Chi Omega - Kansas State University

E milee joined Chi Omega after being drawn in by the warmth and authenticity of the women she met during recruitment. "Their energy felt real, and I knew I wanted to be part of it," she said. That instinct led to four years of deep friendships, late-night laughter, and life-shaping experiences that continue to inspire her personal and professional life today. COLLEGE CONNECTIONS What stood out to Emilee most during her time in the chapter was Chi Omega's core values. "Our Chapter stands for friendship, integrity, academic excellence, community involvement, and personal growth," she said. "College was a lot of fun, but also full of challenges. Having Chi O's values to anchor me through it all made the experience not just memorable but something I'll always be proud of as well." Though she has dozens of fun memories and stories to share, Emilee's lasting takeaway from her time with Kappa Alpha is the enduring Sisterhood. "Living in the Chi O house meant never being alone," she said. "It felt like a four-year-long sleepover." Today, that closeness continues. "Chi O has been, and continues to be, an important part of my life," she shared. She has stayed engaged through things like planning alumnae events, including a recent reunion, and encourages everyone to get involved and reconnect. A NEW CHAPTER After earning her degree in hospitality management with a minor in business administration, Emilee spent a decade in restaurants, resorts, and country clubs before pivoting into brand development. In 2018, she went into strategic marketing, bringing with her the relationship- oriented mindset that had defined her earlier roles. "No matter the industry, I've always been drawn to creating meaningful, hospitality- driven interactions," she said. That passion eventually led to the launch of her own company, Toast and Jam Group, in 2022. "We help businesses elevate their brand through strategic, experience- driven solutions, especially through custom-branded merchandise," she explained. Toast and Jam specializes in promotional products, employee incentive programs, e-commerce solutions, and even warehousing and fulfillment. "At the heart of what we do is a commitment to thoughtful details and service excellence," she said. "We pride ourselves on fine- tuning every project to fit each client's unique needs." Giving back is also built into the company's culture. "For every order placed by a school or charitable organization, we donate a portion of the sale back to them," she said. "It's our way of saying thank you and supporting the incredible work they do." Emilee Petersen (Juhn) '05 Shares Her Chi O Story We had 61 Kappa Alphas achieve a GPA of 4.0! Kappa Alpha Chapter ranked third in sorority GPAs at Kansas State. SPRING '25 WISE OWLS Reese Althouse Madison Augustine Macy Bidnick Kate Boydston Grace Burgett Zoe Burnett Keaton Coad Abby Colburn Eve Cole Halie Cress Alyssa Crum Maddie Day Maggie Decker Anna Desmarteau Maddie Dodd Mia Eskina Mallory Farrar Libby Farrell Meg Freeman Claire Gassel Ava Guastello Taylor Hindes Leah Hoffman Katelyn Jenkins Kristin Kaufman Hadley Kelemen Elyssa Lee Ellen Magana Payton Marteney Heidi Mattingly Heidi McCormick Holly McCormick Erin McGrevey Anna Meganck Lydia Micek Ava Miller Elizabeth Morrissey Ashley Olson Jane Oltjen Delana Ortiz Reegan Parker Annabella Peterson Sophie Pringle Presley Reinertsen Lola Ruescher Kinlee Roberts Avery Rosenhagen Kate Roth Hailey Rozell Payton Ryan Hayley Scott Aly Smithwick Kira Stambaugh Alayna Sutton Clare Taylor Lauren Taylor Sophie Thomas Ashley VanElders Tyler Vidrickson Alex Ward Meryn Wills 2 The Cardinal and The Straw ROOTED IN VALUES, DRIVEN BY VISION EMILEE'S ADVICE FOR UNDERGR ADUATES "Use every connection and say yes to opportunities. Every conversation has the potential to open a door to something amazing!" CATCHING UP Today, Emilee lives in Leawood, Kansas, with her husband, three children, and two much-loved pommapoos. She credits Chi Omega for giving her the confidence and character to lead well. "Passion fuels purpose—and purpose drives success," she said. As an alumna, she stays involved out of love for the Sisterhood. "Chi O has been, and continues to be, an important part of my life. These women have been with me through so many seasons, and they each hold a piece of my heart." If you'd like to get in touch with Emilee, you can reach her at emilee@toastandjamgroup.com.

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