Kappa Kappa Gamma - University of Missouri

THETA NEWS | 2 sat on the Fraternity Council as the Director of Membership. "I never considered not continuing to be a part of Kappa. It has been a part of my life for many years and has given back to me many times over," Susie said. Staying involved has allowed the sisters to see firsthand the challenges Kappa chapters across the region and nation have. They have had the chance to see how Theta Chapter always addresses these challenges and takes the initiative to improve as a chapter. They remain impressed with the active members and their leadership within the Greek community on Mizzou's campus. "Theta Chapter continues to hold a strong place at Mizzou among many great chapters on campus," Vivian stated. Their motivation to give back stems from their experiences as undergraduate members at Mizzou and wanting to ensure that the active members today are guaranteed those same experiences. "I was motived to stay involved by the friendships I've made and the leadership opportunities I have experienced," Susie said. "It meant a lot to me in college, and I've enjoyed the opportunity to give back after experiencing all that Kappa gave me," Vivian said. Vivian and Susie encourage alumnae who may have lost touch with the chapter over the years to think broadly about how they can reconnect and give back to Kappa themselves. "If you live in Columbia, there are a variety of ways you can serve the chapter," Vivian said. "Start with attending an event and meet the active members who are the reason why the alumnae who work with the chapter want to make a commitment. If you live somewhere else, stay in tune with what the chapter is doing and look for your local alumnae association to stay in touch with Kappa where you live." Vivian lives in Columbia, Mo., and has four children and four grandchildren. Susie lives in Kansas City, Mo., and has two children, Allison and Ted. You can reach Susie at phughes9@kc.rr.com and Vivian at vebenedict@centurytel.net. Sisters of Service (Continued from page 1) THETA CHAPTER THRIVES THIS SPRING Undergraduate Sisters End Successful Year with HERO Award T he last few months have been exciting times for Theta Chapter! It was a semester of dedicated, hardworking members working to better our chapter on a daily basis. Pursuing Academic Excellence Academics have always been the number one priority to our chapter, as scholarship is one of Kappa's values. More than 50 percent of the chapter has a GPA in the honors range, falling between a 3.5 and 4.0. Theta Chapter placed sixth in grades in the Panhellenic community and has put in place systems to excel in grades each year, such as a dedicated academic committee, GPA goals, and a Smart Kookie program for exceptional exam scores. Philanthropic Endeavors This semester, Theta Chapter has volunteered more than 250 hours at Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Center and hosted a Reading Is Key event at Blue Ridge Elementary School, leaving the first grade classrooms with 90 new books. Our work for Cedar Creek earned us the HERO Award for the group volunteer of the year by the Columbia Daily Tribune. Our philanthropy team has been busy planning for the Kappa Klassic Golf Tournament coming up this fall. Last year, we raised more than $51,000 for our beneficiaries: Cedar Creek Center, Reading Is Fundamental, and the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. Convention Awards and New Member Efforts Last summer, we sent nine officers to the 71st biennial convention in San Diego, Calif., to be immersed in Kappa's history and connect with undergraduate members and alumnae alike. We proudly won the Public Relations Award and were named Honorable Mention for Standards, New Member, and Philanthropy. Last fall, we welcomed 71 new members into the chapter who were initiated in October. This was the first pledge class to go through the Every Member Education program provided by KKG Headquarters. Through this experience, they learned in detail about Kappa's values and pillars of education. Kappa Places Second in Homecoming and First in Greek Week Last fall, paired with the men of Alpha Gamma Rho, we took second place in Homecoming alongside our very own Kappa Kappa Gamma Homecoming Queen, Allyssa Goldberg '13! Greek Week began in early April with the men of Delta Sigma Phi, bringing out our competitive side through service, fling, and athletic competitions. We are pleased to announce that we won Greek Week 2017! Alumnae Support Vital to Theta's Success The Kappa alumnae, Advisory Board, and House Board members exceed expectations each and every day with their continued support and desire to better Theta Chapter and its members. From academics to philanthropy to recruitment, we could not do it without the ongoing support and unconditional love that is received from our alumnae. Please reach out at any time or stop by the house when you are around. It would be our honor to show you around and catch up on the exciting things happening around Theta Chapter! Loyally, Conner Logsdon '14 Chapter President kkg.thetachapter.president@gmail.com Sisters and their moms enjoy Mom's Weekend at Les Bourgeois Winery earlier this spring.

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