Sigma Newsletter

Kappa Kappa Gamma

Thisyearhasbeenanexcit-ingonehereatSigmaChapter!Wekicked2011offwithLeadershipDayinwhichthe2010and2011ChapterCouncilsworkedwithAmeliaMcCormick,theFraternityChairmanofAcademicExcellenceandFraternityTrainer,onimprov-ingleadershipskills,settinggoalsfortheyear,andchapterofficertransitions. Thespringsemesterwasfullofvolunteerevents,includingtheBigEvent,acampus-widedayofservicethroughoutthecityofLincoln,DanceMarathon,benefit-tingChildren’sMiracleNetworkHospitals,andRelayforLife,benefittingtheAmericanCancerSociety.WecontinuedtosupportKappa’snationalphilanthropyReadingIsFundamental(RIF)withourpenpalprogramwithalocalLincolnpublicschool. Inthespring,ChapterCounciltookaroadtriptoColum-bia,MissouriforourregionalZetaProvincemeeting.Wewereabletomeetofficersfromotherchapterstoshareideas.Sigmawasawarded

ExcellenceinCommunicationandtheBarbaraSarichProgrammingAward,alongwithhonorablemen-tionsintheAdvisoryBoardAwardandtheMegCherrySmithStan-dardsAward. ThissummerwasspentinpreparationforRecruitment2011,whichwentfabulouslyandbroughtusaNewMemberclassof41outstandingwomen!WeallgrewclosertothemduringtheNewMemberProgram,andtheywereinitiatedonOctober29,2011.Wearesoexcitedtocallthemoursisters! ThefallsemesterbeganwithSigmamembersreturningtoahousethathadundergoneamazingrenovationsdonebyourexception-alHouseBoard.Weheldouran-nualKappaKarnivalthatbenefittedtheAlzheimer’sAssociation,andinOctoberwecelebratedKappa’sfoundingbyhonoringbothourfoundersandthealumnaewhocon-tinuetoserveKappa.HomecomingthisyearwasexceptionallyexcitingbecauseofourthreeseniorschosenforHomecomingCourt,themost

ofanyhouseoncampus!DuringInitiationWeek,wehostedMeggieCenters,aKappaLeadershipCon-sultant.Shewasajoytolearnfromandtohangoutwith! Ihavebeenhonoredtoworkwiththisyear’sChapterCouncil.Eachmemberhasdedi-catedherselftoSigmaChapterandtheFraternity,leavingapositive,lastingimpressionontherestofthechapter.Ihavebeensoluckytohavesuchanamazingadviser,MaryFord.Sheprovidesourchap-terwithawealthofknowledgeandsupport,andwithoutherwecouldnothavehadsuchasuccessfulyear. IwouldliketothankourAdvisoryBoard,HouseBoard,andtheLincolnandOmahaAlumnaeAssociationsforallthattheydotosupportSigma.Theyareanintegralpartofeachaccomplishmentourchapterhashadoverthepastyear,andwetrulyappreciatetheirtimeandeffort. 2011hasbeenanawesomeyear,andSigmalooksforwardtoagreat2012!

(President)Lauren JewellA Year of Leadership, Scholarship, and Friendship

SigmaChapter’s2011Recruitmentcan’tbedescribed,itwasthatamazing.Attheendoftheweekwewererewardedwiththemostwonderfulnewmem-berclassof41young,beautifulwomen.Itwasalotofhardworkoneveryone’spartbutdefinitelyworthittoseeournewmembers’facesonBidDay. ThepreparationsforFormalRecruitmentstartedbackinFebruary,withGreekPreviewDay.ProspectivefreshmenandtheirparentscometoUNLandgetalittletasteofwhatGreeklifeisallabout.EveryhousehadtworepresentativesataboothinthecampusunionwheretheycanpromotetheirhouseaswellastheGreeksystemingeneral.Thengirlsandtheirfamilieswereabletotourafewhousesoncam-pus,attendaQ&AsessionaboutGreeklifeandseeafashionshowofsomemusthavesforcollegeandlifeoncampus. Duringthesummermonths,myassistants,advisersandmyselfwerebusygettingeverythingready.BeforeIknewit,itwastimetomovebackintotheprettywhitehouseon16thStreetthatweallliketorefertoas“The616”.Everyonewassoexcitedtobeback,andrecruitmentpracticesbeganrightaway.Moralewassohigh,Icouldn’thavebeenhappierwitheveryone’ssupport. Recruitmentwasverydifferentthisyearsoev-eryone,oldandnew,hadtolearnthenewwaysoftheweek.OverthefirsttwodaysthePNMswereinvitedtoshortpartiesatall15housesoncampus.ThisgavethegirlsandchaptersequalchancestomeetbeforeanyinvitationswerehandedoutWednesdaymorning.AftertheOpenHouseround,thebuzzaboutourchap-teroncampuswassogreat.Ourreturnsreallyshowedthehardworkwehadputinandsetourstandardsextremelyhighfortherestoftheweek! WednesdaywasthefirstdayofinvitationsandthePNMscouldseeupto10houses.Thegirls

