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→Highlights of 2022:
{{Infobox Fraternity
|Name= Beta OmicronGamma Omega|GreekSymbol= BOΓΩ|Image= [[File:Beta_OmicronGamma_Omega.jpg|200px]]|Founded= {{start date and years ago|19041929|0512|1106}}|College= [httphttps://tulanewww.denison.edu/ Tulane Denison University], formerly H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College of Tulane University|Location= New OrleansGranville, LAOH|Homepage= [httphttps://wwwdenison.wixkappa.comorg/betaomicronkkg/tulanekkg Beta Omicron Gamma Omega Homepage]|Media= [httphttps://wiki.kappakappagammakkg.org/index.php?title=Category:Beta_Omicron Gamma_Omega Media related to Beta Omicron Gamma Omega Chapter]}} '''Tulane University (formerly Newcomb College of Tulane University) established in 1886, New Orleans, Louisiana''' '''Beta Omicron founded May 11, 1904 - 13 charter members''' '''2,839 initiates (as of June 2015)'''
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'''Denison University established 1831 in Granville, Ohio'''
'''Founded December 6, 1929'''
'''Fraternity Council Officers:'''
'''Fraternity Alumnae Achievement Award Recipients:'''
Finally, when the ban against national sororities was removed, Gamma Omega Chapter was installed by Florence Tomlinson (Myers, Wallace), Gamma Theta- Drake, Fraternity registrar; and Clara O. Pierce, Beta Nu- Ohio State, executive secretary; assisted by members of Beta Nu, Ohio State, and Rho Deuteron, Ohio Wesleyan. One notable aspect of the installation was the initiation of nearly half of the 300 alumnae members of Kappa Phi. Altogether some 200 of these alumnae have become members of Kappa, through additional initiation ceremonies. Marian Handy (Anderson), Gamma Kappa- William and Mary, served as co-organizer (equivalent of graduate counselor) to assist the new chapter.
The transition from Kappa Phi to Kappa Kappa Gamma was easier because of the many common goals and ideals the members of each shared. Perhaps the most serious problem was indicated by one of the newly installed Gamma Omegas who was heard to muse wistfully, "How do you ever suppose I'''Alumnae'''ll get the pin holes in my dress to go across instead of up and down!"
A long list of Gamma Omega May Queens, Homecoming Queens, Adytum (Denison's yearbook) Queens, and Military Ball Queens gives evidence of the fact that Denison Kappas combine beauty with brains. In fact, even the Kappas themselves were impressed when Kappa queens reigned supreme from Homecoming to Junior Prom to May Day in 1954-55.
Many Kappas have served and continue to serve Denison from positions of leadership in campus organizations such as Denison Campus Government, Denison Christian Association, WRA, Mortar Board, Crossed Keys (junior honorary), publication staffs, Denison Theatre, and deparmental clubs and honoraries. Each year Kappas are among those chosen as junior advisers in freshman dormitories.
Members of Gamma Omega who have won Graduate Counselor Scholarships are: Rebecca Galloway (Clark), 1940-41; Margery Lawrence (Hetherington) 1948-49; Martha Jones (Phillips), 1949-50; Jessie Pflager, 1974-75. Martha Jones became a field secretary the year after she had gone to Delta Beta, as a graduate counselor.
== '''Housing:History'''==
The Gamma Omega chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma was founded on December 6, 1929. Before the chapter became a part of Kappa Kappa Gamma, however, it was a local women's fraternity known as Kappa Phi. Kappa Phi, being the oldest sorority at Denison, had first choice to pick a national affiliation, and gladly asked Kappa Kappa Gamma if they could start a chapter at Denison. On December 6, 1929, Kappa Phi officially became the Gamma Omega chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma and 222 women were initiated.
== '''Philanthropy:Leadership'''==
The women of Gamma Omega today constantly strive to uphold Kappa Kappa Gamma’s legacy of leadership, and participate in numerous leadership events throughout the Denison community. They also hold many leadership positions on campus, including positons on the Panhellenic Executive Board, Denison Campus Governance Association, Denison Community Association and more.
