Sigma Kappa - Missouri State University

Delta Upsilon Update 2 Sigma Kappa Experience Prepared Briana Ernst '05 to Study, Live Abroad (1) Megan Crain '04 and Krystal Dreher Pittenger '05 in front of the Messalonskee Stream in Waterville, Maine, where our founders spent time along the banks. (2) Krystal Pittenger '05 and her husband, Drew, spent his 30th birthday visiting our founding college at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. (3) There are many special connections to Sigma Kappa in the movie Mystic Pizza. This summer, Delta Upsilon sisters united from different cities in Mystic, Connecticut. They watched the movie all the time as undergraduates and watched it again the night before going to Mystic Pizza. From left: Shawn Martin '04, Cali Gillespie '04, Lesli Bond '04, Lane Thomas '04, and Sarah Beckmann '04. (4) Megan Crain '04, Shannon Kelly Nicholson, Kappa Eta '04, and Krystal Pittenger '05 recently visited Colby College, where Sigma Kappa was founded in 1874. (Above) Briana Ernst '05 in front of the monument to King Alfonso XII in Retiro Park in Madrid, Spain. (Left) Briana Ernst '05 and her boyfriend, Alvar, whom she met while living abroad in Spain. 2 3 1 4 As a freshman, Briana ernst '05 wasn't sure if Greek life was for her until she met Sigma Kappas on the first day of recruitment. "They crushed my doubts, making me feel at home," she said. "It was a place where I knew I could be me—social and involved in activities around campus and the community while completing my degree." Her involvement in Sigma Kappa pushed her outside of her comfort zone, encouraged her to try new things, and to see the world. The friendships Briana made inspired her to stay connected to the Delta Upsilon sisterhood while she studied abroad in college and while she lived in Madrid, Spain, after graduation. While studying abroad, Briana's sisters made a "Flat Bri" that they would take to activities, and even brought along for spring break, to make her feel included while she lived on the other side of the world. As an alumna, Briana lived abroad for six years but remained close with her sisters. "I got to see my sisters every time I came home and even had some visit me multiple times while I was in Spain," she shared. "It was so great to be able to connect with good friends so far away from home, and some of my closest friends today are my Sigma Kappa sisters!" Briana received her degree in secondary Spanish education with a minor in international management, hence her desire to study and live abroad. Her original plan was to live abroad for one year, but she fell madly in love with the language, culture, people, and food, and ended up staying for six years. Her experience serving as the Delta Upsilon house manager, intramurals chairman, and activities chairman, as well as serving on standards, helped Briana with organization and leadership skills post- college. In addition, she said that her Sigma Kappa experience gave her the confidence to confront difficult situations abroad and to branch out and meet new people. "While living abroad, you're forced out of your comfort zone 24/7, and my experience with Sigma Kappa helped ease those difficult situations," she said. While in Spain, Briana taught English as a foreign language. Now, she teaches high school Spanish at F.L. Schlagle in Kansas City, Kan. Since she is stateside again, Briana hopes to reconnect with even more of her Sigma Kappa sisters. Briana is also eagerly awaiting her boyfriend, Alvar, whom she met in Spain, to receive his Visa, so that he can move to Kansas City. While living in Madrid, Briana spent most afternoons grazing on tapas until the late hours of the night (yes, the stereotype rings true). She also enjoyed running in Retiro Park and taking Tango dance lessons with Alvar. She is enjoying reuniting with her family, friends from high school, and of course, her Sigma Kappa sisters. If you would like to reconnect with Briana, she can be reached at ernst.briana@gmail.com. Traveling SigmaKappas

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