Gamma Phi Beta - University of Kansas

GAMMA PHI BETA 3 Alumna Focused on Future of Gamma Phi Beta A s a house corporation member, Brenda Press Harden '78 knows part of her role is to create an environment where young women can succeed and continue the traditions that make Gamma Phi Beta so great. "One of the reasons I've stayed involved with the house corporation is that I believe the women of Gamma Phi Beta today are our future and need the environment and opportunity to continue Sigma's history at KU. It's important that they see alumnae who believe in them and what they can do for G-Phi. They are awesome young women with bright futures ahead of them." Brenda saw firsthand the impact an active and supportive group of alumnae can have on younger girls as an undergraduate. "Betty Hailey Crooker '57 was on the house corporation board when I was a collegian like she still is today. She was and continues to be a dynamo and really believes in the power of young women." Gamma Phi helped Brenda discover who she was and kept her focused on the world around her and helping others. She gained a sense of pride thanks to belonging to a great group of women, leaders and followers, and those that care about other people. Today she enjoys reminiscing about her favorite memories, including pledging, walkouts, singing on the front porch, parties, friends, and just hanging out in the house with pledge sisters. One of her roles as a member is helping plan the upcoming centennial celebration. "I am looking forward to a chance to see some women I haven't seen in a while, as well as gaining some additional enthusiasm for the chapter and Gamma Phi." Brenda knows that going strong after 100 years is a great testament to hard work over the years at Gamma Phi. Many of Brenda's friends today are her Sigma sisters, whom she sees every couple of months, and 10-15 of them have gotten together every couple of years for a girls weekend. She hopes that the centennial celebration can be a way for sisters to reconnect. "Jump back in. It will seem like yesterday!" Brenda and her husband, Kevin, a graduate of the KU School of Architecture, live in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, and have two children, ages 27 and 25. Brenda can be reached at bp.harden@gmail.com. S usan Moore Palmer '77 is leading the planning for Sigma's centennial celebration this spring. In preparing for the event, Susan has reflected on her relationship with Sigma Chapter and the house she fell in love with those many years ago as a freshman. During recruitment, Susan felt warmly received by members of the house and found girls she would love to spend time and create bonds with. Over her four years in the chapter, Susan gained a sense of pride as a Sigma member that still runs strong today. "I loved the house and the good reputation we had on campus through campus involvement. Our volunteering and academic standards were high." Sigma Chapter aided in her becoming a well-rounded woman by providing different avenues of campus involvement and chapter leadership. Susan acted as intramural chairman and Panhellenic delegate her senior year. Duties included helping the recruitment process for a newly formed chapter on campus. The memories of bonding with her Sigma sisters are still fresh for Susan. "It was fun to have so many inspiring friends always available to talk or go on a run. I loved being surrounded by that kind of energy all the time." She still has strong relationships with many of her sisters. They get together on a regular basis and take a trip every couple of years, including an upcoming trip to Santa Barbara with 14 of her friends. Susan hopes to see many of her Sigma sisters come back for the centennial celebration. "I am looking forward to seeing hundreds of Sigmas coming back to celebrate this celebration and reliving the years we enjoyed as Gamma Phis. It's remarkable to achieve that status of existing for 100 years and to have our organization and traditions still thriving and being relevant all this time." Since graduation, Susan has stayed close with Gamma Phi and provides an annual scholarship to the chapter. She works as a real estate agent at Reece Nichols and previously worked in the TV industry in executive sales management. Susan lives in Kansas City and enjoys golfing, working out, reading, and traveling in her spare time. Catch up with Susan via e-mail at supalmer@reecenichols.com. Planning for Centennial Celebration Refreshes Alumna's Love of Sigma Chapter Spotlight on Susan Moore Palmer '77 F all is in full swing here in Lawrence, and Sigma Chapter is having a wonderful first semester. New High GPA We are again proud to announce we topped our highest GPA record from last fall with our spring 2014 chapter GPA of 3.41, ranking us third on the Hill among both fraternities and sororities in academics. So far this semester our chapter has been very involved with the university, other Greek chapters, and the community as a whole. Our women have participated in the block barbecue we host every year on our lawn, our annual Eileen Teahan Golf Tournament benefiting the KAW Valley Center and Girls on the Run, Homecoming week paired with Pi Kappa Phi, and we are still planning for Rock Chalk Revue with our partners from Beta Theta Pi. Sigma Welcomes Largest Pledge Class In August, Sigma welcomed our largest pledge class yet so it's been wonderful getting to know each and every one of them. They jumped right into all that Sigma had planned for our fall semester and are now feeling more and more at home. As a chapter we want to thank our parents and alumnae for spending Parent's Weekend with us late in September and want our dads to know how much Sigma Chapter Strong as Ever (Continued on page 4) Our executive council during recruitment.

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