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'''342 306 initiated members (as of June 2018March 2022)'''
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In 1957, innovation and entrepreneurship brought University of Waterloo into being, as a group of business leaders imagined a new university built to tackle some of the world’s most daunting challenges.
University of Waterloo, commonly referred as Waterloo or UW, is a public research university whose main campus is located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is in Uptown Waterloo, adjacent to Waterloo Park. The university offers a wide variety of academic programs, administered by six faculties and ten faculty-based schools. The university also operates four satellite campuses and four affiliated university colleges. Waterloo is a member of the U15, a group of research-intensive universities in Canada.
The University of Waterloo was created as a non-denominational board established by Waterloo College (the present-day Wilfrid Laurier University) to obtain government grants to run expanded science programs under the name Waterloo College Associated Faculties. The university was established in response to community demand for improved education facilities, particularly in technical and scientific fields of study. The first 74 students began classes in 1957. In 1959, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario passed an act which formally split the board from Waterloo College and reestablished it as the University of Waterloo.Renowned for the success of its cooperative education programs, Waterloo now has the largest engineering school in Canada. The university enrolled approximately 240,000 students in 1994.
==Highlights of 1980s- Kappa Gamma Phi ==
In 1986, there was one fraternity at Waterloo. This fraternity was Delta Omega Chi which became Theta Psi chapter of Sigma Chi in March of 1987. At that time there were no other Greek societies. A woman student who had been associated with Delta Omega Chi realized the advantages of this type of society and decided to begin one for women. She put an ad in the campus newspaper asking if there were other women on campus who would be interested in starting a sorority. She received several responses.
==Highlights of 1990s- Petition to NPC ==
In 1993, Kappa Gamma Phi decided to petition some international sororities for membership. The members assembled packets with information about Waterloo, the UW campus and Kappa Gamma Phi. Kappa Kappa Gamma and Delta Delta Delta both responded and came to the campus to make presentations. The chapter members thought the values of KKG were similar to those of KGP and voted to become a Kappa colony.
This year we participated in sisterhood events that acted as stress relievers from our busy academic schedules, but also played an important role in strengthening our chapter’s sisterly bonds. Some of the highlights include a trip to Skyzone, yoga, destressing spa days and board game days. We also had an amazing Touch of Klass to end off the term which was run by Isabelle Lavallée-Gordon at an anticafe that featured lots of desserts and many opportunities for sisters to bond with each other and reflect on the past term.
==Highlights of 2020==
Zeta Omega sisters tuned into the Kappa 150th Anniversary Facebook Live event from all over the globe. On October 18th, 2020 the Marshal, Jade Dayman, and the Education chair, Alice Sandiford organized the Founder’s Day Ceremony, led by Chapter President Erin Murray.
==Highlights of 2021==
At the Zeta Omega Chapter, our year started off strong with a virtual Leadership Day held by our Vice President Organization, Payton Ford. Here we ushered in our new 2021 Chapter Council, and discussed our goals for the term.
Our Vice President Standards, Jade Dayman, held a programming educating chapter on the functions of the Standards Committee, Standards Concerns, Membership Support Plans, and the Kappa Konfidant form, where sisters can anonymously or non-anonymously share their concerns with the Standards Committee. In the Winter term, Jade ran 3 amazing virtual Sisterhoods. We had a Presentation Night, where sisters could present on any topic of their choice. We learned about Twilight, Spencer Reid’s best looks, Kombucha, Drag Race, and more! Our second Sisterhood was a yoga session. We rounded out the winter term with a Virtual Escape Room night with KW Escapes. We had to work together to get through different scenarios, like a twister or a jail break. In the fall term, we continued to hold virtual Sisterhoods. We held a Sisterhood Retreat, with team bonding and ice breakers, as well as a virtual game night. Since restrictions started to lift this term, we got to hold our first in-person Sisterhood since February 2020! We had a crafting day, where sisters painted canvases, tie-dyed shirts, and made friendship bracelets.
Alice Sandiford, our Vice President Academic Excellence, worked hard this year to make sure that sisters felt supported and connected academically. She implemented the Saturday Organization Cafe, which was a hit! Every Saturday, sisters could join a Zoom call to start their day, plan their upcoming weeks, and chip away at assignments. This was a great opportunity for us to spend some time together, catch up, and get a jump start on the week ahead. Alice also implemented the Study Dates slack channel, where sisters could post Zoom meeting links to find study buddies to work with outside of the Organization Cafe. When restrictions eased in the fall, sisters also got to use this channel to plan real-life study dates on campus and at local study spots.