Kappa Kappa Gamma has contributed to leadership at Denison through the creation of '''D.U. Lead''', a one-day leadership institute for underclassmen that occurs each September. Leadership is an important attribute to the women of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and D.U. Lead allows Gamma Omega to share this quality with the rest of Denison. D.U. Lead was created by a planning team comprised of members of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Beta Theta Pi, the Campus Leadership and Involvement Center, and Career Exploration and Development. Through this program, the participants gain general leadership skills as well as specific skills to help them and their various organizations at Denison. D.U. Lead is now one of Denison's premier leadership programs. To find more information about D.U. Lead, click here[https://www.denison.edu/campuslife/studentactivities/leadership/dulead.html].
== '''Philanthropy''' ==
Kappas participate in numerous philanthropy opportunities on campus, including both Greek and non-Greek events. In the past year alone Kappa's have put in over 1,334 hours towards community service groups such as the Denison Community Association (DCA), Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters and more! Gamma Omega collaborated in 2010 and 2011 with the DCA to host Make a Difference Day in conjunction with our Kappa Karnival event and continue to work hand in hand with service groups on and off campus.
'''Kappa Karnival''' is our annual philanthropy event, raising money for our national philanthropy Reading is Fundamental and for the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. For the past two years, we have collaborated with the Denison Community Association (DCA) to combine the national service day Make a Difference Day with our event. The event this past Fall 2011 drew over 160 kids, including Boy and Girl Scout troops, and over 240 Denison student volunteers. Service booths at the event included making holiday cards for local nursing homes, assembling and decorating bags with toothpaste and toothbrushes for Headstart, and making PB&J sandwiches for Salvation Army, Look Up Center and Water’s Edge Community center.
==Highlights of the 1990sfrom 1980s:==
In 1986, the Fraternity selected Gamma Omega to be one of five chapters to pilot a computerized bill paying and budget system program. Kappa Kappa Gamma wanted to expand this program the across the country after testing it out in various regions.
During the 1980s, many philanthropic events such as Ballon Derby and a Haunted House were held that benefited groups such as the Children of Granville and Denison County, St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital and the National Kidney Foundation.
Traveling Consultant, Sherri Gosliner, visited in 1989 and provided leadership and guidance to assure chapter members that Gamma Omega continued on the right path in the new decade. The chapter continued to work on goals such as improving the GPA, bringing about chapter unity, increasing communication with Nationals, and using our own chapter member committees.
Gamma Omega and Kappa Alpha Theta continue to plan an annual Kite and Key social event as well as events such as non-alcoholic Barn Party and Easter Egg Hunt with a local school.
Marnie O’Brien received a Kappa Kappa Gamma scholarship as a Field Representative to work as a Chapter Consultant.
==Highlights from the 1990s:==
In the fall of 1990, Gamma Omega was taken off Fraternity Council Action. The chapter women took pride in their house, improved their GPA and were recognized for campus involvement and improved scholarship.
Campus involvement included members on varsity swimming, varsity lacrosse, varsity soccer, Peer Advisory Network, Hungry and Homeless Community Service, Dean’s list, DCGA, Student Ambassadors, Judicial Council, House Council, President’s Round Table, Teacher Assistants and Club Sport participants.
Philanthropic events included supporting Hungry and Homeless, the Children of Granville, Big Sister/Big Brother Organization and the Make a Wish Foundation.