comingthroughgottomeettwoactivemembersandtheactivesweresoexcitedtohaveourfirstdayofinvitationsstart.Beforeweknewit,itwasThursdayandhousetourday.OnthisdayPNMsgottotourupto6amazinghouses.Wewereluckyenoughtoshowthegirlsourbeautifulhouse,includingournewbathrooms!Onthisdaythegirlsgottohearfromourhousemom,Linda,andthenewmemberchair,CaitlinGillespieaboutournewmemberProgram.Wegotsomanycomplimentsonourhouseandgirlsleftlovingour“homey”house.Fridaywas3partyday,andthePNMsvisitingkappathisdaygottoseeavideoaboutourlifeatkappaandparticipateinourceremony.Theweekwaslongandtookalotofhardwork,butithon-estlycouldn’thavegoneanybetter. BidDaytookplaceonSaturday,August20th.CaitlinGillespieandIwereluckyenoughtoseeallthenewmembersreceivetheirbidcards,andseetheirfaceslightup.Theyracedtoourroomintheuniontomeettheirnewpledgeclass.Asweranbacktoourbigwhitehouse,therestofthehousewasreadytowel-comeournewmembershome!

JuniorsgatherforapictureonDay1ofrecruitment.

Recruitment2011(Recruitment Chairman)

Bekah Manz

Seniorsposeforapictureduringtheirlastrecruit-ment.

Throughoutthispastyear,hasundergonemajorbathroomrenovations.I’msureeveryoneremembersthelovelybath-rooms,beaminginshadesofpinkandmorepink.Thebathroomshadn’tbeenupdatedsincethe50’s,andthissummer,theyunder-wentmajorrennovations!Iamproudtosaywhole-heartedlythat

weareallecstaticwiththefinaloutcome. WehaveourwonderfulHouseBoard,thedesignteamfromInteriorsJoan&Associates,andourbathroomcontractorRonMillertothank!NottomentionthatColbyWashburnandJennyTollyfromInteriorsJoan&AssociatesareourveryownSigmaalums.EveryonelivinginKappaissothankfulandappreciativeofthehardworkthatwentintothesephenomenalbathrooms.Sixbathroomsin87daysisincredible!Askanyofthegirlsandtheywillsayitislikelivingina5starhotel.TheprocesshasbroughtawonderfulopportunityforseveralactiveswithinthehousetoworkcloselywiththeHouseBoard.WeweresadtosaygoodbyelastsemestertoSallyMorrow,ourpastHouseBoardPresidentof4years.Hercountlessvolunteerhourswillbehardtoreplace,alongwithhermanyaccomplishments. AlongwiththankingHouseBoardfortheoutstandingbathrooms,wehavetheParentsClubtothankformanynewadditionsthissummer.Wehaveabrandnewwindowairconditionerunitinthekitchen,somenewmattresses,andanewflatscreenTV.TheTVisonlyusedasaninformativeTV,suchasmorningnews,andhasbecomeagreatassettoourhome.TwonewDVDplayers,anewleaseforanupdatedprinter,andanewprojectorwereusedduringrushandwillcon-tinuetobeusedthroughouttheyear. Thisyearhasbeenquiteatreatforallwholiveinthechapterhouse.Comebyandvisit,wewouldlovetoshowyouallournewchangesat“616”!

(House Chair)

Home Sweet HomeSammy Triba

ThehardworkthatSigmamembershavebeenputtingintoacademicshasbeenpayingoff.ThechapteraverageGPAfortheSpring2011semesterwas3.428.19membersreceiveda4.0andatotalof42receiveda3.5orbetter.InSeptember,tohonormembersfortheiracademicachievements,

wehadascholarshipdinner.Thisyear,IcreatedT-shirtsforthosewhoreceiveda3.5orbetterandforthemostimprovedGPArecipient.TheT-shirtswerepaidforbyHouseBoardandverywell-receivedbychaptermem-bers.Wecan’twaittoseeSigmacontinuetoimproveacademically!

