Kappa Kappa Gamma - University of Arizona

KEYping Up with Kappa 2 W hen looking for the right sisterhood during recruitment, Judy Chilson Prosser '73 felt most at home at Kappa Kappa Gamma and the most comfortable with the Gamma Zeta women she met. That remained the case for all four years of college. As an only child, Judy admits she was shy at first. Gamma Zeta provided a great way for her to ease into the college experience without trepidation. The diverse group of women who made up the chapter shared similar values and ambitions, and Judy felt supported by them. Judy appreciated that Kappa had high expectations of the members while also providing a fun environment. She has many fond memories of her collegiate years, including the Kappa rituals and pledge retreat. "And I will never forget operating the antique switchboard phone system at the house!" Kappa Kappa Gamma also provided Judy with a network of lifelong friends. The influence Gamma Zeta had on her college experience was so great that when the opportunity to support the Kappa Kampaign came along, she was proud to do so. "I wanted to give back to the organization that supported me so soundly during my college years, and I wanted to help ensure other women would have the opportunity I did," she said. In Kappa, Judy gained skills that she believes she would not have learned through a non- Greek college experience, including courtesy and respect for others, responsibility to others, teamwork, and an understanding of philanthropy—all of which have prepared her well for her position as the third-generation owner and operator of Bar T Bar Ranch, a cattle ranch in northern Arizona. Judy is passionate about stewarding the land the ranch sits on and ensuring the cows and wildlife thrive in the arid environment. "It is important to me to keep this large acreage an open space and not succumb to covering it with houses or ranchettes," she shared. "It has always been a family value to protect the land resource as well as provide good and diverse wildlife habitat." Judy and her family take pride in producing a wholesome protein product. They produce about 450,000 edible pounds of beef annually which, by national standards, will feed 6,716 people per year. They sell their beef through a natural beef cooperative, Country Natural Beef, and through their local direct marketing partner, Diablo Beef. Bar T Bar will continue through the generations to Judy's sons and seven grandchildren; to Judy, being able to pass down the ranch is no small feat. "Agriculture is not an easy field (no pun intended) to navigate," she said. "Being at the mercy of mother nature and commodity market prices are not for the weak of heart. I am proud of that." In her free time, Judy enjoys hiking, viewing scenery, reading, spending time with friends and family, and flower gardening. She is proud of her twin sons, two wonderful daughters-in- law, and seven terrific grandchildren who "are a great source of laughter." You can connect with Judy at info@bartbar.com. O ur fall semester has been one for the books! As a chapter, we attained a GPA of 3.32 this spring, ranking third in UA Panhellenic. Grace Emery '21 organizes study parties every few weeks to promote both sisterhood and scholarship. The rest of the semester has been filled with sisterhood events, date dashes, and outreach within the Tucson community. Growth and Support Members have played a vital role in community outreach in many ways. This includes volunteering at the Villas at Wilmot weekly, joining philanthropy events within the Greek community, and the Philanthropy Day we organized with the gentleman of Zeta Beta Tau during Homecoming Week. Our main fall philanthropy, Krispy Kreme with KKG, took place on November 30 and was a huge success! All funds raised go to support the Jed Foundation, which provides emotional and mental health support for teens and young adults in the U.S. With the leadership of Karina Isayev '21, it was a joy to make an impact on a foundation that helps so many people. Sisterhood Engagement Avery Fletcher '22 organized a sisterhood event at a local pumpkin patch in Tucson! Members spent the afternoon on hay rides, taking pictures with their sisters, and picking pumpkins. Avery did an outstanding job getting us all in the fall spirit! Peyton Lothrop '22 organized a pop-up thrifting event at the chapter house; a portion of the sales was donated to our philanthropy! Cambria Swanson '22 attended a Kappa National conference in Ohio, meeting and networking with sisters from all over the country! Attendees enjoyed various group sessions on the importance of vision, grit, strong relationships, confidence, and adaptability. Discussions like these made Cambria even prouder to be a Kappa, and her trip reminds us just how strong and unique our sisterhood is. Alumnae Connections On October 11, Ellie Warning '21 organized our annual Founder's Day event at the chapter house. A large group of our wonderful alumni were in attendance, and they were honored (some even awarded) for their commitment to Kappa! It's always helpful and appreciated to learn from their Kappa experiences as we reflect on ours. What's Ahead? Lastly, we are excited to install an all-new chapter council and see what they deliver in the spring. We are determined to maintain our strong grades, philanthropic outreach within the community, and unbreakable sisterhood bonds to make an impact like no other. Loyally, Carlie Hermann '20 Chapter President ua.kkg.president@gmail.com A Passion for Land and Wildlife Bar T Bar Ranch Owner-Operator Judy Chilson Prosser '73 Shares Her Story Always Pursuing Excellence Sisters Grow through Shared Bonds

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