Kappa Kappa Gamma - Colorado State University

Kappa Kappa Gamma 3 Always an Epsilon Beta Sue Knights Willmon '78 Reflects on Kappa Kappa Gamma fter seeing the impact Kappa Kappa Gamma made on her suitemate and other women in her dorm, Sue Knights Willmon '78 joined Epsilon Beta Chapter as a sophomore. She felt fortunate to already have friends in the chapter and was immediately welcomed by her new sisters. Sue was honored to become an Epsilon Beta and join one of the top sororities in the nation, a decision that continues to impact her as an alumna. Once Sue became a member of Epsilon Beta, the sorority supported her academic, leadership, and personal goals. "I was in a major with large classes and the smaller environment of the house allowed me to stretch my leadership and organizational muscles and find a place to contribute when I hadn't been able to do that in the large campus environment," Sue said. "Kappa gave me the leadership opportunities, the tools, and support to help me succeed." Sue was able to transfer the skills she gained through Kappa Kappa Gamma to her career. "One of the biggest lessons I learned from my days living in the Kappa house was how to get along with a variety of people. I learned to respect other people's opinions and treat people fairly and courteously, even in difficult situations, which has served me well in the business world," Sue said. She is beginning a new job as the beef data specialist for ABS Global, where she will be responsible for managing and evaluating research and performance data for the company's various research projects. Sue's love for Kappa Kappa Gamma has not diminished since graduating. She fondly remembers living in the chapter house, her parents visiting for parent's weekend, and always having a sister to stay up late with studying. "As I watch the new member classes get bigger, I hope that the sisterhood part of what it means to be in a sorority still has value to girls that are members today," Sue said. "No matter where I have lived or traveled to, it has always been comforting to know that if there was an Epsilon Beta sister living nearby a lunch invitation and time to catch up would always be welcome." Sue and her husband, Clay, live in Brighton, Colorado. They enjoy being a Ram family and traveling to Fort Collins to attend football games in the fall and basketball games in the winter. Their daughter, Kate, will graduate from CSU in 2016. Sue serves as treasurer of the Boulder Kappa Kappa Gamma alumnae chapter, previously served as president, and represents Kappa in the Boulder alumnae Panhellenic group. She enjoys using her spare time to "support the ideals of Greek life." You can contact Sue at sknights1528@aim.com. Announcing the Go-Getter Key Award Sarah Slack '13 Becomes First Recipient L inda Miller Hoffman, University of Cincinnati, Beta Rho Deuteron '62 contacted House Board last spring hoping to donate her sapphire key to Epsilon Beta to be used as an award for an active member. Of course Epsilon Beta was interested, and the Go-Getter Key Award was created in Linda's honor and after learning her inspiring story. Linda was very involved at Beta Rho Deuteron and was chapter president her junior year. She and her family moved to Denver in 1975 and Linda was a stay-at-home mom until her daughter came to CSU. Linda then had an 18-year career as a realtor. In 1997, Linda and her husband moved to Ft. Collins. Her husband fought cancer for four years. After his death, Linda says, "The experience as a caregiver for a terminally ill patient is profoundly life-changing, and I could not re-engage with my own life after he died. A year after his death, I decided I couldn't let myself flounder another minute. I understood that life is too precious to waste any of it, and I knew I needed to turn my life upside down so I could come from discovery again. After some personal inventory, I quit my job and went to culinary school at age 57, which included a month of study in France. It was like going from black and white back to technicolor, and I've not looked back." Linda worked as a private chef, opened and ran her own cooking school for 12 years, wrote a weekly food column in the local newspaper, and taught nutrition, wellness, and healthy eating to many. She also studied astronomy, painting, writing, is a Master Gardener, and is a certified herbalist. Looking forward to retiring and moving, Linda decided her badge needed a new home and looked to Epsilon Beta. The undergraduate women of Epsilon Beta were inspired by Linda and by her go- getter spirit. As a result, the Go-Getter Key Award was created. It is to be given to a woman in the chapter who is ambitious, inspiring to others, highly regarded, and who works hard to better herself and those around her. The award winner is given Linda's beautiful key for wear for one semester, before passing it on to another Epsilon Beta go-getter. Sarah Slack '13 is the first recipient of the Epsilon Beta Go-Getter Key Award. Sarah has maintained a very high GPA in a rigorous pre-vet program, had an internship abroad last summer gaining valuable hands-on experience, is busy applying to vet schools, and will graduate a semester early this December. She has given back to Epsilon Beta through her leadership roles on chapter council, Kappa Pickers, and started a bible study group. Sarah also runs marathons, exemplifying her high mental and physical drive. This is what the chapter president, Cayla Cappello '13 said upon giving Sarah her award: "She inspires others through her passion for Christ, dedication to her studies, quirky and goofy sense of humor, and commitment to the highest ideals of friendship and sisterhood." Thank you to Linda for the gift of her key and being the impetus for creation of Epsilon Beta's new Go-Getter Key Award! Congratulations to Sarah for being its first recipient! ank you Linda Miller Hoffman for donating your sapphire key to Epsilon Beta! A

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