek and University communities.  During the 2018 year, Sigma boosted the house GPA to a 3.476 which was above the all-campus GPA of 3.274 and the all sorority GPA of 3.473. With the assistance of Colleen Doyle, Vice President of Academic Excellence, Sigma got a Chegg account in order to provide more academic assistance to all members. Kappa tried monitoring study hours on the GINsystem App to allow for more flexible study hours. This year, Sigma had an incredible 72 active members with a GPA of 3.5 and above. Sigma has also been able to provide tutors for around 14 girls in the house this year.  Kappas were extremely involved on campus in 2018. Select senior members were a part of UNL’s Order of Omega, an all-Greek honors society. Many active members played on intramural sports teams, club sports teams, and the chapter had two D1 athletes in the 2018 year: a women’s soccer player and a women’s tennis player. Women in all colleges from Journalism and Mass Communication, to Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, to Business, to Engineering, and many more were 2018 actives. A handful of Kappa juniors and seniors in the 2018 year attended the new UNMC College of Nursing in Lincoln, Nebraska, with some choosing to remain active members on special status instead of going to associates status. Kappa women participated in summer and semester study abroad programs that took them across Europe to places in Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Ireland, and to many more adventurous destinations along the way. In September of 2018, a Kappa senior, Jordyn Koenig, Vice President of the Big Red Chapter of Pheasants Forever at UNL, organized a Youth Mentor Hunt for college students to test out hunting and have the opportunity to learn how to shot from other Pheasants Forever members. Koenig and six other Kappa members participated in the event, creating an awareness and promotion of the sport across campus.  In June of 2018, six actives in Kappa accompanied by advisors and Sigma alumni attended the 2018 Kappa Kappa Gamma National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Those who attended were inspired by many generations of Kappas from across the United States. Women expressed their Kappa spirit with little golden keys, blue clothing, owl accessories, and a common theme of fleur-des-lis. Convention had officer training programs and the Sigma actives who attended, all members of the 2018 council, gained insight into their positions and ideas about how to implement changes to their position in the future. Kappas also learned about diversity, inclusion, and made changes to national Kappa bylaws and standing rules. In 2018, Kappa became inclusive of transgender women, a big step in Kappa’s goal of becoming inclusive to all women. Sigma Chapter submitted applications for awards at the Biennial National Convention, where Sigma received honorable mentions in House Board, Advisory Board, and Panhellenic. Attendees of the Convention left Denver with new ideas, forward-thinking minds, and more Kappa merchandise than they had when they arrived...   Philanthropies this year were organized by Aly Burd, Philanthropy Chairman. In the spring of 2018, she and her committee planned Mac and Keys benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association. Kappa raised a total of $5,500. In the fall of 2018, Kappa hosted Krispy Kreme and KAPPAcinos benefiting the John Atkinson Lung Cancer Foundation and $5,000 was raised. In addition, Kappa hosted mini philanthropies benefitting various organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and to Write Love on Her Arms. Kappa also hosted Reading is Fundamental events, where members would read to elementary school students at underprivileged schools in Lincoln, as well as donate books to them. In the spring of 2018, many of Kappa’s actives participated in the Big Event and Dance Marathon, University organized volunteering and fundraising events that a large portion of UNL’s student population was involved in and excited about.  Kappa had many glam formals, special events, and fun sisterhood retreats throughout the 2018 year. Elizabeth Mattern, Event Chairman, and Madison Felix, Risk Management Chairman, kept events organized and fun. Sigma was able to bring back the Sapphire Ball, a Kappa tradition in the fall of 2018. This event was a hit for all members! Events ran smoothly thanks to these two council members and were approved by national headquarters and obliged by Kappa’s sorority contract. Both council chairmen planned events with other Greek Chapters like Crush Formal and Mom’s Day in the spring and American Social, Dad’s Day, and a self-defense class in the fall.   Vice President of Standards, Sydney Hawekotte, made sure that all members were following Kappa bylaws and standing rules. She made sure that all members were reaching the standards Kappa has set in place. She also planned many sisterhood events with the help of her committee. Each member planned a sisterhood event, which occurred about every month like the October trip to Vala’s Pumpkin patch during Nebraska’s peak of the fall season. Hawekotte also hosted a public speaker, Ann Brewer, who talked about the danger and realness of sex-trafficking.   Education Chairman, Maggie DeGarmo, held both the Celebrate Sigma and Founder’s Day banquets, which both were a success. At Celebrate Sigma, Kappa honored the seniors and celebrated all the achievements of Sigma Chapter within the last year. Scholarships were also awarded to select actives of Sigma Chapter. Kappa also had a program with the seniors and the alumni where Kappa listened to a motivational speaker who was also an alum of Kappa. Kappa got to celebrate the seniors during senior week which was a great way to send them off into the real world. This fall semester, Kappa held the Founder’s Day Banquet to celebrate the founding of Kappa. Kappa also honored alums, house board, advisors, and new members, and it turned out to be a successful night. The 2018 semester ended with a senior program where the seniors did cooking classes with Kappa’s amazing cooks, Donna and Nicole, who have been working at Sigma Chapter for years. Seniors all really enjoyed it and learned a lot about making enchiladas and baked ziti.  With a new year comes new changes, and some definite changes occurred at Kappa over the 2018 year. Susan Hirt, Chapter Council Advisor, spent her last year working with Sigma actives and alumni as she prepared to move out of the state to work. However, some other advisors were introduced into the Sigma family in 2018 like Krista Hafez, Registrar Advisor. Diane Stark is still the Sigma House Mother who works hard to keep the big, white house in order and exercises her “handyman” skills, helping to fix nearly everything in sight. Kappa purchased a new blue couch, which actives call “BC”, and large chair for the living room as overseen by Alexa Berry, House Chairman. Another change of 2018 is the transitioning of paper documents to digital documents that will continue to be a change implemented throughout the coming years. President Baldwin gave other council officers a chance to look over Sigma’s bylaws and standing rules, and Sigma was able to make amendments to the way room preference works, as well as live-out parking lot time frames. Sigma also elected smaller positions for a banner chairman and a t-shirt chairman, and those selected were able to involve committees and the chapter in more events. Hannah Sickler, Vice President of Organization, kept the chapter aware of activities and events by updating the chapter calendar. She worked to restructure committee night so that it was more productive than it had been in the past. Her committee helped come up with ideas on ways to keep Sigma Chapter more organized and is working on cleaning up old files and items that are no longer of use to the chapter. Sickler also worked with two separate LCs, Leadership Consultants, from Nationals and helped host them during their visit to Sigma Chapter.  Other components of Sigma’s 2018 year included the chapter’s presence in social media. Public Relations Chairman, Sydney Lenarz, and her committee monitored all social media of active Kappas. They created new social media outlets such as VSCO, kept all social medias up-to-date for active members and alumni, put on an all-house photoshoot in the spring of 2018, and hosted a children's Halloween party called “Boo & Boo” for Kappa alumni, friends, and family in fall of 2018. The final accomplishment for Lenarz was sending out a blog/newsletter to Kappa alumni explaining what each council member had accomplished throughout their time on Sigma’s council. Andrea Harris, Sigma’s Registrar, is working to create the 2018-2019 composite, making it a tribute to the 1982/1983 composite design that depicted many mothers of current Kappa actives. Unfortunately, it was broken in the spring of 2018 when it fell off the third floor hallway wall, which lead to the idea of recapturing its design in 2018’s composite. Macie Kubat, corresponding secretary, replaced the mailboxes in the house, so that live-ins would have their own personal space to receive mail. Kubat also sent out holiday cards, gave flowers for chapters in need, and helped with house announcements. Sydney Miller, recording secretary, took minutes and attendance at chapter council meetings and every Monday night meeting. Her committee took attendance during philanthropies this year. Finally, last but certainly not least, Kappa’s finances were managed by Frannie Folson, Sigma’s Treasurer. Folsom continued to use BillHighway for member dues to be paid, was frugal and conscientious of spending, and added to and reduced officer budgets. The Assistant to the Treasurer in the spring of 2018 was Mollie Sperry and in fall of 2018 was Lauren Leapley. The assistants helped Folsom in charging freshman and other visitors for guest meals. As it is built into their dues, many juniors and seniors still eat at Kappa daily.

