Alpha Chi Omega - University of Kansas

K ate Crandall Pickering '03 grew up excited to make Alpha Chi Omega a part of her life someday. Thanks to her mother, Jan Manning Crandall, Omicron '70, Past National President of Alpha Chi Omega, she learned from an early age that Alpha Chi is more than just a four-year commitment—it is a lifetime commitment. As an undergraduate, recruitment was a favorite time of year for Kate. "I loved having that time to really bond with the rest of my Alpha Chi sisters. Some of my best friends came from friendships formed in my bump groups, and the feeling of pride I had standing beside the girls in my class on preference night my senior year is a feeling I've never forgotten." Alpha Chi has remained an important part of Kate's life since graduation. She served as recruitment advisor for five years and was a member of the Phi Chapter House Corporation Board for four years. Today, she spends much of her spare time continuing to give back to Alpha Chi as recruitment advisor for Psi Chapter at the University of Oklahoma, a recruitment specialist for Alpha Chi, working with chapters in Louisiana and Alabama, as a sponsorship committee alumnae co-chairman for Alpha Chi Couture (Iota Sigma, Alpha Chi at SMU's philanthropy event), and as a member of Beta Kappa Beta, the Dallas alumnae group. She continues to be very close friends with the women in her class, and they have had a lot of fun traveling on girls' trips and to each other's weddings. When the capital campaign was announced, Kate knew she wanted to give back to Phi Chapter. "It is important to me to give back to a place that gave me so much. I want Phi Chapter to continue to thrive and I know how important it is that we give back in order to ensure that happens. Investing in Phi's future now will ensure its continued success." She is proud of the Chapter for winning Chapter of the Year last year, and hopes that current chapter members see alumnae giving back and in return, will give back when they are able. "It is important that Phi continues to have a strong support system to keep us competitive and strong on campus going into the next 100 years." To her sisters who have not yet donated, Kate has this to say: "Remember your time in the chapter. How did it benefit you? We need to give back to ensure that Phi Chapter is always there to give future Alpha Chi members that same experience. Even the smallest amount will help!" Today, Kate and her husband, Chauncey, live in Dallas, Texas, where Kate is a teacher. Reach out to Kate via e-mail at katecran@gmail.com. Thankful for Alpha Chi Friendships, Opportunities Why Kate Crandall Pickering '03 Donated to Phi Chapter It is important that Phi continues to have a strong support system to keep us competitive and strong on campus going into the next 100 years. " " Gretchen Maatsch Pearce '63 Aunt Merle, senior keys, senior door, steak and beans dinner, pink champagne formals, Sadie Hawkins party, pledge moms and daughters, and Rock Chalk Revue. She lives in Gainesville, Georgia. E-mail: pearce1968@bellsouth.net Virginia Bliesner Colburn '64 Receiving permission from the dean to wear pants when the temperature got to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, dressing for dinner in school clothes, and the buzzer always going off. She lives in Prairie Village, Kan. E-mail: gini_c@hotmail.com Joyce Grist Evans '65 Initiation ceremony, pink champagne formals, dad's weekend, dogpatch parties, eating burgers from Gaslight across the street. She lives in Burke, Va. E-mail: georgeandjoyce@cox.net Cheryl Walker Jennings '67 Living in the old house on Oread, making the move to the beautiful new house, and lifelong friendships. She lives in Scottsdale, Ariz. Cynthia Zelder Halpern '69 Accidentally biting into the cook's lost wedding ring one night while eating lasagna during phone duty. She lives in Phoenix, Ariz. E-mail: chalpern1@cox.net Kyle Cramer Ashton '71 Announcing her engagement in the formal living room during a candle lighting. She lives in Topeka, Kan. E-mail: ashtonkyle@gmail.com Laura McClure Fasl '94 Stealing fraternity composites on her 20th birthday, water wars, and recruitment week. She lives in Lenexa, Kan. E-mail: lfasl@hotmail.com Janet Williams Storey '94 Being Alpha Chi president, and becoming friends with many different people because of it. She lives in Kansas City, Mo. E-mail: janetstorey75@gmail.com Amiee Crawford Wenson '94 Having little kids trick-or-treat through the house, having fraternity men serenade us, barn parties, formals, recruitment skits and songs, Greek Endeavor, and being a Rho Chi. She lives in Liberty, Mo. E-mail: wensonfamily@gmail.com Julie Bunn Pine '00 Meeting the women who would become my bridesmaids, playing Super Mario Brothers until late into the night, and piling on the futon to watch The Bachelor. She lives in Prairie Village, Kan. E-mail: juliscbunn@yahoo.com Anna Clovis Ritchie '01 Having two national presidents visit the chapter while I was chapter president and the Lambda Chi men running through the house in celebration of men's basketball making it to the 2003 final four. She lives in Wichita, Kan. E-mail: aclovisritchie@gmail.com Erin Fletcher '07 Becoming best friends with a pledge sister, whose mom was pledge sisters/friends with my mom. She lives in Leawood, Kan. E-mail: erinfletcher654@hotmail.com Caitlin Taylor '07 Having Thanksgiving dinner at my off-campus house senior year. She lives in Mission, Kan. E-mail: caitlin.ann.t@gmail.com Deb Kayser Taylor '09 Being pinned by my daughter, Caitlin '07, as an alumnae initiate. Favorite Phi Chapter Memories We asked and you shared! Here, alumnae shared their favorite Alpha Chi memories.

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