Kappa Kappa Gamma - University of Arizona

KEYping Up with Kappa 4 T here is no doubt that these past few months have been strange and challenging. We were able to safely open the chapter house, which allowed many active members to return to campus. Although most classes and events were held virtually, this did not take away from the core of the Kappa experience: sisterhood. Creativity was key this semester and gave us opportunities to grow in new ways. Following the spring 2020 semester, our cumulative chapter GPA was a 3.785, which unofficially ranked us second on campus amongst all other sororities. We are still awaiting our GPA from the fall 2020 semester. Although our annual Hoops for Hope event was canceled a short week before the event, we were still able to raise and donate almost $12,500 to the Joyful Heart Foundation. We offered safe ways for our members to volunteer if they were interested. "Despite the difficulties of this 2020 school year, I am very proud of our sisters who participated in volunteer efforts within our campus, community, and world. Out of 100 women who had the courage and determination to volunteer during the pandemic, they gave 721.5 hours of their time," Philanthropy Chairman Faith Nicholson '18 said. Over the summer we were informed that our entire recruitment process needed to be transitioned to an online platform and pushed back to take place over the first two weeks of school. In early September, we welcomed 105 new members to our chapter, and all were initiated virtually on November 6. "Through the virtual recruitment process, we had the opportunity to recruit new members by getting to meet them through Zoom. We were so excited to welcome our new members into the chapter this year," shared Membership Chairman Nicole Johnson '17. This semester we coordinated a safe trip to the pumpkin patch and a socially distanced Orange Theory class. With less events, our chapter was able to focus more on programming this semester. Two topics were a big focus for us: DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and mental health. Our diversity committee presented new topics at biweekly chapters to get our diversity initiatives rolling. We also had mental health speaker Zach Westerbeck attend a chapter meeting. "Zach started a really important conversation within our chapter on mental health. He made us feel comfortable during the presentation to open up with not only him but each other. I think this was a great way to break the stigma and start focusing on mental health as a chapter," Paige Wightman '19 said. Over the summer, Gamma Zeta won numerous awards during the convention, including the standards award and the Philanthropy Signature Event award. We also received an honorable mention for the Heritage Award and for our contributions to Reading is Fundamental. Although we were unable to welcome parents and alumnae into the chapter facility this fall, we still had a pleasure seeing so many alumnae during our 100th celebration in January 2020 and during Kappa Kappa Gamma's virtual ceremony for our fraternity's sesquicentennial in October. We also got to meet new member parents during our virtual pledge presents ceremony and virtual initiation! We are extremely optimistic looking into 2021! Thank you, alumnae, for your support. We need it now more than ever. We hope to reconnect with you more virtually next year and in person once it is safe to do so! Loyally, Marlo McElroy '17 Outgoing Chapter President MAKING THE MOST OF IT Undergraduates Adjust to Changes and Challenges in 2020 Sisters are ready for virtual recruitment. Pictured: Nina Gallo '19, Sophia Gutman '19, Crista Gallo '19, Alyssa Schmitz '19, and Taylor Bakke '19. One of our virtual chapters! Pictured: Sophie Soell '17, Marlo McElroy '17, Olivia Elwer '17, Lizzy Vega '18, Paige Wightman '19, Kristy Pierson '17, Aubrey Brenton '19, Ashley Reed '17, Emily Osstenjuk '19, Shannon Mora '18, Lauren Slepian '19, Lexie Lichty '19, Cheryl Crozier '19, Annie Turner '17, Brynn Weber '19, Arielle Stanley '19, and Zika Jenkins '19. A Kappa family on Big/Little Day! Pictured: Alyssa Schmitz '19, Kaela Stehly '17, Meagan Dickerson '18, and Lauren Hobbs '20. Our 2020 chapter council. Thank you, ladies, for your service to our sisterhood! Pictured: Nicole Hook '18, Ashlyn Zale '18, Rachel Saeli '18, Madison Gilbert '18, Arielle Stanley '18, Olivia Bryan '18, Cassidy Çampbell '18, Annika Fox '18, Tiana DePasquale '18, Faith Nicholson '18, Annie Turner '17, Nicole Johnson '17, Marlo McElroy '17, Lizzy Vega '18, Emily Hernandez '18, and Kenzie Frank '18.

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