Within With the Greek Community at the university, Kappa’s presence was made clear throughout the year. Sigma’s Panhellenic Delegate, Kali Dodd, attended weekly meetings with fifteen delegates from other chapters, acted as ending of 2018 comes the liaison between Kappa excitement and The National Panhellenic Conference, and created opportunities for Sigma Chapter to build relationships with other chapters on campus. For International Women’s Day, Kappa teamed up with Kappa Alpha Theta and handed out goody bags in front anticipation of what the Student Union 2019 year in the spring. This event was a huge successbig, and Kappa plans to do it again next year in 2019! Kappa had the pleasure of being paired with Beta Theta Pi and Delta Delta Delta for Greek Week in the springwhite house at 616 at “Dear old Nebraska U” will bring. The Homecoming Week theme was “Bringing Tradition Home” in honor of Scott Frost’s first season as head coach Wonders of what the football team. Kappa had very high involvement in all of the events and placed in the top three future holds for the blood drive and lawn display competitions. Kappa was paired with FarmHousepolitics, social development, scientific discoveries, Sigma Chiartistic innovation, and Pi Alpha Chi for Homecoming. Sigma Alpha was added to the Panhellenic Community this yearglobal community, and Theta Phi Alpha is no longer recognized as a Panhellenic chapter. Sigma chapter received an honorable mention for Panhellenic at the National Conference in Denver, Colorado. Kappa’s very own, Andrea Harrisof course, was elected to serve as the 2019 Panhellenic Presidentlegacy of Kappa Kappa Gamma keep us attentive.

