Chi Omega - University of California, Berkeley

2 MU NEWS Chi Omega sisterhood is for a lifetime. The impact—including friendships made and benefits gained—stays with you long after graduating. Leslie Boley Robbins '87 and Nicki DeMarais Shaw '82 are proud to give back to the sisterhood that gave them so much. Hear their story and their efforts with the Educational Area Housing Grant. What makes you happy about being a Chi O? Nicki: From Bid Day to today, I've been grateful for the wonderful friendships I've had with my fellow Chi Os—these amazing women. I feel that because of our shared experiences, we connect easily whether we talk regularly or see each other years later. It's great to look back through the years and the memories made. Just as important are the moments ahead still to share! Leslie: I have friends across all age generations with the same shared Chi Omega experience. We laugh, have fun, and support each other. We can pick up conversations years later as if we just talked yesterday—the smiles and laughter are always there. What motivates you to be involved with Mu Chapter? Nicki: My experience at Cal and with Mu Chapter was so positive when I was active! I'd like to pay back those who gave their time and experience by paying forward with mine as a member of the House Corporation Board. It's rewarding to volunteer for the Chapter, welcoming our active members to our home and helping to ensure its health and success today and in the future. Leslie: The HCB is a fantastic and fun group of Chi Omega volunteers who are dedicated to supporting our Mu Chapter members. The work we do is making a direct impact on our members every day and is positively supporting their undergraduate experience. A few hours of my time each month supports the academic success of more than 150 Chi Omega sisters at Cal! Why did the HCB pursue the Educational Area Housing Grant? Nicki and Leslie: Our 135-year-old house is a beautiful home for Mu Chapter thanks to more than 100 years of continuous commitment from our volunteer HCB. Its ongoing maintenance and upgrades can be very costly. HCB must maintain fiscal responsibility while keeping the building safe with a welcoming home environment and updated technology to support our collegiate sisters. One way that the Chi Omega Foundation helps is through their established EAHG, which allows our donors to contribute tax-deductible donations that are earmarked for Mu Chapter projects and support education areas in the chapter house. For example, we raised sufficient funds to buy and install all new desks, chairs, and drawer sets this summer for every live-in active member! We are so grateful to all our alumnae who supported this effort! If you want to hear more about what HCB does, how the Educational Area Housing Grant helps Mu Chapter, or just to catch up with Nicki and Leslie, you can reach Nicki at nickishaw@mac. com and Leslie at leslierobbins@gmail.com. Lielle Abramov | Encino, Calif. Brigid Allen | New York City, N.Y. Nicole Appel | Calabasas, Calif. Julia Araujo | Torrance, Calif. Allegra Berlinawan | Jakarta, Indonesia Anna Brew | San Diego, Calif. Yasmine Caraiscos | Sydney, Australia Maya Chasse | San Francisco, Calif. Daniela Chavez Amaya | Vallejo, Calif. Meli Chun | Manhasset, N.Y. Caris Cohn | Studio City, Calif. Ellie Conner | Walnut Creek, Calif. Keya Desai | Caterham, England Madeleine Duchesne | Great Barrington, Mass. Maricela Felix | Los Angeles, Calif. Kayleigh Fort* | Torrance, Calif. Charlotte Gardner | Litchfield, Ill. Anneka Goel | Palo Alto, Calif. Ria Gosai | Elk Grove, Calif. Madison Granados | Durham, Calif. Aamani Gurajada | San Ramon, Calif. Isabella He | Arcadia, Calif. Sofia Hernandez | Whittier, Calif. Danielle Hwang | Stevenson Ranch, Calif. Danielle Jackson | Long Beach, Calif. Clara Jensen | Walnut Creek, Calif. Kalie Jimenez | Los Angeles, Calif. Izabella Jimenez | Sanger, Calif. Kaley Joye | Redlands, Calif. Rhea Karanwal | Milpitas, Calif. Jia Jia Kelty | Overland Park, Kan. Simone Kilby | Fresno, Calif. Hannah Kleiger | Tarzana, Calif. Sofia Labatt | Hillsborough, Calif. Melinda Lu | San Diego, Calif. Jordan Montero | Salinas, Calif. Michaela Nee | Burlingame, Calif. Amelia Newman | Portland, Ore. Leah Parvini | Irvine, Calif. Lena Pham | Newport Beach, Calif. Josie Phillips | Olympia, Wash. Kiana Pinkard | Hercules, Calif. Richa Ray | Fremont, Calif. Preethi Rayaprolu | Sunnyvale, Calif. Samantha Rosen | Manchester, Mass. Bella Santos | San Diego, Calif. Maya Sawicka | Kirkland, Wash. Sydney Schuetz | Bakersfield, Calif. Sydney Seifer | Santa Monica, Calif. Prisha Singh | Plano, Texas Nayeli Tirado Vega | Oak View, Calif. Molly Urfalian | Sherman Oaks, Calif. Isabel Van Sant | Ukiah, Calif. Kohana Whitney | Seattle, Wash. Stephanie Wu | San Diego, Calif. Isabella Young | Manhattan Beach, Calif. Lucia Zima | Gig Harbor, Wash. Yasha Zink | Sausalito, Calif. MAKING MAKING AN IMPACT AN IMPACT Why Leslie Boley Robbins Why Leslie Boley Robbins and Nicki DeMarais and Nicki DeMarais Shaw Give Back Shaw Give Back Welcome, New Sisters! Nicki DeMarais Shaw (left) and Leslie Boley Robbins. 1. Lead by example and support every member of the house in their endeavors on and off campus. 2. Strengthen our sisterhood and tighten the bond between seniors and new members. 3. Prioritize mental health so our sisters may leave Chi Omega as the best versions of themselves and leave lasting impressions wherever they go. Chapter Goals

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