Pi Beta Phi - University of Southern California

EntrE nous 4 Pi Phi JumPs inTo Full Fall semesTer chapter Welcomes 73 new members s we said goodbye to our incredible seniors, and the summer months passed by in the blink of an eye, I am so happy and honored to announce our fall 2016 recruitment was more than a success. We were all able to bond as a chapter, get back to our Pi Phi roots and wel- come home 73 incredible new Members. These women are honorable, intelligent, beautiful, outgoing, involved and loyal. I am confident in the fact that these women will lead this chapter to incredible new heights in their years here at UsC. Bid day this year was one of the best we have ever had. With the theme being "Heaven on earth," our new Members were welcomed home with balloons galore, a dance floor and dJ in the back yard, a Velcro wall and even an In-n-Out food truck. since then, they have experienced their first traditional UsC Monday night dinner, and their first UsC game day. We have so much to look forward to in the months that lie ahead; our Arrowspike volleyball tournament, our all-house retreat and our first formal! In addition, all of these wonderful new Members will participate in Pink Angel week and get their Pi Phi big sister. It is all of these fun events and experiences that create memories that last a lifetime. As I am nearing the end of my presidency, I can't help but reflect on all of the incredible experiences that have come my way in the last nine months. It has been such an honor and a privilege leading this house of 250-plus incred- ible women. I have learned more about myself than I ever thought possible, and am so proud of how far we as a chapter have come. One thing I can say with confidence is that we are all so proud to be UsC Pi Phis, and I can only hope that this pride lasts within everyone for a lifetime. Pi Phi love and All of Mine, Lizzie Yaeger '14 Chapter President aleigh Gilchrist '10 and her water polo teammates captured Olympic gold in rio this summer. Kaleigh was a key member of the team, scoring six goals in the six-game Olympic tournament and contributing critical assists, including late in the third quarter of the gold medal match against Italy. Kaleigh's water polo journey has included a CIF championship with newport Harbor High in 2008, a 2013 nCAA championship as a junior at UsC, recognition as a three- time All-American, and the no. 11 all-time scorer at UsC before graduating in 2014. On the U.s national team, she helped Team UsA win a gold medal at the 2014 FInA World Championships — and these are just a few of her many achievements. she's also a world champion surfer and competes on the international pro surfing circuit! she won U.s. surfing championships in 2009 and 2010 and was a member of the UsA surf team from 2006 - 2011. We caught up with Kaleigh recently to ask her about the Olympics, what's ahead for her professional surfing career, and her Pi Phi memories. obviously winning a gold medal has to be a real highlight in your olympic experience! Do you have favorite memories of rio that you will keep with you? Winning the gold was obviously the ultimate goal, but there are a few moments that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Walking out of the tunnel of Marcana stadium during the opening ceremonies chanting "UsA!" with all the other American athletes was a special moment. It was almost like all the athletes took a break from their sports and realized how fortunate we all were to represent Team UsA. It was almost like, "Wow, we are finally Olympians." Our lifelong dreams became a reality. The most important and most special moment was hugging my family after the gold medal match! I get teary-eyed just thinking about it. The first person I was able to hug was my sister (Ali, University of Arizona Pi Phi). It was so special to me because they have all sacrificed so much to see me succeed. It was truly a family effort to be able to celebrate the gold medal. It's as much mine as it is theirs. Olympic Gold Medalist, Professional Surfer and Pi Phi Q&a with kaleigh Gilchrist '10 Olympic gold medal winner Kaleigh Gilchrist '10. Photo: Jeff Cable (Continued on Page 6)

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