During Formal Recruitment in August ==Highlights of 2018 over 1000 women participated in the action-packed week, visiting a total of 16 chapters each. Kelsey Martinez, Sigma’s Membership Chairman, hosted all Potential New Members throughout the week and prepared for their arrival all summer. This year, Kappa had 5 members volunteer as Rho Gammas during the week, mentoring small groups of women and guiding them throughout the week. Bid Day came at the end of the week planned by Emma Tuttle, Sigma’s New Member Chairman. Bid Day was “Kappa Kandyland” themed with pascal colored props, tank tops, glitter, colorful lipstick, hair dye, and many excited new members and actives. Chapter Registrar, Andrea Harris, organized Bid Day photography to commemorate the special day. After 52 women ran into the arms of joyful Sigma Members, 51 of them successfully completed the new member program with Tuttle throughout the beginning of the 2018 fall semester. On October 26th and 27th, alumni came to initiate the 51 new members composed of daughters, sisters, granddaughters, and nieces. Jessica Moore, Sigma’s Marshal, planned a successful, exciting, and well-rehearsed initiation ceremony for the chapter. She emphasized Kappa’s songs and traditions throughout the process.2019==

Many changes to the UNL campus happened this The year of 2019 marked another successful and busy yearfor Sigma Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma. One was that At the beginning of the Cather/Pound Dorms behind Neihardt Residence Hall year, 18 new officers were demolished in late December of 2017installed at Formal Meeting, and Madison Felix became the 2019 Sigma Chapter President. The lot on which both buildings resided has been vacant new council members had the pleasure of attending Leadership Day bringing new and old officers and blocked off chapter advisors together to pave the way for a year aftersmooth transition into new roles. Just this December, nearly The goal was to help promote support between officers as well as motivation for a great year after ! Within the implosionGreek Community at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), there have been workers cleaning up Kappa made their mark at the site university. Sigma’s very own, Andrea Harris served as the 2019 Panhellenic President and adding sidewalks through we could not be prouder! Andrea worked alongside the still roped off area. Another change Interfraternity Council (IFC) to the atmosphere install a hard alcohol ban on chapter events except when served by a licensed third- party vendor which went into effect August of UNL 2019. The policy is in line with the TobaccoUniversity of Nebraska-Free and Smoke-Free Campus PolicyLincoln’s longtime commitment to reduce high risk drinking among students. This The Panhellenic Council also created a new policy at the university was approved back in August of 2017bylaw so that all candidates could be reviewed for a position on their council. Previously, and it if a member from a sorority was put into full effect starting on president a member from the first of same sorority could not be president the following year in January of 2018. In Sigma’s Panhellenic Delegate, Samantha (Sam) Barnard, attended weekly meetings with fifteen delegates from other chapters, acted as the fall of 2018, liaison between Kappa and the Nebraska Huskers welcomed back one of their own, Scott FrostPanhellenic council, and created opportunities for Sigma Chapter to be build relationships with other chapters on campus. During the head coach spring semester of the Nebraska Huskers Football Team2019 academic school year, Sam focused on increasing Sigma involvement at campus events. Many excited fans anxiously awaited his influence She focused on doing this at UNL Homecoming events including competing in the Lip Sync competition, raising money for the team which has not been performing as well as they would likeLighthouse Foundation at the block party, creating a banner, pomping for lawn displays, and participating in Homecoming events overall. After Kappa Kappa Gamma placed third overall out of the Huskers finished their 2018 season Greek Community with only four wins the help of Phi Delta Theta and eight losses, Nebraskans are not as pleased Phi Kappa Psi. We also collaborated with Frost as they expected they would beKappa Alpha Theta to help women on campus celebrate International Women’s Day. The Husker Volleyball and Basketball teams have been doing well during their 2018 seasonsDuring the fall semester of the 2019 academic school year, and other UNL teams continue to exemplify success and embody what it means to be a D1 athlete at UNLSam mainly focused on Kappa’s involvement with participating in “Greek Week” events. FinallyThese events included: banner making, the Cather Dining Center Lip Sync Competition, making lawn displays, parade participation, and College of Business recent builds have been easily accommodating students and contributing to academic success and university comfort this yearhouse tours.

