Sigma Kappa - University of Florida

From left: Sophia Cuna '22, Cate Sharman '21, Emma Thompson '24, and Sophia Ode '23 after big/little reveal. Beta Tau members await the arrival of MC '24 after a long week of recruitment. Beta Tau A Fulfilling Fall at UF RECENT BETA TAU EVENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS Sigma Kappa alumnae at Tailgate and Touchdowns 2024. Cheering on the Gators since 1949! 2 O n September 14, 2024, Beta Tau alumnae sisters from South Florida to Colorado—and many places in between—gathered in Gainesville for the third annual UF Sigma Kappa Alumnae Tailgate and Touchdowns event. Everyone enjoyed a delicious catered lunch, specialty cocktails, and plenty of game day spirit. Sisters and guests also celebrated Beta Tau's 75th anniversary with beautifully crafted cupcakes and other treats made by our very own Sharon Gossett Hamilton '88. Despite the weather not cooperating and a less-than-ideal final score, cheering on the Gators was still a blast—something UF Sigma Kappas have proudly done since 1949! T A I L G A T E S A N D T O U C H D O W N S 2 0 2 4 Growing the Sisterhood Beta Tau gained ninety new members during recruitment. This is the largest new member class we have had in years, and our chapter total is now 288 members strong! Our sorority "fams" recently expanded as our new members receive their new big sisters. This fall, we have also had members grow in their campus involvement through organizations such as Student Government, Dance Marathon, the Big Event, pre-professional fraternities, and as Preview Staffers. Recently, sisters Alina Kershner '21 and Alexis Rowe '22 represented our chapter in the Homecoming leadership pageant, highlighting their extensive involvement within our chapter and on campus. Scholastic Success Our dedication does not stop with campus involvement; our academic achievement is strong. We have a mentorship program within our chapter in which sisters are matched with older sisters in their same major. This creates an accountability system to ensure members stay motivated and is helpful with scheduling classes. We also utilize a "who's in our class?" form as an avenue to find study buddies or get advice. To further contribute to our learning and development, we have sisters or outside organizations present professional development or values-based programs at weekly member meetings. This creates new avenues to growth outside the classroom. Philanthropy Efforts Beta Tau is incredibly committed to the multiple philanthropies we support. Sisters engage in a variety of service efforts, including Keep Alachua County Beautiful cleanups, dog toy making, and supporting local nursing homes. We also raised a record amount of money for the Alzheimer's Association through our philanthropy event, Sigma Sweet Treats. Most recently, we hosted more than 850 guests and raised close to $5,600. The success of our event increased excitement about the cause and energized us as we prepared for the annual Gainesville Walk to End Alzheimer's, which took place on Saturday, October 26. Overall, Sigma Kappa Beta Tau is thriving. We are reaching goals in membership, philanthropy, and personal growth, and we look forward to finding new ways to continue this momentum into the future. In the update below, our Sigma Kappa collegiate sisters share news of their incredible semester—starting with the momentum gained from recruitment!

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