Gamma Phi Beta - University of Nebraska-Lincoln

A Slice of Pi page 2 MAKING A MARK ON OUR HALLS Thank You, Dedicated Alumnae, for Your Contributions W e are truly grateful to the generous alumnae who donated to Pi Chapter's fall 2016 annual campaign appeal. Your contributions are greatly appreciated as we focus on renovating the living room. Marylou Luther Imparato '48 Jean Jurgens Widman '56 Judy Easter Miller '57 Julie Moran Pearson '59 Garrie Weber Gillaspie '65 Linda Parker Cumming '66 Linda Thurber Hemmingsen '69 Linda Lewis Shanahan '69 Jennifer Fix Reck '72 Phyllis Vance Larsen '75 Julie Dannehl Doolittle '78 Teresa Heusman Ibach '82 Lori Fuglsang Belford '83 Doreen Davis Schelkopf '85 Beth Langemeier O'Farrell '87 Jodie Grigsby Edwards '95 Kimberly Sand Nemec '98 Karen Stokely Rodgers '02 Bethany Wood '09 Finds a Home in Honduras F or Bethany Wood '09, the world is her playground. During her first two years following graduation, Bethany taught fourth grade in Lincoln; then she began searching for a new perspective on education and a new country to explore. This exploration took her to Honduras and nonprofit organization Bilingual Education for Central America (BECA), which partners with three schools in Northwestern Honduras. "I am proud of taking the leap of faith to uproot my life in Nebraska and make home in another country," Bethany said. "Living away from my friends and family in a culture so different from my background and loving it has shown me just how big the world is." During her first year abroad, Bethany taught fourth grade at San Jeronimo Bilingual School in Cofradia, Cortes. There were 25 students in her class from varied backgrounds and all had the desire to learn English as a second language. The class spent each day learning how to read and write in English as well as lessons in math, science, art, and PE. This year, she is the program manager/instructional coach and spends time each week at all three schools. She supports teachers in their instructional skills, works with students that are performing below grade level, and manages the finances, transportation, housing, and organizational-wide development. Nearly 2,600 miles separate Bethany from her Gamma Phi Beta sisters in Nebraska, but she remains close to many of the women in her pledge class. "The last couple of years have been the years of weddings and babies," she said. "Since our college years, we spent a lot time together celebrating big life events as well as getting together for dinners, drinks, concerts, and vacations. In a couple months, one of my sorority sisters is venturing down to visit me in Honduras." During her time at Pi Chapter, Bethany developed leadership skills that have proven to be vital to her position with BECA, but more importantly, she developed long-lasting bonds. "Gamma Phi Beta prepared me for life after college by introducing me to lifelong friends," Bethany said. "I count on those friends in the good times and the bad times, and definitely wouldn't be the strong, independent woman I am today without them. Gamma Phi also provided me several opportunities to serve the chapter in leadership, which prepared me to take on leadership roles in the jobs that I have had post-college. In general, Gamma Phi gave me the environment I needed to gracefully, and not so gracefully at times, grow into myself and learn the things in this world that I am truly passionate about." If you would like to send Bethany well wishes during her time abroad, she can be reached at bethany.wood92@gmail.com.

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