Another project that’s projected During Formal Recruitment in August of 2019, over 1000 women participated by each visiting 16 chapters each. Regina Brokke, Sigma’s Membership Chairman, and Maddy Felix, Chapter President, attended Greek preview in March to be done in the next month or so is the addition speak to Sigma Phi Epsilon across 16th Street from potential new members about Kappaand give a sneak peek to recruitment. The fraternity has been making an addition on Regina dedicated her summer to redecorating the south side of their house with help from her committee and ensuring that it matches the rest of planning out the house’s old, genuine, brick exterior aestheticrecruitment schedule. FraternityDuring recruitment, Sigma NuRegina organized recruitment practice with Pi Beta Phi which was lots of fun! Alexa Berry, just to the North of Sigma Phi EpsilonNew Member Chairman, remains abandoned and unkepther committee worked hard to plan bid day which was themed “Kappa Palooza” where we welcomed 52 new members into our arms. Fraternities Phi Gamma DeltaOn November 23, Delta Tau Delta2019, and Phi Kappa Psi still remain in band standing we successfully initiated all 52 members with the university help from Clare Ellerbee, Chapter Marshal, and are working her committee. Clare worked hard to rebuild and reconfirm their fraternity values and status in emphasize the importance of ritual by educating the Greek and University communitieswhole chapter during her Program Night.

During the 2018 2019 school year, Sigma boosted the had a house GPA to a of 3.476 which was 465 ranking 9th out of 51 Greek chapters and earning above the all-campus average UNL GPA of 3.274 149 and the all average sorority GPA of 3.473455. With the assistance of Colleen DoyleLauren Kubat, Vice President of Academic Excellence(VPAE), Sigma got a Chegg account in order to provide more implemented different academic assistance to all membersprograms that had not been previously installed. Kappa tried monitoring Weekly study hours on the GINsystem App nights, individualized approaches to allow for POC, Dead Week study food and incentives, and much more flexible study hourswere started. This yearAlthough we did not improve semester to semester GPA, Sigma had an incredible 72 active a deeper appreciation and motivation of academic excellence was found among Sigma’s members . The collaboration with a GPA Katie Krzemien, Vice President of Organization, on Dead Week Study Snacks and Prizes was one of the most successful parts of 3this last year.5 Over 600 study hours were logged between the Spring and aboveFall dead weeks. Sigma has also been able Girls in the new member pledge class used this as an opportunity to come to provide tutors for around 14 girls in the house and get to know each other. Another key success from this past yearwas the purchase of a white board and a white noise machine for “Multi”, Sigma’s silent study room. Lauren Kubat’s main goal was to encourage a strong academic environment for girls to be encouraged to study smarter, not necessarily harder. Sigma Chapter has now been educated about more academic resources on campus and feel more comfortable getting academic support when they need it.

