Tau Chapter of Delta Gamma at the University of Iowa
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Delta Gamma page 3 A shley Vreugdenhil '10 took the advice of her sister and Tau Chapter alumna, Cristin Valentine Flood '01, as a freshman going through recruitment. She told Ashley to keep an open mind, which one might find daunting coming from an alumna. It was that advice though which eventually led her to Delta Gamma. "I made the decision to join DG on my own after meeting the women in the house. I was able to connect with so many different women who had such diverse backgrounds, yet maintained the bonds of sisterhood. DG felt like home." As a recent graduate, Ashley's memories from her time in Tau Chapter are still fresh in her mind. "It's a great feeling to celebrate so many events with your chapter. For example, when I got my bid on Bid Day, it was so exciting to share that feeling with everyone. As VP membership, I kept my Delta Gamma pride strong by recreating my joy for new members each year. It made me proud not just as a member of our chapter, but realizing that I'm a part of something bigger than myself and my school. DG spans the nation and having the opportunities I did to meet women from other chapters who also hold our sorority in such high regard was a huge honor that I'll never forget." Ashley earned a degree in social work from the University of Iowa. She works at TMC, a logistics company, as an account representative. Her hope is to build her skill set and later attend graduate school. "Living in the house with so many women helped me grow so much. For one, I learned I love working with people. There's such an energy you get from working with others and I realized that at DG. The offices I held in the chapter also taught me about responsibility, not only for myself, but the chapter as a whole. Delta Gamma also helped me personally grow as a woman. It helped me find my place and my voice. Before college, I was involved in a few things, but never in charge of anything. I'm now a stronger individual because of it." For current Tau members, Ashley advises you get to know everyone as much as possible and think about what you have in common despite your differences. "Be proud of the fact that you're a DG. Make sure to work hard and always remember to have the end goal—your career—in mind. But also make sure to have fun! Four years go by faster than you think." "I know in a year, five years, 10 years, everyone in DG will continue to be the best women they can be. I'll be proud to come back and visit, and one day if I have a daughter, I'll be even more proud if she joins like I did. No matter how much time passes, Tau will always be an amazing chapter. It's not just four years, it's for life." Ashley lives in Chicago, Ill., and enjoys going to the beach, listening to music, spending time with her friends, and reading. You can connect with Ashley at ashley.vreugdenhil@gmail.com. Ashley Vreugdenhil '10 Shares Memories and Life Lessons from Tau Chapter Charlotte Penningroth Pence '44 attends all University of Iowa men's basketball games and some of the women's. She also enjoys playing bridge, exercises three times a week, and is active with her church, First Presbyterian. Charlotte lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and has four children, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. E-mail: charppen@gmail.com Mary Ellen Foss Kimball '61 and her husband, Jim, were invited to display their 1971 E-type Jaguar at the Salisbury Concours d'Elegance Classic in 2013. They also celebrated KSOI-91.9 FM's first year on the air, where Jim hosts the "Dr. Jim Show," and Mary Ellen interviews community and cultural leaders. A red carpet preview was hosted for their second film, CoPay, at the historic Lyric Theatre on the Osceola Square. The movie, filmed in Osceola, won the Best Iowa Short Film, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay awards at the Wild Rose Festival. Mary Ellen and Jim live in Osceola, Iowa, and have two sons, Jeffrey and Joseph. E-mail: kimball@iowatelecomm.net Suzanne Grace Bork '63 and her husband, Byron, have lived in Iowa City since 1976. She retired in 2005 and has since volunteered at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and in the Iowa City school district. Suzanne enjoys golfing, swimming, traveling, and visiting her grandchildren. E-mail: smbork@mchsi.com Sherry Fennell Lane '65 is a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker-Capitol Hill, "So if you're moving to D.C. and are in need of a home, give me a call!" Sherry loves reading all the Tau Chapter news. "It brings back such wonderful and fun memories of my experience in the house." She and her husband, Rich, live in Washington, D.C., and have two sons. E-mail: sherryellenlane@gmail.com Nicole Etter Judd '96 is a project manager at Perceptive Software. She and her husband, Alex, live in Shawnee, Kan., and have two sons, Griffin and Garrett. E-mail: ndjudd1@gmail.com Jennifer Hupe Harris '99 and her husband, Robert, welcomed their first child, Marley Marie, on April 12, 2014. They live in Fullerton, Calif. E-mail: jhupe16@yahoo.com Dr. David Grady, University of Iowa dean of students, presents DG House Director Bev Palmer the 2014 Outstanding Chapter Support Staff award at the Fraternity and Sorority Life awards. ALUMNAE NEWS