Kappa Alpha Theta - University of Missouri

THE THETA UPDATE 2 10.75" Paula and sisters at a dance formal in 1956. Above: Paula Kurtz '53 with Theta sisters at their 40-year reunion at the House in 1996. G rowing as a sisterhood comes naturally during college as you eat, sleep, and study together, but after graduation, it's easy to lose track of one another. The class of 1956 swore to remain close, however, and 65 years later, they have kept that promise to one another. Paula Kurtz '53 shares how the class of '56—along with a few others—has remained connected through their own newsletter, Theta Letter. "We graduated in the spring of 1956 and one of our classmates, Georgette Hoagland James '53, got us started on our own newsletter," Paula shared. "In the beginning, the newsletters were sent around Christmas, but we gradually moved away from that since everybody got so busy. So, it was normally something that we did in September or October." The Theta Letter shared what each sister's year had been like, covering everything—good and bad—from marriages to babies and everything in between. The 24 graduates of '56 would take turns volunteering as editor for the newsletter. This role included contacting others to write a letter with any life updates they may have. The editor would then print out these letters and mail them in a packet to everyone. "Over the years, some of the members, either a little ahead of us or behind us, were interested in joining us as guests," Paula said. "I'd say there were probably 10 guests on top of the 24 that participated." The newsletter ran every year through 2020. "We did not do it in 2021, as we ran into a lot of the sadness and losses," Paula said. "Hopefully, in 2022, Lynn Smoot Willbrand '53 and I can co-edit the unquestionable 65th edition." The group not only remained in contact through their newsletters, but they have also met up throughout the decades. They've made it back to the University of Missouri for ΚΑΘ reunions and have also had their own class reunions at the Theta House. "We stayed in the rooms in the summertime, and it was fabulous," Paula said. "Being at the Theta House and having time to visit and be together was really special. We were coming from all over the country, and some even out of the country at times, so that's one of the good things about it—being able to reunite." Paula recalled a fun memory during one of their reunions in the House: "Across the street, there was a fraternity house, and in the summertime they were doing some recruitment parties. One night when we were all in the House, at some point somebody heard a voice yelling, 'Please pull down the shades!' and we laughed so much." Paula loves being a part of the sisterhood, which runs deep in her family. Her three daughters, Kimberly Kurtz Burzinski '80, Kristan L. Kurtz '82, and Kelly E. Kurtz '85, are all members as well as Paula's sister and two nieces. They love sharing Theta stories with one another. You can connect with Paula at pkurtz52@gmail.com. Lifelong Sisterhood Paula Kurtz '53 Shares How Her Sisters Remain Connected over 65 Years Later

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