Chi Omega - Kansas State University

Χ Ω 2 The Cardinal and Straw S usan Sherlock Hill '68 knew she would be honored to follow in the footsteps of her mother, Ruth Alice Dryden Sherlock '42, to Chi Omega, but she also wanted to go into her collegiate experience at K-State with an open mind. It only took a couple of visits during recruitment for Susan to feel right at home at Kappa Alpha. She has kept Chi Omega at heart ever since. "I learned so much by living, participating, being tested, and trusted in such a vibrant group. There were only 52 students in my small, rural high school graduation class and I knew them all since kindergarten," Susan said. "Suddenly, I was thrown into a new cadre of outgoing, confident women who taught me so much! It was humbling. I learned to work as part of a team, when to listen and when to speak up, to be inclusive, to follow, and to lead—all skills that stayed with me throughout my career." Susan loved the traditions and rituals that brought all her sisters together. She has fond memories of the fun skits from recruitment week, late nights of raiding the kitchen for snacks, writing notes of encouragement and support to each other, and important moments such as initiation and finals week. Susan has even taught several Chi Omega songs to her children and grandchildren. With her husband, Bill, being a career Navy officer, it wasn't always easy for them to stay in touch with their college friends. Nevertheless, distance has done very little to diminish the friendships she forged with some of her Chi Omega sisters. "One of the blessings of my life is my dearest friend, Gerry Hogan Logan '69," Susan said. "We live on separate coasts, but we see each other often. We're truly sisters and Chi Omega made it so." Along with everything she learned from Kappa Alpha, Susan's undergraduate degree in English and graduate work in broadcast communications helped her build a career despite moving all over the country. During Susan's time as a reporter for the NBC affiliate in Jacksonville, she had excellent managers and colleagues who helped her develop discipline around deadlines and critical thinking. Those skills also proved to be useful when she took a Navy public affairs job in Italy. Upon Susan's return to the States, she thrived in a variety of internal corporate communications positions before she began consulting with large corporate clients as a vice president of communication for Aon Consulting. "Highlights for me from these diverse but related jobs were meeting and interviewing some amazing and inspirational people and working with smart, creative teammates to help our clients through projects like mergers and acquisitions, developing internal branding programs, and creating paths to better work-life balance for employees," Susan said. Out of all the accomplishments Susan accrued throughout her career, her family is without a doubt her biggest achievement. Her son, Scott, is a finance manager for a Fortune 100 company. Scott's wife, Emily, Mercer University '94, is a general manager with an educational tech organization. While there wasn't a Chi Omega chapter at the school that Susan and Bill's daughter, Courtney, attended, she loved her Phi Mu experience and has thrived as a critical care nurse. Courtney's husband, Michael, is a senior director in an IT firm. What's more, Scott and Emily and Courtney and Michael have blessed Susan and Bill with six grandchildren. "All six grandkids are amazing," Susan said. "Our lives are filled with joy as we shamelessly track their every activity and achievement. We attend as many of the grandkids' sports as we can...there are a lot of them!" You can connect with Susan at susan.lynne.hill@gmail.com. Captivated by Chi Omega Susan Sherlock Hill '68 Shares How Kappa Alpha Has Changed Her Life Susan Sherlock Hill '68 with her husband, Bill, and their six grandchildren in Hawaii in 2019. Madie Gruhn '21 Olympia, Wash. Laney Huenn '21* Canyon Lake, Texas Olivia Stephens '21 Topeka, Kan. Caylen Ye '21 Westwood, Kan. *Legacy Alumnae News Gina Cox Kurz '75 has been retired for four years and loves spending time watching her grandchildren: grandson Lewis (3) and granddaughters Eleanor (5) and Beatrice (3). Gina and her husband, Ken, live in Overland Park, Kan., and enjoy going to their lake house at the Lake of the Ozarks. "So glad to help support Kappa Alpha this year!" Email: ginakurz913@yahoo.com Tara Hunt Bausman '94 is a member of the St. Louis Chi Omega Alumnae Group, where she loves getting to know others of all ages and attending their (now virtual) book club. Tara lives in Valley Park, Mo., where she works as a licensed professional counselor doing group therapy and volunteers for Meals on Wheels. Both of those are on hold due to the pandemic, but she gets to be at home with her 9-year- old daughter, who participates in 4th grade online while her husband teaches hybrid classes at Maryville University. "All about flexibility!" Email: kentandtara@yahoo.com Welcome, New Members! Our new members (Spring PC '21): Olivia Stephens, Madie Gruhn, Caylen Ye, and Laney Huenn on their Bid Day on March 3.

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