Alpha Chi Omega - Purdue University

Lyre Letter 2 Jacklynn Hopper '20 and Lauren Willis '19 celebrate a win in Sigma Chi's Derby Days dodgeball tournament. Sisters from across generations enjoying a meal together. From left: Holland Memmer, Anna Willis, Kate Kaiser, Kelsey Levesque and Sam Nowisk at Alpha Chicken and Waffles. A group of Alpha Beta alumnae. "F riends are the most meaningful and lasting legacy of my time at Alpha Chi Omega," Stephanie Drewry '01 shared. From breakfast clubs at the crack of dawn to watching The Bachelor on Mondays in the Bum Room, the experiences Stephanie had alongside Alpha Beta sisters as an undergraduate added incalculable value in the years that followed. Coming to Purdue, Stephanie recalled the sister of her high school best friend being in Alpha Chi Omega. "I remember going through recruitment and connecting with a sophomore in the house. I felt like the girls were down to earth, funny and genuine," Stephanie began. "Turns out, the sophomore whom I connected with right away, Lesli Hussey Breault '00, ended up being my pledge mom! We are still very close to this day." In addition to meeting an everlasting friend within in her first days of being in the sorority, Stephanie also met her future sister-in-law, Jamie Metzger Drewry '01. "I ended up introducing one of my pledge sisters to my brother-in-law, and now they are married with three beautiful children; so, my sorority sister is my sister-in-law, and that is pretty amazing!" Not only did Stephanie meet some great people that she would stand alongside with at weddings and call her family, but she also learned skills that would trickle into her career. "I was the social chairman for Alpha Beta Chapter, and I loved to plan parties. My finishing touches were always to make sure there was good food during the dances," Stephanie shared. "That kind of makes me laugh, thinking about it now, since I ended up in the hospitality and service industry." Stephanie received a bachelor's in elementary education. "I married my high school and college sweetheart, Chris, and shortly after, I was a stay-at-home mom for three children, Emma, Grace and Jack. I've always loved working with children as well as cooking, so I decided to combine my passions and teach young minds how to cook." In 2015, Stephanie cleared out a spare bedroom in her home and opened Sprouts Cooking School for children ages 3 to 13. After expanding her customer base by teaching small-scale cooking classes at her home and at a community center for two years, Stephanie opened a brick-and-mortar storefront in Carmel, Indiana. Sprouts Cooking School has served more than 15,000 children from all over the state of Indiana as well as neighboring states, including Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. "I am thrilled by the success of Sprouts in the past seven years, and there's more to come; we plan to open a second location in Zionsville in fall 2022," Stephanie announced. Alpha Beta made a lasting difference on Stephanie. The organization introduced her to her support system, her future bridesmaids, her family and her passions. Reflecting on the experience, Stephanie is certain that Alpha Chi Omega paved her path as a compassionate mother, a generous sister, a loving wife and a dutiful business owner. Of all her accomplishments as a business owner, however, Stephanie is most proud of her family. "Finding a work-life balance is challenging as an entrepreneur, but I strive to make sure my kids and husband know that they always have my heart. Being a wife and a mother is the job title that means the most to me." Interested in learning more about Sprouts Cooking School? You can connect with Stephanie at info@sproutscookingschool.com. Stephanie with her husband, Chris. A R E C I P E F O R S U C C E S S Business Owner Stephanie Drewry '01 Credits Alpha Beta for Journey of Self-Discovery ALPHA BETA SISTERS LEADING BY EXAMPLE Ingredients: 2 teaspoons of curiosity 1 tablespoon of hope 2 ounces of energy 1 pack of positivity 1 pinch of focus 2 cups of leadership Method: Combine ingredients with a helpful hand and a loving heart. Success tastes best when shared, so pass it around! Stephanie's Recipe Stephanie's Recipe

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