Delta Gamma - University of Arkansas

AlwAys Anchored PAge 4 Anchored in Tradition, Building Our Future C arol McAlister Allen '78 didn't know much about sororities when she started at the University of Arkansas in 1977. Being an Army brat growing up, Carol moved around frequently throughout her life before college. When she was in kindergarten, Carol lived in France, and she moved around so much that she ended up attending three different high schools. "I depended on myself," Carol said. During the recruitment process, she was impressed after meeting the vivacious group of girls from Delta Gamma. "They were all so connected while also being completely individual," Carol said. "Joining Delta Gamma seemed like a really wonderful opportunity to me." She was initiated into the Alpha Omega Chapter in January of 1978. Carol made many great memories and long- lasting friendships during her time with Alpha Omega. One of her favorite memories was meeting her Big Sister, Vivian Reese Hill '77, which would be the beginning of a friendship and sisterhood that has endured for over 40 years. Carol would later transfer to the University of Georgia when her dad retired, and her family moved to Atlanta. When she got to Georgia, she affiliated with the Delta Iota Chapter and enjoyed making a new group of friends and sisters. "Though I love my sisters from Delta Iota, my heart has always remained with my sisters at Alpha Omega," Carol said. "Now I travel to Arkansas at least once a year to visit!" She didn't realize it at the time, but Delta Gamma ended up making a big impact on her life and helping her learn the importance of helping others. Carol's earliest memory of helping others was her family's involvement in providing Christmas gifts to children in the French orphanages while she lived in France during her father's military service. While it was mainly necessities, she remembers the children being so grateful. "Doing good was part of growing up and a big part of being a Delta Gamma," Carol said. "My Big Sister, Vivian, has always been one of the most generous women I know with her time, knowledge and friendship." This spirit of doing good and giving back is what inspired Carol to donate to Alpha Omega's Anchored in Tradition, Building Our Future campaign to rebuild the chapter house. "Being involved in a small way to help get the dream of a new chapter house for Alpha Omega come to fruition has been exciting," Carol said. "The house will be beautiful, but the girls inside will concentrate the love, friendships and memories just like we did in the old Maple Street house." She envisions each sister carrying memories of the new Alpha Omega home into the distant future. Carol encourages other alumnae to consider giving to the campaign as this renovation is only possible by the hard work, love and drive of many Delta Gamma women. She wants to remind everyone that once you are a Delta Gamma, you are part of the sisterhood for life. Her husband, Calvin Allen, was a Chi Phi at the University of Georgia, and Carol says that he tells her stories of friends who ask him: "You were a Chi Phi at Georgia, right?" To which his response is always: "I still am!" "When college is over, and we go out into the world, we are still Delta Gammas," Carol said. It is this lifelong sisterhood that drove Carol to support the campaign, and she hopes that it will drive you to give back as well. Outside of her support of Delta Gamma, Carol is a director for the Calvin and Marisa Allen Foundation along with her husband, Calvin. They spend most of their time supporting charities such as the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Atlanta Humane Society, Atlanta Mission and many education-based endeavors. The couple splits their time between Atlanta and a mountain home in Blue Ridge, Ga., where they love spending time with their two very spoiled shelter dogs. You can reach Carol at carolmallen@bellsouth.net. ANCHOR YOURSELF TO SOMETHING SPECIAL Carol McAlister Allen '78 Reflects on Her Time with Two Delta Gamma Chapters and Shares Why She Gave Back Jaylon Carothers Lake Village, Ark. Animal Science, Pre-Vet Abigail Chandler Pflugerville, Texas Interior Design Kathryn Czerniakowski The Woodlands, Texas Accounting Sarah Denny Grapevine, Texas Kinesiology Megan Greenslade Salisbury, U.K. Criminology and Sociology Brianna Hackfeld Plano, Texas Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship Rachel Hawk Kansas City, Mo. Music Education Mackenzie Maxwell Springfield, Mo. Psychology Brianna Porter Austin, Texas Communications Hailey Petit Springdale, Ark. Business Economics and German Welcome, New Initiates president | Abby Evans '17 | Frisco, Texas arkansasdgpresident@gmail.com | (972) 955-1386 vp: social standards | Mackenzie Hill '17 | Edmond, Okla. vp: finance | Amanda Meyer '17 | St Louis, Mo. vp: communications | Payton McDonnal '17 | St Louis, Mo. vp: programming | Meredith Ott '17 | Conway, Ark. vp: member education | Megan Ramirez '17 | Houston, Texas vp: membership | Ellie Retz '17 | Sikeston, Mo. arkansasdgmembership@gmail.com | (573) 380-4027 vp: Panhellenic | Annemarie Arnold '17 | Little Rock, Ark. vp: Foundation | Shae Look '17 | St Louis, Mo. CHAPTER MANAGEMENT TEAM

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