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→Highlights of 2017
We hold chapter meetings in our chapter house on the North edge of Southern Methodist University campus. Our house was recently redecorated and remains under the ownership of our chapter.
==Highlights of 2017==
This year, we placed a high focus on academic performance, Panhellenic relations, and
volunteerism on campus. We have greatly improved our academic performance to an overall
chapter GPA of and multiple chapter members received merit based awards from the University.
We drastically increased the number of girls with 4.0 GPAs and started “Academic Spotlight of
the Week” for members who exhibited strength in academics or unique academic interests.
Additionally, there were multiple girls who received academic excellence awards.
Our chapter improved its Panhellenic relations by holding an event for the whole Panhellenic
community - mental health and domestic violence awareness night as well as several socials with
houses we haven’t mixed with in the past year. We also supported other house’s philanthropy
events, including playing in the Gamma Phi Beta Moonball tournament.
Our chapter’s average volunteer hours per member drastically improved in the Spring and Fall
semesters to 8.6 and 8.4 hours, respectively. With the addition of our Hurricane Harvey Relief
efforts, we raised $2,000 with the help and support of the brothers of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
We also brought a new fundraising event to our campus called “Kappa Karnival” which raised
about $1,000 for Reading is Fundamental. Finally, our other great pride was hosting the Girl’s
Academy weekend-long retreat for middle school girls.
Our Panhellenic community is about to increase due to the highest number of girls signed up for formal recruitment in our University's history. The Gamma Phi chapter looks forward to welcoming new members into the Panhellenic community so that we can share our love of Greek Life with the rest of the SMU campus.
Historically, our chapter has raised money for Reading is Fundamental and our local chapter philanthropy, The Akola Project. Additionally, we participate in on-campus philanthropy events such as the SMU Dance Marathon and Relay for Life. This year our chapter chose to hold our very first Girls' Academy.
Reading is Fundamental is KKG's national philanthropy which we look forward to supporting each year because as college women, we understand the importance of education and the great opportunity we have been given to attend such an esteemed university where we feel we can learn to thrive.
The Akola project is another philanthropy that we cherish not only because of its mission but because it was founded by our very own Brittany Underwood, a Gamma Phi alum. She began this foundation in hope of transforming the lives of impoverished women and families of Uganda through training, employment and holistic care.
Each year our chapter has a Kappa team that takes part in the Dance Marathon to support Children's Health and Children's Miracle Network in greater Dallas. Additionally, Relay for Life is another organization that we hold dear. One of our chapter members was honored as one of the top participants. WE will participate in this again this April.
In conclusion, our chapter hosted our first Girls' Academy at a local school in Dallas. Girls Academy is a week-end long program designed to teach, motivate and empower middle school girls to be proud of who they are and comfortable in this won skins which is a cause that our chapter women really identified with and enjoyed volunteering in and putting on the event.
We meet in the dining room of our chapter house on the SMU campus.
