Psi Chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity at the University of Alabama
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1522426
The Squirrel's Nest 2 A s we close another busy and exciting semester, we are proud to celebrate our members' successes in academics, philanthropy, and leadership. Earlier this spring, we enjoyed another beloved tradition: Parent's Weekend. While we enjoyed time with our parents and sisters, we were also proud to contribute to our chapter's philanthropic efforts through our Week of Service activities and 5th Quarter 5K. During the week leading up to Parent's Weekend, members participated in several activities to benefit the Tuscaloosa community, including packaging over 200 meal bags for local elementary school students facing food insecurity, donating more than 600 cans to the West Alabama Food Bank, and making over 2,000 cards to donate to eight local nursing homes. During the weekend, we also raised $33,000 through our Silent Auction and the 5K. We are so proud of our members' commitment to contributing to the world's work! At the Greek Excellence Ceremony, Alpha Gam was honored with the Outstanding Scholarship and Panhellenic Chapter of the Year awards. Additionally, we received the Dr. Robert E. Witt Cup, an honor that recognizes the most outstanding Greek chapter among all four Greek councils. We were also named their Most Outstanding Sorority by the Order of Omega. Our members also received recognition, as 16 were inducted into the Order of Omega Honor Society. Additionally, Carson Champion '23 and Samantha Simmons '23 were named Most Outstanding Freshman while Sarah Mason Avery '20 was the Richard B. Funk award recipient. Many members were invited to the annual Tapping on the Mound ceremony as part of Honor's Day: • Stevey Joy Chapman '21 was tapped into XXXI, the only all- female senior honorary. • Hannah Adams '21 was recognized as UA's Outstanding Junior. • Claire Tumlin '21 was selected as a member of the 50th Anderson Society class and Betsy Chambers '20 was selected for Honorary Membership. • 12 members were tapped into Mortar Board, five into Blue Key, and eight into Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Societies. Year after year, it is true what they say—the best just keeps getting better. Loyally, Sarah Kate Smalley '21 Chapter President I first heard of Alpha Gamma Delta through my older sister Tara Henderson '16. Watching my sister develop friendships and find a community at a big school like Alabama piqued my interest, and I was impressed by how Tara's sorority sisters cared about each other, their grades, and making Tuscaloosa feel like home. Alpha Gam played an especially crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic. When everything was closed and classes were moved online, I clung to the friendships I had built during my freshman year. I was also so blessed to have four sisters as roommates in our house off-campus. While away from the chapter house, I stayed involved with the sisterhood through service. As a sophomore, I served as assistant director of activities and care for the flock leader. I was director of activities my junior year, house chaplain my senior year, and a part of the chapter council all four years. In the fall of 2019, I got the opportunity to work with Crimson Tide Productions (CTP), a program that allows students to get hands-on learning with the best tools and technology in sports broadcasting and sports media. In my junior year, I moved on to work as a manager for the women's basketball team. In February 2022, Alabama Football posted an opening for a football recruiting photographer. I didn't see the post until my sorority sister and dear friend Haden Powell '19 told me to apply. Due to her encouragement and my experience with the basketball program, I ended up getting the job one week later! In December 2022, I applied for an NFL Films internship in creative production. After five rounds of interviews and essay questions, I was accepted and joined three other interns from across the country. In May 2023, I graduated with a bachelor's degree in news media and moved to Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, to jump into the working world. I continued to apply for other jobs knowing my internship would end in August 2023, and in mid- July, I heard back from the New York Giants. I interviewed the next week, was hired 16 hours later, and was given a start date that was three weeks away! I was thrilled to be the photo and video production intern for the 2023-24 NFL season. The summer was a whirlwind, but I appreciated every minute of it. Even today, I credit Alpha Gam for helping me grow my photography experience and providing a network of people who trusted me with their special moments. My sisters gave me space to expand my talents and gifted me opportunities to celebrate milestones with them. Those photoshoots with my sorority sisters are some of my favorite memories! In Emily's free time, she enjoys playing guitar and longboarding. She is grateful to have been raised in a Christian household that helped guide her and encouraged her to use her abilities to glorify God. Her internship ended in February, and she's currently on the hunt for a full-time position in sports media. If you're interested in connecting, follow her work on Instagram at @hendy.photo, or send an email to emilyhenderson14@gmail.com. Emily Henderson '19 Shares Her Journey from AGD to the NFL Growing Where You're Planted Growing Where You're Planted "Being an Alpha Gam encouraged me to pursue my interests while gaining a network of successful people who have been where I am." –Emily Henderson '19 Sharing Sisterhood Successes Sharing Sisterhood Successes UNDERGRADUATES RECAP MEMORABLE SEMESTER