Kappas were extremely involved on campus in 2018. Select senior members were a part of UNL’s Order In February of Omega2019, an all-Greek honors society. Many active members played on intramural sports teamsPresident Madison Felix, club sport teamsVice President of Standards Kylee Hines, and the chapter had two D1 athletes in the 2018 year: a women’s soccer player and a women’s tennis player. Women in all colleges from Journalism and Mass CommunicationVice President of Organization Katie Krzemien, to Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, to BusinessVice President of Academic Excellence Lauren Kubat, to EngineeringEducation Chairman Mollie Sperry, and many more were 2018 actives. A handful of Kappa juniors VPAE and seniors in the 2018 year House Chairman advisor Kim Miller attended the new UNMC College of Nursing Kappa Leadership Conference in Lincoln, NebraskaDallas, Texas. Those who attended roomed with some choosing to remain active council members on special status instead from The University of going to associates status. Kappa women participated in summer Kansas and semester study abroad programs that took them collaborated with council members from across Europe the country to places in Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Ireland, learn and brainstorm new ideas. They had the opportunity to many more adventurous destinations along listen to speakers who demonstrated the way. In September true meaning of 2018, being a Kappa senior, Jordyn Koenig, Vice President of woman in the Big Red Chapter of Pheasants Forever at UNL21st century. The Sigma representatives attended workshops including “Courageous Conversations”, organized a Youth Mentor Hunt for college students “Life after Kappa” and many others. These members left inspired and were reminded to test out hunting and constantly have the opportunity confidence to learn how to shot from other Pheasants Forever members. Koenig and six other Kappa members participated be independent leaders in the event, creating an awareness and promotion of the sport across campustheir endeavors.

In June Philanthropies in Spring of 2018, six actives in Kappa accompanied 2019 were organized by advisors Ann Krause. Ann and Sigma alumni attended her committee planned “Kamp Kappa” which benefitted the 2018 Kappa Kappa Gamma National Convention in DenverMultiple Sclerosis Foundation and raised $3, Colorado000. Those who attended were inspired by many generations McKenna Bradley took over as Philanthropy Chairman in the fall semester of Kappas from across the United States2019. Women expressed their Kappa spirit with little golden keys, blue clothing, owl accessories, McKenna and a common theme her committee hosted “Kapiji Dog Days of fleur-des-lisSummer” with Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji). Convention had officer training programs and the Sigma actives who attended, all members Chapter raised a total of 2018 council$6, gained insight into their positions and ideas about how to implement changes to their position in 500 for the future. Kappas also learned about diversity, inclusionMadonna Rehabilitation Hospital, setting a new record in fundraising! Sigma members and made changes to national Kappa bylaws friends brought their dogs and standing ruleseat barbeque. In 2018honor of Kappa’s 150th Anniversary, the chapter decided to participate in Kappa became inclusive National’s 150 Hours of transgender women, a big step Community Service Initiative. We were able to cumulatively serve over 400 hours in Kappa’s goal the last two months of becoming inclusive to all womenthe semester! We also hosted a holiday-season toy drive. Sigma Chapter submitted applications We collected 116 new toys for awards at the Biennial National ConventionHopeSpoke, where Sigma received honorable mentions in House Boarda local mental health organization that specifically gives resources to struggling kids, Advisory Boardfamilies, and Panhellenicyoung adults. Attendees of To close out the Convention left Denver semester, we partnered with new ideas, forward-thinking minds, Blaze Pizza to raise money and awareness for the Lymphoma and more Kappa merchandise than they had when they arrived..Leukemia Society. It was quite a philanthropic semester for Sigma!

Philanthropies this year were Kappa had many glam formals and special events organized by Aly BurdEvent Chairman, Philanthropy Brooklyn Housch, and Risk Management Chairman, Brianna Oehm. In the spring of 2018January 2019, she and her committee they planned Mac a Masquerade Ball with Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Keys benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association. Kappa raised a total of $5,500Alpha Phi. In the fall of 2018April 2019, Kappa hosted Krispy Kreme and KAPPAcinos benefiting the John Atkinson Lung Cancer Foundation and $5,000 there was raiseda formal themed 80’s dress/workout. In additionThe semester was filled with dinner exchanges, socials, Kappa hosted mini philanthropies benefitting and study nights with various organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and to Write Love Greek chapters on Her Armscampus. Mom’s Day was held at Kappa also hosted Reading is Fundamental eventsas a spa night with massage chairs, polaroid pictures, face masks, nail stations, where members would read to elementary school students at underprivileged schools and lots of food. The fall semester began with a Stampede Formal in LincolnSeptember with Delta Gamma, Alpha Gamma Pho, as well as donate books to themand Farmhouse. In The second formal was the spring of 2018annual Sapphire Ball in November. Trying something new, many of Kappa’s actives participated in the Big Event Mom’s and Dance Marathon, University organized volunteering Dad’s Day was combined this semester for a Parents Weekend. We had a barbeque on a Friday evening and fundraising events that a large portion brunch the Saturday morning following. A favorite social of UNL’s student population Sigma Chapter was involved in and excited aboutgoing to the Pla More for swing dancing with Alpha Gamma Rho. The freshman attended several introductions with fraternity freshman where they got to know one another, strengthening our Greek bonds on campus.