==Highlights of 2011==
Our chapter was involved with the Presidential Campaign by raising awareness around campus of the importance of voting and being informed. At the Greek Awards on April 23,2012, our chapter received recognition for Most Improved Chapter GPA, and the prestigious Commitment to Fraternal Purpose. We were awarded Outstanding New Member, Outstanding Greek Leaders awards, Outstanding Greek Advisor Award, and Greek Woman of the Year.This year we participated in numerous philanthropic events around campus such as Delta Gamma's Anchor Splash, Sigma Chi's Derby Days, Pi Beta Phi's Pi Phi Palooza, Kappa Alpha Theta'Campus:s Kats with Bats, Delta Delta Delta's Pancake Breakfast, Kappa Sigma's Squash Tournament, and Beta Theta Pi' Tulane University is private university located s King of the Wings Competition. Gamma Omega held our annual Kappa Karnival in conjunction with the uptown area Denison Community Association as part of New OrleansMake a Difference Day, with an undergraduate student population of a little and brought in over 650 children from Newark and surrounding areas. The event was held in October 2012 in the Mitchell Athletic Center due to rain and had numerous fraternities,500sororities, and campus organizations represented in the event. The Panhellenic Council has been growing on campusHilltoppers, DUwop, with more than 30% of women involved in a Greek organizationand Burpee's Seedy Theatrical Co. each performed during the Karnival. This year , we were very lucky to have a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma serve on began volunteering at our new local philanthropy The Works, in Newark. For the 2012 school year, the elected executive boardchapter has participated in over 1, along with several Kappas serving as recruitment counselors and panhellenic delegates300 hours of community service through campus service organizations.
On campus this year there was a proposal for postponed recruitment that was brought up to the first year retention committee, but it hasn'''Chapter:''' Kappa Kappa Gamma is one of seven NPC-recognized sororities t developed any further. Also, party registration was implemented to help foster a safe community on Tulane’s campus, with the recent addition of Phi Mu. However, Within our chapter does not go unnoticed, as the majority of our we have 134 total members are actively involved on campus through clubs, sports, or organizations—such as the entire executive board of Up ‘til Dawn (in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital), Tulane Emergency Medical Service, Peer Health Advocates, and the Student Conduct Board. The women of Beta Omicron balance all of these activities with academics, achieving an increased average GPA of 3.346 for Spring 2009—the same as the all sorority (3.346), and higher than the all greek (3.286), all women’s (3.278), and all student (3.226) average at Tulaneincluding 53 new members.
==Highlights of 2014==
Our philanthropy chair chose this organization in the hopes that it would promote more chapter interest than The Works did in the past.
This past spring we initiated 18 new members and we initiated an additional three new members in the fall through continual open bidding.
In the past year, we have supported numerous organizations philanthropy events including Anchor Splash (Delta Gamma), Tug of War (Beta Theta Pi), Lambda Haunted House (Lambda Chi Alpha), Phi Psi Relay (Phi Psi), D-Chi Car Smash (Delta Chi). We also had a team for Relay for Life.
The spring of 2015 got off to great start with an amazing recruitmentGamma Omega chapter meets at 110 N. This year’s Bid Day went off without Mulberry Street, a hitch. Bid Day was held on MLK day for the third year in a rowhouse we own, which where we hold weekly meetings in the past was usually a day of service of Tulane Students. Bid day was held late in the afternoon so all Greek women could still participate in the day of serviceThe house is located on South Quad. Many Members of our members participated Gamma Omega do not live in local service activities throughout the New Orleans communityhouse, but instead use it for our weekly chapter and council meetings, as a place to hang out with fellow sisters, or to do homework. All actives were on their best behavior during Bid Day to make sure that the Our house mom Cheryl Moore is new members felt welcome and comfortablethis year.
The month of November was filled University has recently opened new Social Spaces on campus which has allowed our chapter to more easily engage with philanthropy events. At the start of the month, we held our biggest event, Kappa KollectionDenison community. We had The Greek community as a whole as worked a lot of new vendors this year, which was excitingon increasing Greek unity between the different councils represented at our school, and we were able to raise money for the New Orleans Womens shelter Kappa has fully embraced this push by attending philanthropy and The Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. After electing a competent nominating committee our chapter was presented with a new slate during mid November. Members voted to approve the entire new slate the following weekeducational events hosted by other councils as well as attending events from Denison’s first Greek Week.