The Winter Academic Excellence Committee, consisting of Alice, Erin Coughenour, and Amy Wohlgemuth held Academic Goals Programming. Our VPAE and VPS also teamed up for Mental Health Programming, where we, as a chapter, discussed accessibility within chapter. Our Fall Education Chair, Amy Wohlgemuth, facilitated Courage to Commit.
In the year 2021, the Zeta Omega chapter was still navigating the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the restrictions placed upon us by the Ontario government, our Winter Events Chair, Grace Flanagan, planned many fun and safe socials that helped us grow our Greek relations. We celebrated Valentine’s Day through a Virtual Crafting Brunch with the ladies of Alpha Omicron Pi, played Among Us with the Waterloo chapter of Sigma Chi, had our first social with the gentlemen of Alpha Epsilon Pi, and even participated in a virtual Greek Olympics held by Wilfred Laurier University’s Alpha Phi. We even got to connect with our Kappas Sisters over at the Beta Psi chapter in Toronto, through virtual social on Zoom. Our Winter Term capped off with a Virtual Sapphire Ball, honoring our Senior Sisters and sending them off. In the Fall Term, we held a pumpkin painting social with AOII.
Our Winter Education Chair, Montse Herrera and our Marshal, Erin Coughenour, held a virtual senior send off ceremony that sent our Winter senior sisters off into their alumni status with a reminder of how far they’ve come since their Initiation days. Along with Senior Sendoff, Montse also organized a movie night for the Senior Sisters, held a “Who’s That Baby” competition, and hosted a Virtual Alumni Event with our Winter PR Chair, Megan Morse.
For Fall 2021 Recruitment, we were lucky enough to hold some in-person and hybrid events since restrictions started to lift within this time. Our Membership Chair, Chantel De La Cournueve, worked with the ladies of Alpha Omicron Pi and the UW Panhellenic Council to plan a safe hybrid recruitment. Chantel held a workweek workshop in mid September to prep our members on the rules and regulations of recruitment, as well as prepare members to be able to talk to PNMS. Through virtual and in-person events, we welcomed an initial member class of 5 amazing women. We further decided to move into continuous open bidding, and through this process found 3 more new sisters of the Zeta Omega Chapter. All in all, our fall recruitment process brought 8 new sisters to our chapter.
Chapter Marshal, Erin Coughenour, held a virtual Inspiration week for Winter 2021. This term’s Inspiration Week focused on senior sisters, including Senior Sendoff Ritual. Quiet Night consisted of Ice Breakers, Warm Fuzzies, and a Virtual White Elephant Game. Virtual formal meetings brought new challenges to chapter, but through Ritual Reviews she educated chapter on meeting etiquette and parliamentary procedure to continue keeping ritual alive and well in a virtual setting. This fall, we held our first in-person Initiation Ceremony since November 2019. The 8 members of MC21 were initiated on Saturday, November 20, in the presence of current active members of Zeta Omega as well as alumni. This was followed by a lovely Alumni Brunch hosted by our Fall PR Chair, Montse Herrera.
Things have not been easy as a Canadian chapter. We have had to navigate strict COVID-19 restrictions, as well as sisters being all over the world. We are proud to have used this time and these challenges to become a stronger, more inclusive, and more connected chapter. We can’t wait to further navigate chapter in a post-COVID world, and grow as a chapter in the coming years.
==Highlights of 2022==
The Zeta Omega chapter, located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada is happy to announce the completion of a lovely year. Zeta Omega chapter council worked amidst COVID-19 restrictions to make sure the year was filled with new and improved friendships, individual growth, and prosperity for the chapter, the Fraternity, and individual members.
Alice Sandiford, President January-April, approached 2022 with ambition to emphasize accessibility and DEI within our chapter so that members always feel safe and welcome. Along with seven other members Alice completed their undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo in April 2022 and transitioned into their roles as an alumna members of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Zeta Omega is a small Canadian chapter, hence with 8 of 32 collegiate members graduating in May 2022 the chapter increased recruitment efforts.
