Pi Beta Phi - Oklahoma State University

Arrow Talk PAGE 2 Michel Thompson '82 Repays Pi Phi for Enriching Her College Years Providing a Wonderful New Home M ichel Thompson '82 joined Pi Beta Phi following in the footsteps of her sister, Kim Thompson Maxwell '77, and future sister-in-law, Lucina Beaver Thompson '78. Although she considered other sororities, she felt most at home in Pi Phi. Michel took pride in the fact that Oklahoma Beta consistently placed in the top of most sorority competitions, and her talented sisters were involved across campus. She has fond memories of dressing up for Monday night dinners, watching skits at Cookie Shines and dancing to Billy Joel's Uptown Girl in the hallways. She can't imagine her four years at Oklahoma State without Pi Phi, and she cherishes the relationships the sisterhood has brought into her life over the years. When Michel moved to Texas after college, she discovered it was not as common at most Texas universities for women to live in the chapter house for three years. "I can't imagine not having this bonding experience by living together for three of my four collegiate years," she shares. Ensuring Pi Phi's aging house remains competitive at Oklahoma State ignited Michel's gift to the Continuing Our Oklahoma Beta Sisterhood at 324 campaign. "Because I felt like having a physical house was such a big part of my experience, I want new Oklahoma Betas to have the same experience I had by having a wonderful new home to call their own," she says. Though Michel does not make it back to Stillwater often, when she does, it feels like no time has passed. "The relationships formed have truly stood the test of time," she says. "I love reconnecting and catching up with these special friends." Michel feels strongly about supporting the future of Oklahoma Beta. She shares, "I would encourage fellow alumnae to think back on their experience and see if it enriched their lives as it did mine, and if it did, to also consider joining me in bringing our Pi Phi home along in a way that will be a draw for new collegians for years to come, further improving and enhancing Pi Phi's presence at OSU." After college, Michel worked for Arthur Young (now EY), where she met her husband, Bob, a University of Texas at Austin alumnus, whom she married in 1987. She then went to work for ClubCorp and Sterling Software. Her sons were born in 1991 and 1994, and she has been retired since May 1994. She is most proud to have raised two self-reliant, independent, married sons. Michel and Bob have lived in Plano, Texas, for 35 years and enjoy their summer months at their home in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, boating and exploring the outdoors. Michel also enjoys accompanying Bob and their sons on the golf course. "I appreciate that my husband is enthusiastic to support both OSU and Oklahoma Beta because he recognizes it is important to me to give back to my university and my sorority," she says. Michel's favorite hobbies are traveling, playing Mahjong and collecting travel points and miles, through which she has built a network of friends with whom she enjoys receiving and sharing travel tips and meeting up at events around the U.S. Michel has also been a member of the Richardson-Plano, Texas, Alumnae Club for over 35 years. You can connect with her at mtplano@aol.com. Michel and Bob in Las Vegas in December 2023. My husband and I support OSU and the Pi Phi house because it is important to me. "Pi Phi gave so much to me (leadership opportunities, confidence, lifelong friendships, laughter and joy); I am thrilled to be able to contribute and give back to an organization that enriched my college years so much."

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