==Highlights of 2020s2020:==
Gamma Omega began 2020 with a highly successful formal and informal recruitment process in January. Three of our active members served as Rho Gammas during the recruitment process. The chapter welcomed 18 new members on Bid Day, and then recruited an additional 5 new members through informal recruitment in the following weeks. Bid Day 2020 was “Friends” themed, with outfits inspired by the hit TV show, and featured ice skating with the new members and actives. After recruitment, the VPO hosted our annual Leadership Day as we transitioned officers, with 5 returning council members and 14 new council members. We decided to incorporate a new council position at the start of 2020, naming Anna Mae Murphy as Gamma Omega’s first Sexual Respect Chair. The new member class was formally pledged at the beginning of February and began their EME training, which occured before chapter every Sunday. At the end of February, Denison hosted an FSL (See Fraternity & Sorority Life) Leadership Retreat for all Denison Greek Presidents and Representatives with the intent of creating connections between the different Greek Councils and Chapters. The Gamma Omega President, Lily Anderson, and Panhellenic Delegate, Lillian Morrow, were in attendance. March was a very difficult month for the Gamma Omega Chapter History Report) Highlights (scholarship. We planned to hold initiation on March 28th, during the week following spring break. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic reached the United States, Denison informed students that spring break would be followed by a 2-week period of remote learning with the hopes of returning to campus by April 3rd. Although the administration hoped that students would be able to return, they encouraged students to pack up their belongings in the days leading up to spring break and prepare to move home. On March 16th, Denison made the announcement that the remainder of the semester would be virtual. Because of the pivot to remote learning, the chapter’s Event Chair, Ariana Aulisi, was forced to cancel the off-campus formal that she had planned. The House Chair, Zoe Smith, and House Board President, Tina Tracy, supported members in the spring by allowing them to store some of their belongings in the Kappa House during the quick move-out. House Board was also able to move forward on renovations to the laundry room and office, as well as plan for redecoration of many rooms in the Kappa house. While at home, Gamma Omega maintained weekly council and chapter meetings over Zoom and Google Meet. Before the transition to remote learning, Stella Boeckman, the Philanthropy Chair, was planning a spring philanthropy event called Kans for Kappa, which was intended to be a food drive for Center for Hope. Following the collection, Kappa members were then planning to go to a Center for Hope location and put together activity kits for students. Additionally, Kappa was partnered with the Boys and Girls Club in Newark, where Kappa members were able to volunteer weekly. However, when the pandemic hit, Stella stepped up to the plate and created a new virtual philanthropy event. She hosted a virtual fundraiser and raffle in April, raising a total of $881 for the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s COVID-19 Response Fund to help healthcare workers, vulnerable individuals, and hygiene promotion activities. With guidance from District Specialists, the Marshal, Madison Gordon, coordinated a virtual initiation for the new member class. Madison reached out to relatives of Legacy new members and invited them to the Zoom initiation to support their daughters and nieces. On April 30, 2020, 23 of the 24 new members were successfully initiated over Zoom in a ceremony lead by Kappa Headquarters. During the month of May, the senior members of Kappa were able to read their letters to the chapter during the final two virtual chapter meetings. The 9 graduating seniors were sent stoles, small gifts, and letters from their kappa families in place of the traditional senior brunch. Additionally, Gamma Omega had three virtual pinning ceremonies following chapter meetings. Denison implemented a pass or fail option for all courses due to the stress and complications of the spring semester, which allowed for students to elect to take their courses as pass or fail rather than for a grade. This prevented the VP Academic Excellence, Talia Zeiger, from receiving grades. Although she could not make Academic Progress Plans without grade reports, she worked hard to provide support for struggling members. In place of the traditional “Finals Pizza” event, honors/Talia sent Kappas who had received awardsand scholarships handwritten letters and Kappa stickers in the mail. Over the summer, the chapter President attended the virtual Convention, and the Kappa Patter Newsletter was sent out. Denison announced plans for returning to campus, with strict guidelines placed on Greek organizations. The majority of Gamma Omega’s members returned to campus for the fall semester, with a few studying remotely from home. With the no-gathering order from the National Panhellenic Council in place, Kappa worked to recruit members through the COB process virtually, as well as to host virtual sisterhood events. The Membership Chair, Meghan Callahan, recruited two new members, special and Bid Day was celebrated virtually. Gamma