Sigma Kappa - Missouri State University

Delta Upsilon Update Delta Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Kappa at Missouri State University Winter 2019 INSIDE: A Semester of Success p. 2 • Delta Upsilon Fast Facts p. 2 • Alumnae Then and Now p. 3 • Welcome, Sisters! p. 4 ΣΚ Gleams with Chapter House Improvements T he Corporation Board had a busy summer of renovations! We added new lighted letters to the gable of the house and also updated the lights in the yard that illuminate the exterior. Needless to say, the front of the house looks amazing and there is no ignoring us! The board surveyed the chapter and per their suggestions, we painted all of the bedrooms a nice, neutral grey- beige with an accent wall of light lavender. We also painted the second-floor bathroom, the kitchen, and added a water filtration in the kitchenette. We added additional decor to the formal living room, which included photos of the house as it was in different time periods and stages of remodel. We purchased and installed new foldable table legs for the social tables for ease of removal during recruitment. And just before recruitment, we replanted the flower box in the front of the house and purchased potted plants for the porch. In Sigma Kappa, Traci Sooter '81 tsooter@drury.edu A s a young woman from an incredibly small community, Samantha Hogenson Bray '07 was looking to meet new people and expand her horizons. She knew no one at Missouri State, and even though she was unsure if Greek life was for her, she went through recruitment. Samantha discovered so many amazing women at Sigma Kappa during this time. "My eventual Heart Sis, Krystal Dreher Pittenger '05, had been my SOAR leader," she shared. "When I realized she was also the president of Sigma Kappa, it helped seal the deal." Having graduated with her bachelor's degree in entertainment management and minors in international relations and geotourism, Samantha set herself up for a career in sustainable travel. Working remotely from Charleston, South Carolina, Samantha is the managing director for the D.C.-based non- profit called the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST). There, she helps conduct sustainable tourism research and consulting for destinations all over the world. For Samantha, this job has been a dream come true. "One in 10 people are employed by tourism in the world, and its impacts are astounding," she explained. "I love being able to work with a destination to help them protect their sense of place." She believes the act of traveling gives people a more global mindset, which encourages peace. The goals in Samantha's life and career can be traced back to Sigma Kappa, which she describes as, "heart, purpose, and character." Through Delta Upsilon, she gained not only a sense of these core values that she now uses in her career, but lasting friendships. "My best friends are Sigma Kappas—I still talk with them every day!" she shared. "Sigma Kappa gave me a safe place to come out of my shell and friends around whom I could truly be myself." Weddings of fellow ΣΚ sisters have been a highlight for Samantha over the past few years, and she remembers how much fun they had living in the house—sharing that same bond now as adults. She and her husband love traveling together, having visited Maine this fall, to see places of historical significance such as Colby College and Maine Seacoast Mission in person. The greatest advice she's ever received? "Worry is a misuse of the imagination." You can connect with her at samantha11@ gwmail.gwu.edu. Heart. Purpose. Character. ΣΚ Values That Helped Samantha Hogenson Bray '07 Discover Her Calling Have you been receiving Delta Upsilon's e-mail blasts? We would love to have you included on our list and are currently missing e-mails for nearly 1,000 alumnae. E-mail hcarney@penningtonco.com today to be added!

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