Gamma Phi Beta - University of Kansas

GAMMA PHI BETA 3 "Development of lasting friendships and loads of good times. My girlfriends always ended up marrying their boyfriends, but I saved the best for last. Fancy dinners and the good food was a change from the straightforward country cooking of my child- hood, which meant a lot of wild duck and all the good things I cherish today. My Lincoln Zephyr—a Ford four-door convertible that John Wayne rode in for the premier of Quantrill's Raid in Lawrence. -Sara Fair Sleeper '41 "Our wedding reception was held at the Gamma Phi house on February 1, 1956, 59 years ago! I threw my bouquet on the front porch with all of my Gamma Phi sisters reaching up for it at the bottom of the steps with snow falling all around!" -Dianne Nothdurft Toalson '54 "Lovely dinners, close friends, support, loyalty, friendships, sisterhood." -Janice Kay Wheaton '56 "I took my junior year abroad in Bordeaux, France. While away, my sisters, spear-headed by Alice Robinson Levy '72, sent me cassette tapes full of recorded messages (some poignant, all full of love and encouragement) and tons of party pictures to keep me in the loop. That was true sisterhood!" -Jessica Towsend Teague '72 "Sunbathing on the deck with everyone. Watching General Hospital in the TV room. Running all over Lawrence. Snow days at Mr. Bill's." -Marta Reber Warren '80 "When Donna Burke Connor '82 pretended to be a bowling pin. She had us all laughing so hard and I'll never forget it." -Molly Edmondson Ozonoff '82 "Gamma Phi was a home away from home, a place to learn, grow, and develop lasting friendships. Gamma Phi gave me the best me I could be and I am forever grateful for my time at Sigma." -Evin Burdette Wood '90 "All the little things: movies in the basement, Sonic runs, snow days, work week, date parties, always going everywhere with a group of 20 of my closest friends" -Taylor Twibell '09 100 Years of Gamma Phi Memories Gamma Phi Leadership Opportunities Important for Chapter Advisor Brianne Brown Cook '96 B rianne Brown Cook '96 knows that Gamma Phi Beta was instrumental in preparing her for her roles as physician assistant, mother, and friend. As an undergraduate, being an active member of Sigma Chapter gave her experiences that helped her grow and prepare for life after college. "Being part of such a wonderful organization provided me great opportunities for which I am so grateful." As Panhellenic delegate and chapter president, Brianne juggled her Sigma Chapter duties while earning her bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in biology. "I am confident that the leadership positions I held in Gamma Phi Beta helped me get into professional school to become a physician assistant." Mentorship from chapter advisor Abby Walsh Goodman '91 helped Brianne personally with many duties as she served on executive board for two years. Brianne has served as the Sigma chapter advisor for the last three and a half years and is enthusiastic about making sure today's undergraduates receive the same leadership opportunities and mentoring she did. She loves being a mentor to the young women and the relationships she has made. She hopes she helped the ladies make the most of their time in the house through developing their friendships and leadership opportunities. Brianne will be stepping down as chapter advisor at the end of the year, but will assist Sigma Chapter with recruitment and as AVP advisor. Brianne encourages other alumnae to give back to Sigma Chapter by reconnecting and becoming an advisor. "Being an advisor in any capacity is a very rewarding experience, and the women need good advisors to mentor them. I encourage anyone who has thought about a position on the advisory board to contact me and explore what the chapter's needs are." Brianne and her husband, Casey, live in Lawrence and have three children: Cayman (8), Kiyana (5), and Brittyn (2). Get in touch with Brianne via e-mail at brianneb7@hotmail.com. Interested in being the Sigma Chapter advisor? Contact Sally Ramseyer Beck '74 at slbeck@live.com. SIGMA CHAPTER SHINES BRIGHTLY I am thrilled to be the Sigma Chapter president and am enjoying every second of my role. In an effort to preserve our legacy on campus and at large, we stay extremely busy at Sigma Chapter and seem to always have a big event in the near future. Third-Best GPA on the Hill We are very proud to announce that we received a 3.38 overall GPA for the fall semester and remained third on the hill for Panhellenic sororities. This is our second-highest GPA in the last 15 years. Our scholarship chairwoman, Mary Joyce '14, has worked tirelessly to implement a new and improved scholarship plan, which makes academics a higher priority and rewards women who do well. A new addition to this plan is called Smarty Panties, which allows sisters to nominate (Continued on page 6)

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