Omega’s VP Standards, Emily Muckle, organized virtual sisterhood eventsincluding trivia nights, a movie night, and, once restrictions were lifted, a socially distant bonfire and s’mores night. Additionally, our PR Chair, Helen Nickerson, organized an ongoing virtual yoga and workout session. VP Academic Excellence, Talia Zeiger, continued to name members “Smartie of the Week” at chapter based on kappa member nominations. In October, when some restrictions were lifted, The Marshal, Madison Gordon, began organizing ritual events including Formal Pledging and Formal Chapters in a hybrid format, with the Chapter President, Marshal, and Tech Consultant socially distant in the Kappa house and the rest of the members on Zoom. Additionally, Kappa members participated in philanthropy events for other Greek organizations at Denison, including Tri Delta Kickball and Delta Gamma’s Anchor Splash. For the first time in several years, Kappa won the Anchor Splash Dance competition. Gamma Omega’s annual philanthropy event was hosted on October 31st. In order to make the event safe, the Philanthropy Chair created a new event called Kappa Carving. This event featured a socially distant pumpkin carving competition which raised $1,643 for Reading is Fundamental and the Conscious Kid. In November, the Marshal hosted a successful I-Week, with some events in-person and some events virtual. She consulted with her Specialist and received permission to host in-person F-Side and Initiation, with limited participation and social distancing. On November 14th, Gamma Omega initiated three members with only essential members present for the ceremony. Following initiation, the new actives experienced their first formal chapter and also participated in the Behind Happy Faces program provided through Kappa HQ. The VPAE sent out care packages to those who applied for scholarships and graduate or medical school which contained a handwritten note and stuffed animal. She also hosted the “Wise Owl” event, where older actives assist younger actives with course registration, virtually. During nominations for new council, Gamma Omega decided to create a Diversity Chair position, and service projectsDestiny Gonzalez was elected in the position. Toward the end of the semester, etcGamma Omega received a focus letter, indicating that chapter operations needed to be improved. The incoming and outgoing council members collaborated with the Gamma District Specialists and Gamma Omega Advisors to create an action plan in response to the focus letter.This plan was centered on improving chapter communication and operations. Many Gamma Omega members received scholarships, honors, and awards in 2020. Talia Zeiger (’21) and Madison Gordon (’21) both received scholarships from the Denison Theatre Department. Annika Kanuckel-Wolfe (’22) was inducted into Theta Alpha Phi theatre honorary, and Madison Gordon (’21) was elected President of Theta Alpha Phi. Alli Holmes (’21):was in the Top 50 Student Athlete GPA. Jessica Crabtree (’22) received a Scholarship for Excellence in English, and Sarah Wilson (’20) received an English Department Scholarship as well. Kyra Colah (’21) was named a Senior Fellow in the Communications Department, and Talia Zeiger (’21) was named a Senior Fellow in the Psychology Department. Lillian Morrow (’22) was inducted into the AED Pre-Health Honorary Society, and Lily LeVanis (’21) was inducted into Phi Alpha Theta history academic society, as well as named a Senior Fellow in the History Department. Meghan Callahan (’21) was elected Vice President of the Mortar Board, Jordan Zelvin (’21) was elected Historian of the Mortar Board, and Tori Sauve (’21) was inducted into Mortar Board.
Gamma Omega created a Diversity and Inclusion position and named Destiny Gonzalez to the position. Additionally, the chapter council worked to create a unified statement from Gamma Omega chapter and create social media posts.
[[File:Gamma Omega 2020.jpg|thumb|GO, '20]]
[[File:Sisterhood.jpg|thumb|Denison]]
[[File:COVID Activities.jpg|thumb|COVID Activities!]]
[[File:COVID Safe Sisterhood.jpg|thumb|COVID Safe Sisterhood]]
[[File:COVID Sisterhood at Gamma Omega.jpg|thumb|COVID Sisterhood at Gamma Omega]]
[[File:Hello From Denison.jpg|thumb|Hello From Denison]]
==Highlights of 2021:==
As the Covid-19 pandemic continued to change many lives this year, Gamma Omega began 2021 with a round of exciting virtual recruitment. The chapter worked together to make fun decorations and goody bags for each of the active members to set up in their rooms. Though it was new for everyone, it was still extremely fun and successful and got our year off to a great start! Bid day was held in shifts in the house with socially distanced activities for all the new Kappas to run home to. This was the first in-person event after a long year of virtual meetings, so it was a big day for activities and new members alike. In the next few weeks, Gamma Omega continued holding virtual chapter meetings and events, such as the spring Leadership Day, with the new 2021 council. This council worked diligently to strengthen the chapter as a whole by working through the focus letter sent to Gamma Omega the previous year. Some new additions included weekly Minerva Moments from Marshal Katie Lauck, greatly improved communication and collaborative efforts from VPO Zoe Smith, and monthly advisor check-ins for all officers.