For the first time in many years Zeta Omega completed COB (continuous open bidding) during the winter term. Willow Glicksohn, membership chair, organized a successful virtual recruitment resulting in the pledging of four new members into the fraternity. Amy Wohlgemuth, marshal, organized Quiet Night and Initiation the second week of March. Zeta Omega traditionally holds a Quiet Night which is a sisterhood geared towards bonding and relaxation, during Inspiration Week.
Marissa Lepp transitioned into the role of president for September 2022 with goals of expanding chapter total and deepening bonds between sisters.
Willow Glicksohn, the Zeta Omega Membership chair, led recruitment in Fall 2022. The theme of Kappa Kandyland was brought to life with candy treats for actives members and PNMs to enjoy, as well as colorful decorations throughout the venue spaces. After 4 successful events, the recruitment quota was set to 10 new members, which we achieved and with snap bidding and COB were able to welcome 11 new members to meet campus total!
Sapphire Ball was held on April 2nd, 2022, thanks to the event planning skills of Erin Coughenour and their committee. Zeta Omega handed out awards which were distributed as described below:
Presidents Award - Marissa Lepp
Outstanding Officer - Amy Wohlgemuth
Philanthropy - Iskra Velickovska
Academic Excellence - Naomi Leftwick
Sisterhood - Danica Gamboa
Chapter Goals - Jeanette Huang
Senior Sister - Erin Coughenour
Memory of Abby - Megan Morse
New Member F21 - Charlotte Thorley
New Member W22 - Hanna Meili
TOK, organized by Stephanie Cropley, will be held on December 9th where additional awards will be distributed.
Jasmin Nazarali, VP – Academic Excellence winter term, led Zeta Omega’s scholarship efforts and opportunities as a mentor, and as a source of resources, motivation, and advice.
'''Chapter Philanthropy'''
On January 30th, 2022, Zeta Omega voted on supporting CMHA for the 2023 year, in line with Zeta Omega’s emphasis on supporting member mental health.
In the fall 2022 term philanthropy chair also successfully organized two philanthropy events in conjunction with local groups.
'''Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion'''
Mira Ibrahim is DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) chair for the fall 2022 term. This is the second year the Zeta Omega chapter has had a DEI chair. DEI intends for our core values to be implemented into our everyday life while incorporating into all chapter activities; DEI is not something we can implement at times but something to be purposely integrated into all actions.
'''Connections with the Fraternity'''
Five members: Sarah Mazen, Alice Sandiford, Teodora Vujovic, Jeanette Huang and Megan Morse, attended leadership academy the weekend of March 24th – 27th 2022 in Ohio.
Two months later Willow Glicksohn represented Zeta Omega chapter as the voting chapter delegate at the 74th biennial convention in palm springs California. “It was truly a weekend I will never forget. I met amazing women from all over the continent who share the same bold, sisterly values as myself and the rest of Zeta Omega. I witnessed the installment of the new Fraternity Council and watched proudly as Zeta Omega alum Liz Wong was introduced as one of the newest Vice Presidents of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity Council. I am confident that the connections I made this weekend will be long lasting through my university days and into my time as an alum.” Image 4 shows Willow along with Liz Wong, Zeta Omega alum and newly appointed Vice President of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity council.
In September 2023 three members, Marissa Lepp, Charlotte Thorley, Nikita Hausz attended leadership academy the weekend of September 16th - 18th. Leadership academy allowed leadership skills to be developed, specifically communication and teamwork, as well as a greater bond to Kappa as a whole.