Kappa had many glam formalsVice President of Standards, special eventsKylee Hines, worked to establish more transparency and fun sisterhood retreats throughout communication between the 2018 year. Elizabeth Mattern, Event Chairman, chapter and Madison Felix, Risk Management Chairman, kept events organized and funthe Standards committee all while maintaining confidentiality. Sigma was able to bring back Kylee educated the Sapphire Ball, a Kappa tradition in the fall chapter on probation and what nationals allows for terms of 2018probation that benefit members most. This event Kylee’s mission statement for the term was a hit for all comprised of guiding members! Events ran smoothly thanks to these two council members grow and were approved by national headquarters develop as women, and obliged by Kappa’s sorority contractshe worked hard to achieve that. Both council chairman planned The Standards committee also put together several sisterhood events with other Greek Chapters like Crush Formal and Mom’s Day in the spring and American Sociala Program Night. The night consisted of two therapists sharing information on eating disorders, Dad’s Dayhow to spot a potential disorder, and what the best next steps are to help the person being treated. One sisterhood event was “Kappa Kanvas”. This event included several artists guiding the chapter on how to paint Sigma’s signature white house. It was a self-defense class fun and memorable event for all in the fallattendance.

Vice President of StandardsEducation Chairman, Sydney HawekotteMollie Sperry, made sure that all facilitated many chapter events and programs for the current chapter members were following Kappa bylaws and standing ruleslocal alumni association. She made sure that all members were reaching Mollie worked closely with the 2019 graduating seniors, their parents, and alumni to plan the standards Kappa has set in placeend of year celebration called Celebrate Sigma. She also planned many sisterhood events Mollie worked with our adored cooking staff to build the help of her committeeannual senior gift, a Kappa Cookbook with original chapter recipes. Each member planned Mollie facilitated a senior sisterhood cooking event, which occurred about every month like the October trip where they got to Vala’s Pumpkin patch during Nebraska’s peak of the fall season. Hawekotte also hosted a public speaker, Ann Brewer, who talked about the danger learn from cooks Donna and realness of sexNicole on how to make our legendary Kappa enchiladas! Mollie facilitated an all-traffickinghouse program through nationals to discuss mental health issues that affect college students.

Education House Chairman, Maggie DeGarmoChloe Discoe, held both the Celebrate Sigma was in constant communication with our kitchen staff, house board and Founder’s Day banquets, which both were a success. At Celebrate Sigmadirector, Kappa honored the seniors chapter council and celebrated all the achievements of Sigma Chapter within the last year. Scholarships were also awarded chapter members to select actives of Sigma Chaptermaintain our beautiful home. Kappa also had a program with the seniors Chloe, Maddy, and the alumni where Kappa listened to Lauren attended house board meetings once a motivational speaker who was also an alum of Kappa. Kappa got month to celebrate discuss the seniors during senior week which was a great way to send them off into foundation of the real world. This fall semester, Kappa held “616” (our nickname for the Founder’s Day Banquet to celebrate the founding of Kappa. Kappa also honored alums, chapter house board), advisorspotential remodels, and new membersother various financial aspects. Chloe worked with House Director, Diane Stark, to schedule fire drills, inspections and it turned out to be a successful nighthandle any issues that arose in the house. The 2018 semester ended with Chloe planned a senior program where the seniors did wonderful staff appreciation dinner to thank our wonderful cooking classes with Kappa’s amazing cooks, Donna staff and Nicole, who have been working at Sigma Chapter for yearshouse director. Seniors all really enjoyed it Chloe also managed live-in room selection and learned a lot about making enchiladas contracts for both live-in and baked zitilive-out members.