In February all new members received their bigs in an exciting big/little. Most families were able to meet in person and others met over zoom to accommodate quarantine sisters as we continued to navigate the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Not long after, Gamma Omega held its second ever combined initiation ceremony. The pledge class was split into three different groups and initiation was done in rounds with restricted numbers of members present to accommodate the social distancing and gathering limitations set both by Kappa and Denison. Gamma Omega continued to find creative ways to work with these protocols the rest of the spring semester to keep sisterhood spirit alive. Members participated in fun online activities such as trivia competitions, bonfires, or movie nights as was available. In April, VPAE Hannah Gilson hosted the first ever Donuts and Deadlines, which has since become a tradition, to boost morale and give members a chance to meet up, hang out, and enjoy something sweet while the semester began to hit it’s most difficult point. Gilson also hosted a virtual workshop with the Knowlton Centre for Scholarly Engagement for members of Kappa and the Denison Panhellenic community at large to learn about building resumes and what to expect for virtual internships in the coming summer. Also in April, Gamma Omega held Kappachino as their philanthropy event to support Reading is Fundamental and hosted the first Kappa Cookout to give members a safe outdoor environment to spend time together before saying goodbye to the senior class.
When Denison returned for its fall semester, the chapter was finally able to hold in person events again and returned to weekly chapter meetings in our house. Gamma Omega wanted to really focus on sisterhood events since our chapter had been so long constrained to zoom screens. Some activities that were introduced include weekly wellness walks with Risk Chair Annika Kanuckel-Wolfe, sexual respect movie night dialogue with Sexual Respect Chair, and passing out candy to trick-or-treaters on the house stoop. Our chapter also hosted COB recruitment in October and was able to have the first chapter-wide in person bid day since spring of 2020 on October 9th with a wild west theme planned by both New Member chair Bree Phillips and Recruitment Chair Olivia Hervey. The next day, Gamma Omega participated in Delta Gamma’s annual Anchor Splash philanthropy, and a group of our members travelled to the OSU Kappa house for our first ever joint Founder’s Day celebration.
At the end of October, our chapter held a Halloween formal, planned by Event Chair Maggie LaMaster, which was the first formal in two years and showed to be a great success.
Leading up to COB initiation, Marshal Katie Lauck held various ritual reviews and New member Chair Bree Phillips hosted a successful fully in person big/little reveal. Also during this time the AE committee held a registration dinner for all sophomores to help them plan for the coming semester as well as the second Donuts and Deadlines events, both of which were widely attended and enjoyed by the chapter at large. On November 12, a fully in person F-Side was held with the entire chapter and was followed by the annual chapter sleep-over–the first in two years. Members played games, ate pizza and cookie dough, and bonded over the release of the All Too Well short film premiere. The next morning, our new members were initiated in a combined ceremony with the entire chapter there to support them. The following day, Philanthropy Chair Kaylah Linkiwicz hosted Kappa Karnival as our first ever philanthropy event aimed towards supporting the new Kappa philanthropies. Gamma Omega also voted in the 2022 council on this day after a long run of insightful work done by the Nominating Committee headed by senior Zoe Smith. As we move into December, the chapter has begun preparing for the upcoming spring recruitment and looks forward to our second formal– a mytie event being thrown on December 11. Overall, this has been a year with many ups and downs as the chapter navigated a changing social scene and worked to increase communication and sisterhood within the chapter, but nonetheless, Gamma Omega has grown stronger, closer, and better through it all.
==Highlights of 2022:==
Isabella was initiated! and Larisa became her mommy!
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Your efforts will ensure a complete and accurate history of your chapter for future generations to enjoy!