==Highlights of 2023==
Teodora V led Zeta Omega into Winter term. Hanna M, VP Operations, and Teodora V worked on enabling all chapter officers to best complete their tasks amidst a new structure. Teodora started the term looking ahead at our large graduating class and actively worked to unite Zeta Omega while preparing for the graduating of over a third of our chapter. January began with continuous open bidding organized by Marissa L, VP Membership; COB started with a crafts night and ended with a high tea open house. Active members also scheduled and engaged in coffee dates with potential new members. COB led to the pledging of 8 new members. January concluded with a beautiful Kloud 9 themed Bid Day organized by Melissa M , New Member Experience Director, where we welcomed our New Members; Emma, Carol, Mikayla, Dana, Dani, Avery, Adissa, and Tahjeira. These new members joined actives for a yoga sisterhood organized by Nikita H, VP Internal Affairs. During February Teodora V, Amy W, Nikita H and Jeanette H attended Kappa Leadership Academy in Texas coming back with many lessons and stories. Everyone came together for a Magic Mike themed sisterhood which included a movie night in themed outfits at the end of February. Zeta Omega embraced our panhellenic relations during a game night with the ladies of Alpha Omicron Pi. March included our initiation activities. Inspiration period included Zeta Omega’s traditional Quiet Night sisterhood, this year we choose to complete a group painting activity. After a beautiful fireside and initiation ceremony, led by Danica, Ritual & History Director, Zeta Omega actives and alumni celebrated our new members with a reception. Our last sisterhood for the term was held at St. Jacobs Market, a farmers’ market just outside of Waterloo, and everyone was able to enjoy some shopping with local vendors. The Winter term ended in April with a fantastic semi-formal, Sapphire Ball; organized by Charlotte, VP External Affairs. Sapphire Ball included a dinner, recognition of outstanding sisters, and involved saying goodbye to our Senior Sisters. Mellisa M received the award for Officer of the Year, Nikita H received Senior Sister award, Kate R received the Sisterhood award, Danica G received the Philanthropy award, Amy W received the Academic Excellence award, Iskra V received the Chapter Goals award, and Audrey W & Dania H received the New Member awards. We said goodbye to 8 senior sisters.
With chapter goals to increase attendance and further connect with alum Willom G, President, led Zeta Omega into the fall term. Our fall term kickstarted with a dance class sisterhood the first weekend of term organized by Amy W, VP Internal. September continued with many recruitment events led by Teodora V, VP Membership; fall recruitment followed a theme of Under the Sea. Our new members; Maddie,Keshini, Theodora, and Violet, were greeted into Zeta Omega by Jasmin N, NM Experience Director, and chapter during bid day. Embracing our Greek relations we joined the fraternity of Sigma Chi for a pumpkin carving and painting night prior to Halloweeen. A final new member, Deena, was invited into our sisterhood through COB. We started October with a big-little reveal which included a tea party for bigs and their littles. After a quick pause for Canadian thanksgiving and a well deserved reading week members partook in a glass painting sisterhood. November included the initiation of our 5 new members; numerous alumni aided in welcoming these new members into the Zeta Omega chapter and the fraternity of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Following initiation the nomination committee, led by Marissa L, developed and presented slate. November concluded with a spinning sisterhood where we all got a fun workout in; we were fortunate to be joined by an alum for this sisterhood. In early december we will conclude our term with our Touch of Klass semi-formal, organized by Charlotte T, VP External.
'''Chapter Philanthropy'''
In March, Hope C, Philanthropy Director, organized a Capture the Flag philanthropy along with the Theta Psi chapter of Sigma Chi that supported the Waterloo Canadian Mental Health Association.
Zeta Omega supported Jack.org this year as our chapter’s mental health and well-being partner through a donation from the Zeta Omega chapter.
'''Founders Day'''
Zeta Omega celebrated Founders day by attending a Founders day ceremony hosted by Toronto Alumni Association . All but three active members of Zeta Omega were in attendance at the founders day ceremony held in toronto on October 21, 2023. Active members of Zeta Omega met and chatted with active members of Beta Psi , along with alumni members.
'''Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion'''
February was Black History Month and Marissa, our VP Member Development, did a book club for the month with books that were written by black authors. Hanna, our VP Member Development for Fall, did a training session on including DEI during initiation to ensure a positive experience for new and active members during recruitment.
'''Kappa Connections'''
2023 marked Zeta Omega’s first fully in person, no restrictions year since 2019; this allowed for many improved Kappa connections. In February; Teodora V, Nikita H, Jeaneete H, and Amy W attended KLC in Grapevine Texas.In winter 2023 many alumni joined to celebrate our new members entering into the fraternity at their Initiation. Winter initiation included rekindled connections with many actives; some more senior members of Zeta Omega reconnected with their bigs and grand biggs. During the fall term Willow G attended Leadership Academy. The majority of the chapter joined the Beta Psi chapter along with alumni in the celebration of Founders day. Further, Zeta Omega connected with alumni during our initiation ceremonies. Zeta Omega continued to work on our alumni relations by inviting alumni to join a sisterhood; the alum who joined was greeted with many smiles and cheer.