With a new year comes new changesPublic Relations Chairman, Anna Mantini, worked to maintain the chapter’s overall image to the community and some definite changes occurred at Kappa over the 2018 yearalumni through various public events and publicizing chapter activities. Susan HirtAnna focused on social media webpages, Chapter Council Advisor, spent her last year working with Sigma actives the main ones being Twitter and alumni as she prepared Instagram. Her committee put on a public relations events for Saint Patrick’s Day to move out of the state to workcheer up students during midterms. However, some other advisors were introduced into They also planned the Sigma family all-house photos in 2018 like Krista Hafez, Registrar AdvisorApril which took place at the Nebraska Capitol building. Diane Stark is still In the Sigma House Mother who works hard fall, she planned “Kool Off with Kappa” for students to keep grab a free snow cone outside of the big, white Kappa house in order . She also held our annual Boo and exercises her “handyman” skills, helping Boo where alums bring their children to fix nearly everything in sighttrick or treat and play various games at the house. Kappa purchased a new blue couchMaddie Mallisee, which actives call “BC”Recording Secretary, took minutes and attendance at chapter council and Monday night chapter meetings. She made sure members were held accountable in attending events that were required and large chair encouraged attendance for optional ones. Maddie held a drawing and gave out gift cards to 10 of the living room as overseen by Alexa Berry84 members who did not miss a single chapter meeting. Olivia Hartnett, House Chairman. Another change of 2018 is Corresponding Secretary, replaced the mailboxes in the transitioning of paper documents to digital documents house so that will continue live ins could have their own personal space to be a change implemented throughout the coming yearsreceive mail. President Baldwin gave other council officers a chance to look over Sigma’s bylaws and standing rulesTreasurer, Lauren Leapley, managed chapter finances and Sigma was able continued to make amendments use Bill Highway for members to the way room preference works, as well as live-out parking lot time framespay their dues. Sigma also elected smaller positions for a banner chairman and a t-shirt chairman, and those selected were able Lauren allocated more of our dues to involve committees and the chapter officer budgets in order to make more eventsefficient use of our annual funds. Hannah SicklerThe elected Treasurer Assistant, Vice President of OrganizationEllie Hellman, kept worked to charge freshman and associate members for guest meals at the chapter aware of activities house and events by updating the chapter calendarKappa apparel. She worked Kappa began using Venmo to restructure committee night so that it was more productive than it had been in accept philanthropy donations which increased the pastamount donated. Her committee helped come up with ideas on ways To balance this, new elements of checks and records were implemented to keep Sigma track of our funds. The last in her position, Chapter more Registrar Amanda Malashock organized and is working on cleaning up old files and items that are no longer of use to bid day photos, the chapter. Sickler also worked with two separate LCscomposite, Leadership Consultants, from Nationals and helped host them during their visit to Sigma Chapterreports.

Other components of Sigma’s 2018 year included the chapter’s presence in social media. Public Relations Chairman, Sydney Lenarz, and her committee monitored all social media of active Kappas. They created new social media outlets such as VSCO, kept all social medias up-With 2019 coming to-date for active members and alumni, put on an all-house photoshoot in the spring of 2018end, and hosted a children's Halloween party called “Boo & Boo” for Kappa alumni, friends, and family in fall Sigma Chapter of 2018. The final accomplishment for Lenarz was sending out a blog/newsletter to Kappa alumni explaining what each council member had accomplished throughout their time on Sigma’s council. Andrea Harris, Sigma’s Registrar, is working to create the 2018-2019 composite, making it a tribute to the 1982/1983 composite design that depicted many mothers of current Kappa actives. Unfortunately, it was broken in spring of 2018 when it fell off the third floor hallway wall, which lead Gamma continues to the idea of recapturing its design in 2018’s composite. Macie Kubat, corresponding secretary, replaced the mailboxes in the house, so that live-ins would have their own personal space to receive mail. Kubat also sent out holiday cards, gave flowers for chapters in need, and helped with house announcements. Sydney Miller, recording secretary, took minutes and attendance at chapter council meetings and every Monday night meeting. Her committee took attendance during philanthropies this year. Finally, last but certainly not least, Kappa’s finances were managed by Frannie Folson, Sigma’s Treasurer. Folsom continued to use BillHighway for member dues to be paid, was frugal grow and conscientious of spendingdevelop, and added to and reduced officer budgets. The Assistant looking forward to the Treasurer in upcoming year at the spring of 2018 was Mollie Sperry and in fall of 2018 was Lauren Leapley. The assistants helped Folsom in charging freshman and other visitors for guest meals. As it is built into their dues, many juniors and seniors still eat at Kappa daily. big white house!

With the ending ==Highlights of 2018 comes the excitement and anticipation of what the 2019 year in the big, white house at 616 at “Dear old Nebraska U” will bring. Wonders of what the future holds for politics, social development, scientific discoveries, artistic innovation, the global community, and, of course, the legacy of Kappa Kappa Gamma keep us attentive.2020==