Kappa Kappa Gamma - Oklahoma State University

T o receive the Loyalty Award in 2014, the highest honor in Kappa Kappa Gamma membership, was "very surprising and humbling," as Linda Price Patton '61 put it. "There are a number of capable women working in this organization—I guess I thought, why me?" Her Kappa résumé helps shed some light on the answer. From being on the Delta Sigma House Board to presenting countless national and province-level workshops, from her time as a Regional Director and Province Director to serving as Fraternity Philanthropy Chairman and Fraternity Chairman of Field Representatives to being the Keynote Speaker for 2010's Candlelight Banquet, Linda has passionately served her sisters for decades. Linda was also instrumental in the development of Leadership Academy, serving as a facilitator and large group facilitator several times. Awarded at each Convention, the Loyalty Award recognizes an alumna with a steadfast desire to serve the Fraternity and whose work and devotion enriches the sisterhood and inspires its members. Only 33 women have received it since 1956—with only 31 chapters among them—so Linda's award was a great honor for Delta Sigma as well. "It sounds cliché, but Kappa allowed me to become the woman I am." "Humble" is also how Linda describes her upbringing. An only child in a town of 350, Linda's only regular company were her parents, grandparents, and pets. When she learned about sororities and saw all the good and fun they spread through Oklahoma State, she knew she had to be part of that. Instant Connection Linda never had a formal recruitment; she pledged Kappa after an "open rush," in which houses invited prospective members for dinner to get acquainted on a smaller scale. Linda suspects her strong freshman grades gave her an edge in that process, but there was something more as well. "It all just kind of clicked—we were comfortable with one another," she said. "Delta Sigma was the only house where I felt that way and knew I could live with these women." Kappa provided Linda with the perfect leadership opportunities for her college years. She went on to serve as efficiency chairman and chapter president, representing Delta Sigma at various Greek life functions. She was also a member of the Mortar Board honor society and became OSU's Homecoming co-chairman her senior year! Most importantly, it gave her close girlfriends for the first time. "I thought living in a house with all those women was just the neatest thing ever," she recalled. "There was always someone to grab a Coke, take a walk, ride bicycles, or do anything. Even to work on Homecoming floats with the girls and some of their boyfriends—and Homecoming just keeps getting bigger and better!" Sisterhood Expands For Linda, an even higher honor than the Loyalty Award is sharing the Delta Sigma sisterhood with her family. Linda pretended not to care which house her daughter chose, but she was elated when Melinda Patton Bellatti '85 became a Kappa as well; Melinda even joined her mother as a chapter president. Years later, both women attended the Delta Sigma initiation of Melinda's daughter, Lauren Bellatti '13. Linda is a former speech and drama teacher who coached two Speech and Debate National Champions. She was named Teacher of the Year for her local district and by a state association six times. She has served her community on the Nowata library and school boards. Now retired, Linda enjoys small-town life in Nowata, Oklahoma, where she is active in her church and sings in the community choir; she also enjoys attending musical theater and spending time with her five grandchildren. There is no local alumnae association near Linda, but she has made many Kappa friends post-college (especially in retirement) and loves keeping up with them through committees and workshops. "It sounds cliché, but Kappa allowed me to become the woman I am," she said. "The college years wouldn't be nearly so rich without it." page 5 LIFELONG LOYALTY Why KKG Is Special to Linda Price Patton '61 YOU CAN CONNECT WITH LINDA AT PATTONLINDA74@GMAIL.COM. KAPPA MOMENTS Delta Sigma is a Patton Family tradition! From left: Linda, her granddaughter Lauren Bellatti '13 and her daugghter Melinda Patton Bellatti '85.

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