Alpha Gamma Delta - University of Alabama

The Squirrel's Nest 2 G rowing up, Olivia Rush '16 heard countless stories from her mother, Angie Wages Rush '83, and her grandmother, Olivia James Wages '60, about their experiences in Alpha Gamma Delta. Her great-aunt Sara James Graves '64 also shares the AΓ∆ bond and had her own meaningful experience at UA. When it was Olivia Rush's turn to go through recruitment, she was determined not to simply join AΓ∆ because of the legacy before and because it was what her community expected of her. However, that notion quickly melted away once she met the women of Psi Chapter and she realized the potential of her own experience with the AΓ∆ sisterhood. "I quickly realized that Alpha Gam could offer me the same friendships and experiences that it did for my mother and grandmother while still being friendships and experiences that were my own," she shared. "I stepped into college and Alpha Gam as a shy freshman who lived more in the shadows. The friends I made within Alpha Gam saw my strengths, pulled those out in me, and encouraged me to use them confidently for a purpose. Because of that, I have grown into who I am, which is something I am so grateful for as I step into my post-grad season of life." While each Psi sister has enjoyed her own personal experience and appreciates the lifelong benefits the sisterhood has provided, their familial bonds have undoubtedly been strengthened. It Runs in the Family "For me, the relationship with my mom, my daughter, and my aunt took on a new dimension and became even stronger when we all shared AΓ∆ in common," Angie shared. When Olivia Wages went through recruitment, she had no idea she would be paving the way for generations of women in her family by joining AΓ∆. "It was a wonderful experience when my younger sister, my daughter, and then my granddaughter pledged Alpha Gam—there's such a great bond there!" Sara followed in the footsteps of her older sister and has greatly enjoyed the feeling of familial and fraternal sisterhood over the years. She's also grateful for her personal experience with Psi Chapter and the leadership opportunities there that prepared her for life after college. "Being able to interact with all chapter members and alumnae while chapter president was a great experience," she stated. "All leadership roles I've had in the various phases of my life, including at Psi, have had (and still have) impacts on all personal and professional endeavors." Oliva Rush also had the opportunity to serve as Psi Chapter president during her senior year, which is something she is most proud of and thankful for during her time with Alpha Gam. "In this role, I had to face many challenges, and I had the opportunity to meet new people and, in turn, connect people from various circles," she said. "I learned a great deal about myself, and I had the greatest executive council team to do it all with." Olivia and her mother, Angie, also share the legacy of being crowned Homecoming Queen at UA—a uniquely meaningful, special, and unforgettable experience for each of them. "The Homecoming experience was just a dream…I could not have been more proud of my daughter," Angie said. "The support shown by AΓ∆ was overwhelming. It was truly rare and once in a lifetime to be able to Olivia James Wages '60, Olivia Rush '16, Angie Wages Rush '83, and Sara James Graves '64. Text from the Homecoming Queen article on Olivia: This Russellville girl, Olivia James, has walked away with quite a few honors at the University. She was one of the eight top beauties as chosen by the students on campus. Not only is Olivia beautiful, she is also smart! She was tapped for Alpha Lambda Delta, the freshman scholastic honorary, and Triangle, the women's service honorary. The Alpha Gams bestowed the honor of giving her a diamond in her sorority pin for having tied with one of her pledges sisters for the top grades in the pledge class. We're mighty proud of Miss Olivia. Olivia James Wages '60 representing Alpha Gam as a Corolla Beauty.

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