Kappa Delta - Florida State University

K appa Delta's recruitment was the first opportunity Elizabeth Ponder McGraw '89 had to glimpse into the Kappa Alpha sisters' bonds and interactions. "I remember looking around the room during prefs and seeing all of the sisters, feeling like this was the group I wanted to be a part of," she recollected. Indeed, Elizabeth's KΔ membership would become one of the most memorable parts of her undergraduate years at Florida State University. Elizabeth came to FSU without having known anyone on campus, a circumstance which could have easily made for a lonely, unfulfilling freshman year. "I will never forget the feeling of walking up the steps of the KΔ house with my bid in hand and being surrounded by more than 100 smiling faces," shared Elizabeth. "I felt so welcomed and so happy to be a part of such a great group of women." Attending Greek events and participating in Chapter activities with her KΔ sisters was always a fun experience, and Elizabeth fondly recalls fall hayrides and the White Rose Formal in spring. The sisters also exemplified great leadership and served as role models. "Susan Bailey '88, who was heavily involved in the FSU Panhellenic Association, asked for my help in preparing a program for a Panhellenic banquet when I was a freshman," revealed Elizabeth. "I was surprised that she would trust me to do this, and I found that I really enjoyed the challenge and wanted to become more involved." Susan's faith in Elizabeth gave her the desire to become more involved in sorority and non-Greek happenings, and the confidence to run for positions on Chapter council. The learning opportunities and memories of her collegiate years with Kappa Alpha are what Elizabeth hopes to ensure for incoming classes of sisters and active members. She hopes that her contribution to the Ensuring a Tradition of Excellence: The Vision for Kappa Alpha's Future capital campaign will guarantee wonderful undergraduate experiences for each active sister. "Can you imagine KΔ without Chapter, candle lights, lunches and dinners, all- night study sessions in the study room, living in the house, fraternity serenades?" asked Elizabeth. "The physical house is so important to all of these, and just as our sorority grows, our house must grow to accommodate the needs of today's sisters." She believes that lending support to Ensuring a Tradition of Excellence will keep the Kappa Alpha house a home, one actives can enjoy and alumnae can be proud of. Alumnae and KΔ friends should know that no gift is too small. "Think of the English proverb, 'Many hands make light work'," Elizabeth stated. "Investing in our house will allow KΔ to continue to be one of the strongest sororities at FSU by showing current and prospective members that being a KΔ means being a KΔ for life." She added that giving encourages further giving and teaches young Chapter sisters to pay forward what has been given to them. Elizabeth is a retired physician and practiced pediatric radiology for 17 years. She interpreted imaging studies (X-rays, ultrasounds, CAT scans and MRIs) on children from birth through 18 years of age and worked at Duke University Children's Hospital in Durham, N.C., and Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla. Elizabeth was thrilled to host the Academic Banquet for the local KΔ chapter in Jacksonville. Elizabeth corresponds with other alumnae through phone, e-mail, and texts. She loves traveling with her husband of 21 years, Peter, and their children, Ben and Andrew. She likes cooking, especially baking guilty pleasure foods, and reading. You can connect with Elizabeth at epmcgraw@hotmail.com. Kappa Alpha Chapter 3 MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK Why Elizabeth Ponder McGraw '89 Is Passionate about Giving to KΔ Alumnae Update Chapter Eternal Shelley Carr Harkness '42 passed away on August 28, 2017, in Bowling Green, Ohio. After graduating from Florida State College for Women and many years of internship at St. Vincent's Hospital in Florida, she became a certified ASPC medical technician. She married David Harkess in 1948 and moved to Bowling Green, where she was a homemaker and mother to four children. Shelley spent 19 years at the Health Center of BGSU and, upon retirement, wintered in Destin, Fla., and spent time traveling to places like Australia, New Zealand, Guatemala, and Eastern Canada. She is survived and will be sorely missed by her husband of 69 years, her children, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Alumnae News Patricia Caro Smith '49 lives in a condominium overlooking Pensacola Bay and welcomed her sixth grandchild in December 2017. E-mail: llspcs@bellsouth.net Barbara Brunson Power '53 has a daughter, Rolan, and three granddaughters, who are also KΔ alumnae. E-mail: powerfredsis@aol.com Jean Macleod Brennan '56 shares that she has written and illustrated a children's book, which she hopes to someday publish. Mary Lee Ferguson Mann '60 has served Peace River Presbytery of The Presbyterian Church USA as moderator of the Presbytery and moderator of the council/steering committee for six years. She and her husband, Franklin, celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary this year and live in Fort Myers, Fla. Franklin is in his third term as Lee County commissioner and Mary Lee is the regent of the Caloosahatchee Chapter NSDAR. E-mail: mannfarmgirl@aol.com Carol Slosek Russell '60 is president of the Jacksonville KΔ Alumnae Chapter and a tour guide for Jacksonville and Amelia Island. E-mail: car8686@bellsouth.net Sisters from the '70s. (Continued on page 5)

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