ExcellenceAcademic(VP of Acadmic Excellence)

Stephanie Curtis

Transitioning Traditions(New Member Chair)Caitlin Gillespie

SigmaChapterrecruited41won-derfulnewKappamembersthisfallafterafantastictransitionintothe

newRecruitmentprocessatUNL. BidDaytookplaceonSat-urday,August20thandwasfilledwithfunactivitiesandbondingforbothnewmembersandactivesalike.NewmembersranfromtheUniontoKappaafterreceiv-ingbidcards.Astheyapproachedthehouse,thenewmembersranthroughatunnelcreatedbyactivesandweregreetedbyKappachantsandsongswelcomingthemtotheirnewhome. OneofmanychangestotheNewMemberProgramthisyearwasthetransitionfrom“keysisters”to“biddaybuddies”asthenewmembers’mentorfortheday.Eachnewmemberwasgreetedbytheirbiddaybuddyandallmemberschattedtogetheraspicturesweretaken,bothbythegirlsandbyaprofessionalphotographer.Eventual-lyeveryoneroundedupforintroductionsinthekitchensothatthenewmemberscouldgettoknowtheactivesbetter.Followingintroductions,thenewmembersweregiventheopportunitytospendone-on-onetime

withmembersfromeachactivepledgeclass.ThejuniorclasstookthenewmemberstoexplorethedowntownareaandeatlunchoffcampusatplaceslikeNoodlesandCompany,RedMango,andChipo-tle. Uponreturningfromlunch,newmembersspenttimewiththeseniorsmakingcuteKappabrace-letsandgettingtoknoweachotherbetter.Finally,thesophomoresandnewmembersmadeicecreamsundaesinKappaKitchenandspentsomequalitytimetogether.Thegirlsreturnedlaterthatnightandtookpartinavarietyofac-tivitieswiththeirbiddaybuddies.SomegirlswenttotheUnionfortheBathtubDogsconcertandapancakefeed,whileothersoptedtowatchmoviesinPinkRoomandonBrownCouchwithpopcorn,candyandothertreats.Everyonemetbacktogetheratthehouseat

midnighttosaygoodnight,cappingoffanexcellentBidDay. TheNewMemberProgramthisyearwasfilledwithchanges;newtraditionswerestarted,whileweremainedtruetothetradi-tionsofyearspast.Duringthe8weekprogram,thenewmembersparticipatedinavarietyofactivi-ties.ThisyearnewmembersandsophomorestookpartinsisterhoodeventssuchasmaskdecoratingforKappa’sMasqueradeBallandtheAlzheimer’sAssociation’s“WalktoEndAlzheimer’s.”Theseeventshelpedpreparebothclassesfor

theBig/Littlepreferenceprocessbeinginitiatedthisyear.Afterbothclassessubmittedtheirpreferences,thesophomoresspenttheweekbeforetherevealleavingclues,notesandtreatsforthenewmembersinordertohelpthemdis-coverwhotheirBigwas.TheweekendedwiththeBig/LittleReveal,wherethesophomoresdressedupincrazycostumestotakepartinalife-sizegameof

SophomoresAllyGilinandEmilyBarlahavefunonBidDay.

LucyGrant,aNewMember,holdsupherBidDayCard!

“GuessWho.”Eachnewmemberwasgiventhechancetoaskyesornoquestions,eliminatingsophomoresuntiltheirBigwasrevealedasthelastpersonstanding.Thefollowingweek,newmemberstookpartintheirretreat,wheretheyweregiventhechancetospendtimetogetherasapledgeclass.ThegirlsspentthreegreathoursbondingoverKappaandtheirexperiencesinthehouseandpassedthekey,atraditionofbondingallowingnewmemberstosharestoriesandgettoknoweachotherbet-ter.InitiationtookplaceonOctober28thandwasprecededbyInspira-tionWeek.ThroughoutInspirationWeek,thenewmemberparticipatedintraditionalI-WeekactivitieslikesearchingthroughKappatofindtheirwoodenkey,decoratedspeciallyforthembytheirBig.OnInitia-tionnight,thenewmemberstookpartinaspecialpledgeclassdinnertocelebratetheendofI-Weekandtobondduringtheirtransitionintomembership.SigmaChapterisluckytowelcomeaveryspecialgroupofgirlsintoourchapterthisyear.IreallyenjoyedworkingwiththemandteachingthemwhatmakesKappasospecialtoallofus.I’veseensomanywonderfulthingsfromthegirlsofthisnewmemberclassandI

