Kappa Alpha Theta - Purdue University

Theta Kite Alpha Chi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta • Established at Purdue University in 1915 • Fall 2018 Heidi Fernandez '96 on Life as an International Educator Alumna Thankful for Alpha Chi Values W hen Heidi Fernandez '96 came to Purdue from Los Altos, Calif., she couldn't even identify Indiana on the map. Now, she lives halfway across the map, teaching in the Netherlands. "My senior year at Purdue, a course titled "Multiculturalism in Education" spurred my teaching interest greatly," Heidi recalls. "I vowed that if I did work in education, I would do so in underprivileged areas." As a freshman, Heidi bonded with two Purduette members who were Thetas, and as soon as she pledged she never looked back. "The girls became my family, and the Theta house my home away from home. ΚΑΘ shaped who I am now in every way." Heidi graduated with a bachelor's in elementary education, later earning a master's in politics and education from Columbia University. Her teaching career began with six years in New York, working with students in the Smith Housing projects, most of whom were recent immigrants. She then spent four years in the Santa Monica/Malibu school district, advocating for reading and writing workshops "for a district that at the time was very textbook-driven." Heidi moved to Amsterdam nine years ago, where she teaches fifth grade at the International School of Amsterdam and has coordinated her department for seven years. "My aunt and uncle were DODDS teachers for 25 years, so they showed me what being an international teacher could be like." Five years ago, Heidi also completed an international education degree at Cambridge, which has greatly impacted her career. The school selected Heidi to participate in the Cultures of Thinking conference, part of Harvard's Project Zero, a program that advocates education and understanding learning through the arts. While teaching in New York, she was also featured on the PBS documentary Schools That Work and has achieved many other honors in her career. "Many of the girls in my pledge class were also education majors," Heidi said of Theta's influence on her career. "A few others studied overseas and have now sent their children to international/ IB schools." As an undergraduate, Heidi served as recruitment chair her senior year and was also named Homecoming Queen going into recruitment. "It was important to me to walk the walk as a leader," she said, "in my house, my singing group, and in my education major." Heidi encourages undergraduate sisters to study hard, enjoy their time in the house and get involved, embrace their international peers, and to always support other women. To this day, although Heidi's career has limited direct involvement with the chapter, she maintains close friendships with many of her sisters and pledge class thanks to e-mail and social media. "Amy Fruit Conley '96, Laura Haehl '96, Kelly Jo Bean Bretz '96, and Meghan Wunderlich Marschall '96 all attended my wedding this past summer. I sang in two other pledge sisters' weddings, read and spoke in two others, and was a bridesmaid in two more. Leslie Kenney Dadidakis '96 helped organize my 40th birthday weekend in Austin, Texas. You can always count on your pledge class— yes, even 20 years later." Heidi married Jean Baptiste Bourgault this past July, and they live in Amsterdam where she teaches and he works in finance. Heidi loves reading ("Four to five novels a month!"), and since JB is from the French Alps she has found herself often reading in French. They love to travel and are heading to French Polynesia in December for their belated honeymoon. You can connect with Heidi at hfernandez@isa.nl. Read the complete Q&A with Heidi Fernandez at www.alphachithetas.org. Chapter House Work Continues Each Summer Stairwells Refurbished to Feel Like Home T he hard work of the past few years has produced an elegant and welcoming Theta house at Purdue. All the public areas, the stairwells, and the private area hallways have been redone. This past summer, the Facility Corporation Board refurbished the stairwells with the intent of eliminating the parking garage décor and creating a more home-like feel. When FCB tackles large projects, we must finish before the actives begin to arrive in early August. Mary Guckien, our facility director, did a masterful job of scheduling the summer cleaning and repairs around the construction. The result was a house that looked absolutely beautiful when the women arrived at 607 Russell Street. As part of the stairwell project, we reviewed the extensive collection of composites. We have five composites from the 1960s, and starting with 1970 we have every composite except 1999 and 2001. Those women must have been exceptionally beautiful and their composites were stolen as a result! We are hanging the even-year composites and filing the odd- year ones in racks which can be available during special events. Current composites are very large because we have approximately 100 members. The FCB sets aside funds every year to build an emergency fund with a goal of over $600,000, or about two years' budget. Currently, the balance is more than $230,000. During the annual meeting in September, the FCB voted to install a new roof over the living room and entryway due to leaks, install updated kitchen equipment, and improve air conditioning and ventilation in the upstairs bathrooms and hallways. Though we have made significant house improvements, we have a wish list, which includes new flooring in the study rooms, a redo of the guest room, improving the parking lot and the parking lot entrance, and improving the landscape visible from the floor-to-ceiling living room windows. We could also look at adding air conditioning upstairs and improving ventilation in the sleeping dorm. The Facility Corporation Board appreciates the support of all Alpha Chi Thetas and welcomes your input into these projects. Loyally, Elaine Rush Haehl '69 Facility Corporation Board President erhaehl@comcast.net Refurbished stairwells add a home-like feel. We are also hanging even-year composites. Heidi Fernandez '96 (back row, left) and her class were highlighted in Vogue for Caroline Kennedy's (back row, fifth from left) initiative for reading in NYC public schools. Photo taken by Annie Leibovitz for Vogue.

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