Alpha Chi Omega - Purdue University

ALPHA CHI OMEGA 3 Alpha Beta Centennial CE LE B R A T I N G O U R P A S T S E C U R I N G O U R F U T U R E 1918 2018 Warner Family Gift Stephanie Warner Merrill '01 Stacie Warner '03 In memory of LuAnn Warner Katie Thomas Glick '04 Kelsey Dumoulin Kelly '05 Claire Sullivan Trost '05 Sarah Diaz Marra '06 Taryn Small '07 Kathryn Schaefer Wouters '07 Kaitlin Conti '08 Anne Stone '08 Madeline Plesac '11 Three Star Society ($1,000 to $2,499) Kenneth R. Lukow and Heidi Lukow, Kappa '78 In memory of Margaret "Peg" Morrison Lukow '52 Cochran Family Gift James R. Cochran Janet Cochran Meffert '68 Susan Cochran Wilson '73 In memory of Nancy Lewis Cochran '43 Dorothea Raub Strasburger '51 In memory of Myrtle Zollinger '18 In honor of Anna Strasburger Musser '07 Mary Lou Carlisle Schuler '52 In memory of Irene Carlisle '18, a charter member of Alpha Beta Patricia Kirby Johnston '55 Joy Kratz Mitchell '58 In honor of Mary Harrison Ford and the Bonnie Andrews Family Linda Haislup Chastain '61 Cynthia Harrison Clay '61 Gloria Gaedtke Krida '61 Marjorie Holm Beasley '62 In memory of Charlotte Rapp Holm Patricia Daley Logan '62 Susan Hathaway Tantillo '64 Carol Hunt Clancy '65 Diane Wilson Blackwelder, Omicron '67 In honor of all Alpha Beta initiates from an initiate of Omicron Chapter Christena Clark Smith '65 In honor of Roberta Everett Recktenwall '65, Sally Edwards Syljebeck '65, and Lynn Smith Werth '66 Jeannene Ackerman '68 Kathryn Evans Pitman '68 In memory of Agnes Sample Evans '44 Mary Arrington Bowling '69 Susan Mitchell Monroe '69 In memory of Sylvia Chalmers Mitchell, Epsilon Omicron '71 Joyce Thompson Carter '70 Cecele Arrington Flanary '70 Carol Granstaff Eastes '71 In honor of Donna Lammering Nichols '71 Ann Melter Schmidt '73 Susan Black Parsons '74 Lisa Adams Davis '75 Jean Saharian Shahnasarian '78 Elaine Butler O'Donnell '81 Kelly Bever '82 Rebecca McKinney Thompson '88 In memory of Mary Bishop Kirkpatrick '20 and Patricia Rusk Orr '50 Sarah Werth Malpass '92 Nicki Reas Meneley '97 Janet Lester Talbert '00 Sara Hageman Schenck '01 Molly Ironmonger '03 Ashley Brown '05 Rebecca Pankop '05 a Home on CampuS Molly Ironmonger '03 Remembers Her AXO Family T he only place on Purdue University's sprawling campus that Molly Ironmonger '03 ever lived was the Alpha Chi Omega house. "ACW was where I felt most at home while in college," shared Molly. "I affiliated to Alpha Beta Chapter because the women I met there were comforting." Molly kept busy with her undergraduate studies in civil engineering, with an emphasis in structures, but managed to serve as Alpha Beta's vice president of finance for a short time before becoming vice president of recruitment, and later on, chapter president. She and her chapter sisters, particularly those she lived in the chapter house with, became incredibly close as the years progressed, sharing each other's triumphs and struggles. "This will sound really simple and silly even, but I miss the little things about being an active member, like living in the quad with three of my friends," said Molly. "I remember one occasion where we were all sitting in the Alpha Beta house crying while watching The Notebook. I remember being able to roam the halls and find someone at any time. There was always a sister around." One of the most important life lessons ACW taught Molly was that life situations can be tough, but you will get through it. She encourages new members to take care of each other. In the long term, those major crises or problems that once seemed immense will look miniscule. For the first six years after college, Molly worked in construction, followed by four years working for developers. Today, she is back in general construction, responsible for getting projects started as a pre- construction manager. "Being an ACW has allowed me to meet friends and sisters in Phoenix, Ariz., Austin, Texas, and Cincinnati, Ohio, through alumnae chapters," Molly stated. She has served on the national House Corporation Board for the past three years and notes, "Being a Greek is a great starting point for careers and for finding common ground with people you encounter. You really aren't aware of the skills you're learning through your chapter until you get out into the real world." She adds that showing up to chapter meetings and expressing opinions is a lot like making a presence as an alumna. Molly's former chapter advisor, mentor, and ACW's national president, Angela Costley Harris '83, made a lasting impression on the alumna, along with Diane Wilson Blackwelder, Omicron '67. "I feel very fortunate to have met such strong, smart, and motivated women," Molly revealed. Today, Molly and her husband, Shawn, are busy raising their three children, Luke, Hailey, and Lizzy. Although the last year was quite busy for the family, they enjoy hiking, traveling, and playing in the pool. Molly and Shawn took a Mexican vacation this year and spend as much time as possible with their friends. "I keep up with my chapter sisters on Facebook," Molly stated. "A lot of us are having kids and looking forward to having legacy daughters someday." You can connect with Molly at mollyironmonger@gmail.com.

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