Thisyear,asEventChairmanandRiskManagementchairman,wehaveworkedtogethertoblendourofficesandimprovetheirposi-tions.Byblendingouroffices,socialeventsweremoreconvenientandsafe.Duringthespringsemesterthegirlshadthreeevents:KappaKrush(Valentine’sDaydance),$5Prom,andFormal.Wealsoheldouran-nualDad’sDayinAprilwhereKappadadsfromalloverjoinedusforbrunchandaNebraskaBaseballgame.ThisfallwetriedsomethingnewbyhostingaMasqueradeBallwithGammaPhiBeta,whichwentevenbetterthanexpected.InNovemberweheldourannualParentsAuctioninordertoraisemoneyforourbeautifulKappahouse,andhadaDadsWeekend.Wewillalwayslookbackandtreasurethememorieswehavemadethispastyear!

Key

(Risk Chair)

Events

Ashley Christianson(Event Chair)Kim McManus

JuniorsKariJanson,MaddieWinum,JordynHughes,MeganVidetich,andLindsayMungerbeforetheMasqueradeBall.

AgroupofgirlsattheDad’sDayBaseballGame.

WewouldliketotakethisopportunitytoremindyouoftheKappaKappaGammafundraisingcampaign.Lettersandcontributioncardsarrivedinyourmailboxesmid-June,andweareinthe

processofmakingfollow-upcalls.Asareminder,weareraisingmoneyfortheKappaKappaGammaCharita-bleFundandtheKappaKappaGammaScholarshipFund.MoneyraisedfortheKappaKappaGammaChari-tableFundwillbeusedforKappahouserenovations.Thissummer,theHouseBoardwasabletorenovateallthebathroomsintheKappahouse,andwewouldliketocontinuetomakeenhancementsthroughoutthehouse.TheKappaKappaGammaScholarshipFundallowsustocontinuetorecognizechapterwomenfortheirhardworkanddedication.Providingmoneyforscholarshipsisaneedthatwillalwaysexist. Therearemanywaysyoucangive:Makeacashdonation,haveyourgiftmatchedbyyourcompany,designateaportionofyourestatetoaKappafund,orpledgeanamountoveranumberofyears.Remember,anygiftyoumakeistaxdeductible.Ifyouwouldliketomakeacashdonation,checkscanbemadeouttotheUniversityofNebraskaFoundation.Onthememolineofyourcheck,pleasedesignatewhichfundyouwouldlikeyourgifttobenefit,theKappaKappaGammaCharitableFundortheKappaKappaGammaScholarshipFund.CheckscanbesenttotheUniversityofNebraskaFoundation,1010LincolnMall,Suite300;Lincoln,NE68508. Ifyouwouldlikemoreinformation,pleasecallKayeJesskeat402-458-1170orSunnyBellowsat402-458-1185.Ifyoudidnotreceivethemailing,pleasecallusandwewouldbehappytoupdateyourcontactinformationandmailyoualetter.WeappreciateyourconsiderationandinterestinKappaKappaGammaattheUniversityofNebraska!

Calling on All Kappas for Support!

ItseemslikejustyesterdayIwasgiventheprivilegetobeSigma’sEducationChairman,andnowhereIamayearlaterrecappingwhathappenedin

suchashortamountoftime.AsEducationchairman,IsawtheopportunitytoeducatethechapternotonlyaboutthehistoryofKappa,butalsotheaspectsoflifeneededafteryouwalkoutsideourbluedoor. Thespringsemesterwasofftoaquickstartwithseniorprogramming,givingtheseniorsthechancetolearnsomeoflife’sessentialsbeforegradu-ation.Afewoftheprogramsincludedcookingclass,thebasicsofinteriordesign,andrealestatetips.Wearegratefultoallthealumnaewhohelpedtoeducateouryoungwomen;withoutyouthiswouldn’tbepos-sible.InAprilweheldourAnnualSpringTea.This

long-standingtraditionissetaside

The Wise Old Owl...Continuing Traditions(Education)Caitlyn Guenther eachyeartohonoralumnae,celebrateseniors,and

recognizeoutstandingKappamembers.ThisyeartheLincolnAlumnaeAssociationandtheNationalKappaKappaGammaOrganizationgrantedover$28,000inscholarshipstocurrentmembersofKappaKappaGamma. Thisfall,SigmaChaptertookpartinHaz-ingPreventionWeek.Thechapterwaseducatedontheideathatinordertorespectothers,youmustfirstrespectyourself.Thechapterwasencouragedtocreategoalsforthemselvesasindividualsandtocontinu-ouslyworktobethepersontheystrivetobe.ThelastprojectmycommitteeandIworkedonwasFoundersDay.OnOctober13th,KappaKappaGammacelebrat-ed141yearsofleadership,scholarship,andfriend-ship. I’mgratefulthatthroughouttheyear,IhadtheopportunitytokeepthechapterexcitedaboutKappa,andeachoneoftheirsisters.

