2,350
edits
Changes
→Highlights of 2021
[[File:BDB8B4CF-679B-48AD-A543-031A5427902A.jpeg|thumb|Big Sis]]
[[File:6226319F-7F14-4CAE-8DBA-BCA73C5C8E0E.jpeg|thumb|Sisterhood]]
==Highlights of 2021==
The start of 2021 was wonderful for the Zeta Sigma Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Although we were in the middle of the pandemic, we still were able to have a meaningful semester in Kappa Kappa Gamma while also keeping our sisters safe! Our Vice President of Academic Excellence, Katie Workman, started off the semester with a virtual Planner Night for our sisters to attend. Katie was also able to schedule multiple study nights throughout the semester with the University of North Texas Delta Gamma chapter, as well as a study night with the Kappa chapter at the University of Tulsa. We were able to get 2 wonderful young ladies through the Continuous Open Bidding process, which was run by our Recruitment Chairman, Karley Dykes. We had a virtual Bid Day, which was Blue & Blue themed!
Our Vice President of Standards, Paige Saucer, organized a Galentines Day Card Pick up, where our Chapter Council wrote cards to sisters, and they were able to pick them up outside of the house. Although we were not able to go to Ginnings Elementary to read to the second graders, we were able to have a Giveback Night at Torchy’s Tacos to support Reading is Fundamental and the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. In March, our New Member Chairman, Haley Billasano, held a virtual Big Little Reveal for our new members. Our Risk Management Chairman, Allyson DeLuna, was able to always keep the chapter informed on the ever-changing recommendations to keep us safe throughout the pandemic. Our Education Chairman, Madeline Menefee, helped put on an important DEI programming event, called “Are You Ensuring Everyone’s Asked to Dance?,” as provided by Kappa Headquarters. We sold stickers and the proceeds were donated to the Denton County Friends of the Family non-profit organization. Our Marshal, Julia Schmelter, had our Ritual and History District Specialist, Leslie Porter, hold a Zoom call where she talked all about Kappa Kappa Gamma’s wonderful history, as well as our own Zeta Sigma chapters’s history during inspiration week. We were able to do a partially in-person, partially virtual initiation service. We held a virtual Yoga and Meditation event planned by our Vice President of Standards, Paige Saucer.
In April, two of our seniors, Ivalis Guajardo and Amanda Zimmerman, received the Golden Eagle at the Eagle Awards, the highest award a student at The University of North Texas can receive. One of our juniors, Julia Schmelter, received the Outstanding Student Volunteer Eagle Award for her dedication to helping others. Our chapter won a donation to our philanthropies from our attendance at the United Sisterhood events run by the University of North Texas’ Panhellenic Executive Council throughout the semester. We held a virtual Jeopardy Night with our sister sorority for the semester, Alpha Delta Pi. Towards the end of the spring semester, we were able to start having more in-person events, put on by our Event Chairmen, Caroline Bounds. She planned fun painting events with both an in-person and zoom option for all of our sisters. We were also able to do hybrid (partially in-person and virtual) Recruitment Workshops in preparation for Formal Recruitment in the Fall, led by our Recruitment Chairman, Karley Dykes. We had a sisterhood event that was a Mental Health Seminar with a guest speaker, run by Paige Saucer.
At the end of our spring semester, we gained 19 Zeta Sigma Alumnae members, Ivalis Guajardo, Emily Berlin, Ida Serraon, Gabby McComb, Hannah Gay, Lexi Lea, Taylor Griffith, Amanda Zimmerman, Caroline Coker, Ally Pigmon, Meghan Flood, Carson Harrington, Isabella Parish, Megan Shumway, Sheridan Smith, Emery Nolen, Madison Bellinghausen, Logan Eidson, and Macie Smith. We were able to have two senior ceremonies that were hybrid, to accommodate all the seniors we had graduating as well as UNT guidelines.
In the fall, our Recruitment Team consisting of Karley Dykes, Rachel May, Caroline Bounds, Madeline Menefee, Riley Garrett, Kailey Grassi, Nicolle St. John, Sydney Bell, Gaylee Goldston, and Faith Mitchell, all helped us get ready for Formal Recruitment throughout Work Week! We grew even closer as sisters and were all able to reflect on our time in Kappa Kappa Gamma and what it means to us, so we were feeling very excited to bring new members into our sisterhood. We gained many wonderful new members through the Formal Recruitment process combined with COB. During Recruitment, we had our Pickers sing for all of the potential new members, led by Sydney Bell and Madeline Menefee. Our New Member Chairman, Haley Billasano, planned our Bid Day and we were elated to see all of our new members run home to us!
We were able to pair with fraternities to have tailgates before the football games, and we always had a blast at these events! Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chairman (a new position to our Chapter Council this year), Sidney Lobel, hosted a Hispanic Heritage Potluck at the house, as well as other DEI presentations throughout the year. In October, we had our Founder’s Day Celebration, planned by our Education Chairman, Madeline Menefee, where we celebrated 151 years of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Madeline also brought in a guest speaker to talk to the chapter about Women’s Health, which we all really enjoyed. We ended the semester with a ceremony for our graduating seniors. We gained 2 Zeta Sigma Alumnae members, Paige Saucer and Maggie Morely.
Overall, the Zeta Sigma chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma had an unforgettable year in 2021. We are excited to keep our chapter flourishing and to create an even stronger sisterhood for years to come.
