Gamma Phi Beta - University of Nebraska-Lincoln

C a t c h i n g U p w i t h P i A l u m n a e Gamma Phi Beta's Stars Shine Brightly Currently, the senior senator from Nebraska, Deb Fischer '70, is seeking a third term in office. First elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012, she won reelection in 2018 and serves as a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, and the Appropriations Committee. Senator Fischer graduated from the university with a degree in education. After earning a bachelor's degree in business and economics, former chapter president Chloe Higgins '18 is a workforce development administrator for the city of Lincoln. She oversees the Lincoln Manufacturing Council, which works to fill a dearth of jobs in the manufacturing sector utilizing a $2.1 million workforce development grant. Sister Ellie Hobelman '16 has had some amazing milestones and big wins to celebrate. She was married on August 26 to Jeff Harris in Lincoln. While on her honeymoon, and a day before her birthday, she was notified she had passed the bar exam—on her late grandfather's birthday. She is honored to have followed in his footsteps to the practice of law. Ellie works in Lincoln at Johnson Flodman Guenzel and Widger LLP. Family tradition is at the heart of the daily life for Jena Ochsner '12, as Jena and her husband, Levi, are the fifth generation to carry forward the Double O Farms family operation. In addition to raising their three young sons, Jena and Levi are focused on growing commercial corn and soybeans and tending to their Angus cattle in Saronville, Nebraska. They sell their beef to all 50 states on shop.doubleofarms.com and educate the public about agriculture and the good life via Jena's Instagram account. Congratulations to Dr. Kris Baack '72, who is retiring from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Kris has been with the university for 44 years teaching collegians about civic engagement, communication skills, and leadership. She is a past president of the Junior League of Lincoln, the Nebraska Speech, Language, and Hearing Association, Friendship Home, and the Friends of the Lied Board. We especially thank and celebrate Dr. Kris for more than 30 years of service to Gamma Phi as an International Volunteer Leader and for her work on the International Council. We hope this small spotlight on the success and accomplishments of our members shines a light on what can be achieved. As we welcome the pledge class of 2023, we can only imagine the big wins—and hard work— that lies ahead for them. With a nod to the unexpected challenges that will also accompany these women in pursuing their dreams, we consider the enduring need for our sisterhood. Please consider the ongoing maintenance and support that is necessary to carry Pi Chapter and our historic home into the next few decades of sisterhood and financially support this journey for the next generation of women who will climb our front steps! In IIKE, Sarah Endacott '16 AHC Public Relations Chair I t isn't surprising to see our Gamma Phi Beta sisters are everywhere! We are grateful to have matriculated through a chapter that values a broad array of interests and appeals to women with vastly different careers. U nder the guidance of our fearless membership vice president, Hallie Horner '21, 45 lively and purposeful new members are coming into our sisterhood. We are also excited to be able to continuous open bid six more women into our chapter as the year unfolds! We eagerly anticipate guiding these newest Pis through the rest of this fall semester, filled with football games, philanthropic endeavors, initiation, Founders Day celebrations, and alumnae- related events, and through a lifetime of Gamma Phi Beta. Pi Chapter welcomes new members with a "You're the One That I Want" themed Bid Day! Mia Bernabe | Overland Park, Kan. Trinity Black | Lithia, Fla. Lillian Brown | Lincoln, Neb. Mia Circo | Omaha, Neb. Kelsey Collins+ | Snoqualmie, Wash. Avynne Cornett+ | Bennington, Neb. Hannah Deemer | Oakland, Neb. Rubie Demma | Lincoln, Neb. Katelyn Dougherty | Lincoln, Neb. Kaitlyn Emanuel* | North Bend, Neb. Ava Escobar | Highlands Ranch, Colo. Marissa Faue | Blair, Neb. Mary Gerend* | Kansas City, Mo. Brooklyn Grabast* | Superior, Neb. Abby Halsey | Omaha, Neb. Elizabeth Harding | Schuyler, Neb. Makenzie Helberg | Spring, Texas Alyssa Hellwege | Lincoln, Neb. Reece Keenan | Papillion, Neb. Kori Koeppen | Cambridge, Neb. Megan Mathews | Shawnee, Kan. Ella Matteen | Auburn, Neb. Reece McNeely | Falls City, Neb. Ella Medina | Lincoln, Neb. Kelsie Mitchell | Omaha, Neb. Tatum Moore | Fremont, Neb. Kiera Morgan | Elkhorn, Neb. Naiya Nguyen | Algonquin, Ill. Jade Noonan | Elkhorn, Neb. Gavyn Nylander | Bee Cave, Texas Brooke O'Connor*| Anken, Iowa Haley Olson | Omaha, Neb. Kassidy Olson* | Nebraska City, Neb. Alivia Petersen*+ | Bennington, Neb. Ava Powell | Omaha, Neb. Natalie Roberts | McCook, Neb. Jillian Royster | Prosper, Texas Sophia Shafer | Parker, Colo. Hailey Stark | Lincoln, Neb. Alaina Suntych | Grand Island, Neb. Raegan Theisen | Pierce, Neb. Bethany Thimjon | Omaha, Neb. Ayden Topping+ | Ladera Ranch, Calif. Madison Wiens+ | Lincoln, Neb. Kylie Wray | Lincoln, Neb. *Legacy +Sophomore Shia Sarenpa '22 and Hallie Horner '21 celebrate "New Bids on the Block" with Membership Vice President Lauren Strohman '22. WELCOME, 2023 SISTERS! GAMMA PHI BETA 3

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