SigmahasbeenworkinghardintheareaofPhilanthropy.Sincethebeginningoftheyear,thegirlshavebeenworkingtoraisemoneyandsupportmanydifferentorganizations

andpeople.Aswellasraisingmoney,manygirlscon-nectedwithlocalelementarystudentsthroughapenpalprocess. Forourspringphilanthropy,wedecidedtoswitchupourtraditionalthemeofKappaKabanatoanewwesterntheme,whichwecalledKappaGoesCountry.ThisphilanthropyeventfeaturedpulledporkandTexastoastwiththemainattractionbeingamechanicalbullguestscouldpaytoride.TherewaslotsofcountrylinedancingfromKappa’sdeckedoutincowboybootsandhats.ManyKappa’sattendedtheRelayforLifeeventonourcampusaswell. Toendtheschoolyear,wedecidedtohelpoutafamilythatneededsomesupport.Wedidaminifundraiserfor“KappaKallie.”Kallieisa4-year-oldgirlthatwasleftfightingforherlifeafteranaccidentthatkilledherfather.InDecember2009,KallieandherfamilyweretravelingbackhomefromwesternNebraskawhentheircarwasstruckheadonbyasemiduringaheavysnowstorm.Kalliesufferedseverebraintraumathatleftherlearninghowtowalk,talkandeatalloveragain.Throughmuchtherapy,Kal-

Giving Back(Philanthropy)

Megan Videtich

AgroupofKappasattheFace-paintingtableatKappaKarnival.AllieSchweitersandJordanSeaman

onthebungee-run!

NatalieMarcuzzo,HannahEberle,MerrickPrice,andAbbyUeckerposeforapicture.

liehasmadestridestowardwhereshewasbeforetheac-cident.Kappa’ssoldneonhatsthatsaidI(HeartSymbol)KKG!toraiseabout$800forKallie. Ourfallphilanthropy,KappaKarnival,wasatthestartofSeptember.Over$5,000wasearnedmak-ingitonceofourmostsuccessfuleventsyet!Itfea-turedhotdogs,funnelcakes,popcornandlemonadeaswellasfacepainting,aBungeeRunandothercarni-valgamestokeepourguestsentertained.Thispastmonth,ahandfulofKappa’sattendedtheAlzheimer’sAssociationWalktoEndAlzheimer’stoturnoverourdonation. Currently,weareworkingtowardsanothermini-fundraiser.OneofournewmemberslostherbestfriendthissummertoEwingsSarcomacancer.TheKappagirlsvotedonmanydifferentorganizationstoraisemoneyforwiththe1Million4Annafounda-tiontakingthewin.WesoldKappahats,fannypacksandsunglassestogetourdonationstarted.Wefeelluckytogettheopportunitytohelpthisorganizationgetitsstart. Asweprepareforournextphilanthropy,westaybusyvolunteeringfordifferenteventsandhelpingoutasmanycausesaswecan.

Chapter President: Lauren JewellVP of Standards: Jen HackmanVP of Organizat ion: Marcela LabradorVP of Academic Excellence: Stephanie Curt isEducat ion: Caitlyn GuentherRecording Secretary: Kassi NelsonCorresponding Secretary: Jess BargesTreasurer: Kayla StaufferRegistrar: Alyssa FishbaughMarshal: Kristen RaabeHouse: Sammy TribaMembership: Bekah ManzNew Member: Caitl in Gil lespiePanhellenic Delegate: Brooke KreikemeierPhilanthropy: Megan Videt ichPubl ic Relat ions: Chelsea RiceRisk Management: Ashley Christ iansonEvent Chair: Kim McManusChapter Adviser: Mary Ford

Kappa Kappa GammaSigma Chapter

616 N. 16th StreetLincoln, NE 68508

Email:nebraska_kappa2@yahoo.com

Check out our Website!www.unl.edu/kappa

Kappa Kappa Gamma616 N. 16th StreetLincoln, NE 68508

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2011Chapter Council