Alpha Xi Delta - University of South Dakota

Sisters from the classes of '73 and '74 held a reunion at the Ricciardello Summer Home in Wolcott, Vermont. Front row, from left: Carol Ricciardello '76, Deb Townsend Haffner '73, Holly King Miller '73, Cheri Burns '73, and Cindy Enterman Heischmidt '73. Back row: Bonnie Untereiner Bjork '73, Kathy Sorenson Shoop '74, Cindy McMahill Empson '74, and Mary Ricciardello '74. Cynthia Manke Jewett '67, Mary Ann Vlahakis McAtee '67, Mary Brandon Miller '67, and Kay Cameron Olson '67 were all smiles during their reunion in 2013 in Bonita Springs, Florida, where the idea for a new Alpha Xi Delta house started! Alpha Xi sisters of all generations have hosted reunions near and far! If you haven't connected with your pledge class in far too long, start planning a reunion today! Why I Gave to the Coming Home Campaign "First, I want future generations to have the opportunity to become Alpha Xis and enjoy living in a beautiful house. Second, I remembered how frustrating it was as a collegiate and the house needed substantial repairs, but alumnae couldn't/wouldn't give. I didn't want to frustrate the wonderful group of current and future collegians or their recruitment efforts." – Tana Fye Henry '03 "The sisters I met at the Alpha Xi house have become my lifelong friends. It takes only six minutes together after not seeing any one of them for 40 years apart and it seems only like yesterday. I wanted to celebrate those friendships and to ensure that future young women will have the same opportunities to foster these remarkable friendships. It is without a doubt that if I needed a shoulder to lean on, I have many sisters who are only a phone call away! I know the house has needed repairs for many years. It seems like we just patch and patch and never have the opportunity to really make any substantial improvements. I want young women in the next 49, 50, or 100 years to be able to make friendships that will last a lifetime just as I have. Love my Alpha Xi sisters and the ones that I have not met yet. Building a legacy!" – Bonnie Untereiner Bjork '73 "When I first learned about the plans to mount a capital campaign to build a new home for Epsilon Chapter at 214 North Plum, I was excited about the possibilities and gratified for the leadership of my alumnae sisters. Really, when I was asked to help with the campaign, my reaction was, 'how can I not help?' All of my wonderful college memories are based on my life as an Alpha Xi. My pledge is a thank-you for those memories. I grew up without a sister, but as an Alpha Xi I gained a house full of sisters, many of whom have been my friends now for 50 years. Alpha Xi Delta gave me opportunities to develop leadership skills that helped me in my career. My pledge is a thank-you. It doesn't matter that I no longer live in South Dakota. It doesn't matter that my kids didn't go to USD. What matters is that I went there and Alpha Xi Delta shaped me for the adult I became. My pledge is my way of paying it forward for all of the Alpha Xi Delta sisters to come. I am grateful that I can help in a small way." – Kathy Jones Schladweiler '67 Alpha Xi Delta at the University of South Dakota Undergraduates Raise Nearly $12,000 in Philanthropic Efforts, Make a Difference in the Community F irst, I would like to thank you for your support of Epsilon Chapter; it has not gone unnoticed. We have really enjoyed the continuous visitors, notes, and shared stories! This sisterhood truly is more than four years. We are excited for the new house, but cherish the memories we have been able to build at 214 N. Plum. This year, we are paired with Tau Kappa Epsilon and Pi Kappa Alpha for the Strollers Competition. It is an exciting time and it has been great getting to know men from both fraternities. On April 1, we hosted a Mom's Day event, taking time to show our mothers around the Vermillion community and spending the day sharing the things we love! Last fall, we invited our fathers to the NDSU game. These are memories that will last a lifetime. Our spring philanthropy was on March 18. We hosted a 5K this spring, which started outside the Muenster University Center. Last year, we raised nearly $12,000 for Autism Speaks, over $1,000 for the Clay County Relay for Life, and completed over 6,600 hours of community service. Many of our sisters will be participating in Dakotathon (Dance Marathon) and look forward to continued participation in AWOL trips and S.E.R.V.E. Finally, at the end of March, we traveled to Orange City, Iowa, to partner with We Rock the Spectrum, an indoor playground made especially for kids on the spectrum or with other sensory disabilities. Again, thank you for the continuous support! Yours in Alpha Xi, Ashley Meiners '15 Chapter President ashley.meiners@coyotes.usd.edu (605) 840-1933 penningtonco.com to have your story featured in an upcoming issue of Epsilon Calls!

• Cover