Changes

In May of 2021, the Drake Fraternity and Sorority Life community hosted their annual awards. Gamma Theta was awarded Outstanding Programming, Outstanding Sisterhood, and Chapter of the Year. Our chapter advisor, Kailey Huilick, was also awarded Outstanding Chapter Advisor and senior Anna Sutterer who won the Outstanding FSL Leader Award. To say that we are proud would be a major understatement! These awards were a tribute to our “covid” chapter council and all of their hard work. We hope to grow and continue to earn recognitions such as these in the future!

Transitioning to the Fall of 2021, we held our first in-person recruitment since pre-covid, which was a smashing success. We welcomed 22 new members into this chapter and hosted our first barn party and formal! It has been so fun getting to know everyone through these events, and the chapter council is very proud of all that has been accomplished. While this year was full of new adventures, we were able to reconnect and reevaluate what we wanted this chapter to look like. Our DEI officers contributed tons of practical programming, and they created a space for safe conversation. Our members have grown closer through these activities as well.

During the spring semester, we held a philanthropy event supporting our previous national philanthropy, Reading is Fundamental. Additionally, our chapter members participated in a “Giving Challenge,” which engaged them in a friendly competition to see which pledge class could complete the most hours of service, volunteering, and philanthropic actions. During the fall semester, we held an earring sale with a KKG alumna. A portion of the proceeds from this sale was donated to the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. To support our new national philanthropy, Mental Health and Well-Being, we participated in our specific partner’s annual walk – NAMIWalks. We engaged in fundraising and service during this event, by raising $600 for NAMI and volunteering at the event. We also hosted a fall philanthropy event titled “Movie Night with KKG – Starring: Children’s Cancer Connection” to support our local philanthropy. In addition to our internal philanthropic involvement, we also participated externally. We did so by donating and participating with other chapters and their philanthropies. We also participated in a group volunteering opportunity at Meals from the Heartland, a local food packaging organization.

How did your chapter operations change due to COVID-19 (e.g., how did it affect recruitment, initiation, etc. Were events/activities held virtually?). Share what you have done this year. This year was closer to normal then we have been in a very long time. Our spring semester was still tainted by the pandemic. Initiation and recruitment were online as well as our chapter facility was shut down. That did not stop us though from pushing for connection and sisterhood through more socially-distant events such as yoga. The fall of 2021 however has been a ray of sunshine through these days. Our chapter facility reopened to eager members itching to live there. Our campus allowed in-person recruitment and chapter activities including events! While it is still not 100% normal, we are so close!

==Highlights of 2022==