Sigma Kappa - University of Florida

Beta Tau Housing Corporation of Sigma Kappa at the University of Florida • Winter 2022 Beta Tau ConnSKtion T he 2021 Beta Tau Founder's Day celebration weekend was the backdrop for a new tradition launched by the chapter. Every year, the chapter will present awards to Sigma Kappa alumnae who have provided exemplary service to Beta Tau. There is not yet an official name for these awards or a solid ceremony (those components will come later), but we want to consistently honor the alumnae sisters who have committed their time, talent, and perseverance to help build and grow Beta Tau Chapter. The inaugural recipients of this award were selected by the alumnae and collegiate sisters of the house corporation board. In future years, this award will have a nomination process and a call to vote from all collegiate and alumnae members of Beta Tau. For 2021, we honored the nine women who were pivotal in the massive project to build the existing Sigma Kastle—on the hollowed grounds where our sisterhood was founded, where so many memories exist, where we learned what kind of women we would be and our impact on the world. These women, like the founders of Sigma Kappa themselves, were dedicated, resolute, and filled with conviction to build this new house that would allow our sisterhood to not just grow but thrive. They have created a literal stone structure, or foundation if you will, that ensures the strength and growth of our chapter for years to come and gives us all a place to "come home" to whenever possible. These nine powerful sisters are: Jennifer Grinnan Lyons '04 Gabrielle Ferro Miller '04 Carly Van Ostrand Autrey '05 Evelyn Lopez Hosmer '06 Julia Knight '06 Carolyn Huntley '08 London VanHouten Cromwell '09 Miriam Camejo Camejo '13 Kylie Werk '13 Building a Foundation for Generations to Come Nine Sisters Exemplify Beta Tau's Values (Continued on page 4) "We felt like it was our duty to build a place for our growing sisterhood to expand for a lifetime," said Jennifer Grinnan Lyons '04, one of the primary project managers for this endeavor. A former resident of room 7 in the old chapter house, Carly Van Ostrand Autry '05 fondly recalls her time living in the house. "We would lose hours of time on those upstairs couches, laughing or solving all of life's issues. We could see the sisterhood growing, but we needed a place for more of our sisters to live, gather, and get lost for hours like we did!" "My favorite memories as a Sigma Kappa are in the chapter house!" Kylie Werk '13 said. "I had to help make that experience bigger than my own." We, all of your Beta Tau sisters, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your hard work. You are foundational in cementing our sisterhood for generations to come. BETA TAUS FOR LIFE SIGMA KAPPA COMMEMORATES INITIATION ANNIVERSARIES A s part of the chapter's annual Founder's Day celebration every November, Beta Tau added a component to commemorate the 25- and 50-year anniversaries of our sisters' initiation. This anniversary celebration is offered to sisters who attend Founder's Day in person. In November 2021, 17 alumnae were awarded their 25-year pin, and one very special Beta Tau, Donna French Lucas '69, was awarded her 50-year pin! Donna held several offices in Beta Tau Chapter, and she regaled everyone with life as a UF Sigma Kappa in the late '60s and early '70s. Donna has since had many successes, including raising four children, moving her family all over the world for her husband's work, and building a flourishing tutoring business teaching English as a second language. "Everything I learned about leadership, I learned as a Sigma Kappa," Donna shared. "And I wouldn't have had the opportunities I've had after college if I hadn't built the skills I honed while I was a Beta Tau. I feel lucky to be reconnected with my sisters and am so honored to have received by 50-year anniversary pin back here where it all started!" Peggy Harbour Malone '87 was part of the group awarded their 25th anniversary pins. "It is so fun to come together as alumnae across all generations, like no time has passed, and be a part of the sisterhood we each wove a piece of ourselves into," Peggy said. We hope you'll join us for every alumnae event. If your anniversary is coming, we also can't wait to honor you at the next Founder's Day celebration!

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