Sigma Kappa - University of Kansas

H H H sigma staR Page 2 Triangle Society ($1,000 to $4,999) Eleanor Major Berkley '54 Marlene Braunsdorf '68 Kenna S. Giffin '73 Judi J. Polson '74 Linda M. Bacheller '89 Dove & Heart Society ($500 to $999) Diane Danley Sandidge '48 Retta Jones Harnar '54 Diane McCarthy Knowles '71 Karen Hunt Exon, Ph.D. '72 Kristen Gable Tierney '74 Kimberly Schrameyer Simonds '91 Violet Society ($100 to $499) Marcia A. Beardsley '53 M. Linda Jewell Sullivan '62 Linda Hammer-Brown '68 Deborah Phillips Corder '71 Paula Matson '73 Christy Cain Nielson '92 Haley Dix '12 "Sigma Kappa is the best," Kenna Giffin '73 said. "It will always be number one in my heart." lasting memoRies Since her very first visit, Kenna got along well with the women of Xi Chapter, and she loved having a similar group of women by her side as she navigated college and matured into adulthood. Many of those women became her lifelong friends, and she cherishes the memories she has, beginning with the first time she entered the house as a new member. "Several of the members and other new pledges were standing around in the living room when I walked in," she recalls. "Suddenly, this person burst out of the crowd and handed me a Sigma Kappa t-shirt and introduced herself as my Big sister, Sharen Opperman Mingee '70." Many of Kenna's fondest memories were the simpler ones like meals in the dining room, studying in the basement, and participating in the ceremonies. One of her favorite sillier moments was when she and her friends baked a cake to celebrate Kansas Day on January 29, then invited all their sisters to come and eat it. During her first summer as a Sigma Kappa, Kenna had the opportunity to attend the 100th anniversary convention at the Wentworth Hotel in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. One afternoon, she and some sisters rented a car and drove up to Maine, with the hopes of visiting Colby College in Waterville. Although they ran out of time, they were pleased to have crossed the state line, and years later, Kenna attended a music conference at the new Colby College and enjoyed being in the area where the Sigma Kappa founders had lived. leading thRoUgh liFe As a collegian, Kenna served as the chapter reporter and recording secretary; she has continued to hold similar roles throughout her career, using the leadership and social skills she developed in Sigma Kappa along the way. Kenna's favorite journalism position was as an editor in the Public Affairs Department at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She loved meeting and interviewing medical and dental clinicians and researchers and writing articles for the monthly magazine, and she enjoyed learning each day. Along with being a journalist, Kenna spent some of her career in the legal field—she especially loved serving as a staff attorney for Laredo Legal Aid Society Inc., where she represented people on an individual basis for issues concerning family law, bankruptcy, real estate, and criminal misdemeanors. Kenna took her knowledge to South Texas College, where she worked as a political science instructor. Although frustrated at times, as it seemed many students took her class for granted, she experienced joy when her students understood what she was teaching. She enjoyed getting her classes involved, taking trips to Austin to visit the Texas Legislature when it was in session, and offering students the opportunity to work as election clerks at polls in the Hidalgo County area. While at STC, Kenna also taught dual-credit courses in the county high schools, where she enjoyed working with the students, especially with those in La Joya, whom she exchanged comparisons with about various kinds of farming, as many of their families harvested crops in the area. In her free time, Kenna loves attending college. She shares, "I collect degrees like some people collect stamps." She also enjoys reading, doing paint-by-numbers, and playing the organ. You can connect with her at ksg210@gmail.com. living and leaRning Kenna Giffin '73 Expands Her Knowledge and Passes It on to Others Your Support Helps Our Home Thrive t hank you to the following sisters for your generous contributions in response to our fall 2022 appeal. The $4,450 you collectively donated will help ensure our chapter house is maintained and our sisters have the resources they need to prosper. We truly value your dedication to Xi Chapter—our sisterhood is where it is today, and will continue to grow in the future, thanks to your support. tinyurl.com/xisigmakappa Make a gift online and join your sisters. T han k Y ou , Ge ner o u s S i st e r s

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