Alpha Chi Omega - Purdue University

ALPHA CHI OMEGA 5 Fortifying Our Home Why Madeline Plesac '11 Gave to the Centennial Campaign "I was looking for a place to call home," Madeline Plesac '11 said of her freshman year at Purdue University. Having recently transferred from Valparaiso University, she was hoping to make friends at the significantly larger Purdue campus. During formal recruitment, the first sorority Madeline explored was Alpha Chi Omega. She visited the Alpha Beta chapter house for an informal game night, where she was seated at a table with Megan Houston Rock '11 and Mariah Huff Eggersman '10, women who would become her eventual chapter sisters and best friends. Her initial visit with the women of Alpha Beta left Madeline feeling hopeful about her future at Purdue and the likelihood of making more friends in the chapter. After joining AXΩ, she immersed herself into Greek life and began participating in functions and events with her sisters. "My sophomore year, I served as vice president of philanthropy for the chapter," Madeline stated. "I always enjoyed our events, including a tournament we held in the front yard of the Alpha Beta house one spring that included rented, inflatable sumo wrestler costumes. I still love looking at pictures from the event and remember laughing endlessly with sisters!" Madeline's role as an executive officer provided her the opportunity to attend an AXΩ National Convention in St. Louis, Missouri. There, she met with sisters of all ages and backgrounds, and was able to experience the sorority's network and impact on a much larger scale. "Everyone was connected and united by their love of our sisterhood," she recalled. "I deepened my friendships with sisters just by being there." It was then that Madeline truly understood that her commitment to AXΩ was lifelong and enduring. When Alpha Beta announced its Celebrating Our Past, Securing Our Future capital campaign, marking the chapter's centennial birthday, Madeline was thrilled. "When I was living in the chapter house, the formal living room was renovated, followed by the parlor. It was so exciting coming home to a beautiful space surrounded by my closest friends," she shared. Those memories and feelings are what compelled her to make a gift to the campaign. "It's important to me that the chapter house remains a place members are excited to call home," Madeline said. Her desire is that the campaign will create a living space that future generations of sisters can be proud of and that alumnae will want to return to rekindle bonds with long-lost sisters and friends. Now an alumna, Madeline works for the AXΩ Foundation as associate director of advancement- stewardship and engagement. "In my day-to- day responsibilities, I manage stewardship of donors and work with our amazing volunteers to continue the Foundation's advancement efforts," she explained. "Every day, I get to work alongside sisters who believe in the power of AXΩ." One of those sisters is Anne Stone Curosh '08, associate director of advancement- annual and chapter giving for the Alpha Beta Chapter. Madeline also remains close with Stephanie Hageman Jackson '10, Haley Borton '10, and Amy Hill '10. Madeline enjoys cooking and practicing yoga in her spare time and is in the process of completing a 200-hour yoga teacher training program. She and her boyfriend, Tyler, a Zeta Beta Tau alumnus and Purdue graduate, met her sophomore year in college when he was living in his chapter's house directly across the street from the Alpha Beta house. The pair live in Raleigh, North Carolina, along with their dog, Charlie. You can connect with Madeline at mjplesac@gmail.com. Real-life and AXΩ sisters, Natalie Plesac '14 and Madeline. Megan Houston Rock '11, Mariah Huff Eggersman '10, and Madeline. Alumnae News Estelle Bere Sullivan '46 and her husband of 67 years, Richard, moved to Duxbury in September 2017 to be near their extended family. Sadly, Richard passed away three months later. "He was a Beta Theta Pi and a Purdue graduate," says Estelle. "I have many fond memories of my years at Purdue and of my Alpha Chi sisters." Mary Carlisle Schuler '52 and five Alpha Betas from initiation classes 1952-53 met in Racine, Wis., during October 17-20, 2017, for a reunion. "We've been gathering in different states every other year, but decided we'd better meet every year at this point!" Mary shares. "All sisters are welcome to join us." Patricia Kirby Johnston '55 lives in a lovely and very active retirement community with her husband, Bill. "Our life is busier than ever!" she shares. Gretchen Shaffer Sawicki '58 reports, "My stepsister, Phyllis Smith Rothrock '58, passed away on June 9, 2016. She pledged in 1958 at another school, before transferring to Purdue and joining Alpha Beta Chapter. My days at Purdue as an AXΩ are still some of the best years of my life!" E-mail: gsawicki@oh.rr.com Elizabeth "Mary" Faro '65 enjoyed her pledge sister reunion in North Vancouver last August. Fourteen Alpha Chis attended the annual event. Mary invites any interested sisters to contact her for information on upcoming reunions. She is interested in connecting with any alumnae in the Olympia, Wash., area. E-mail: betsyfaro@gmail.com Barbara Scott Krawczyk '70 continues to pursue her passions for travel and photography (when living at the Alpha Beta chapter house, she was the event photographer). In the last three years, she has been to Peru and twice to Cuba. Barbara has exhibited her photographs in numerous galler- ies and venues throughout western Massachusetts, is a member of several photographic associations, and serves as a photography judge. E-mail: barbara.krawczyk1951@gmail.com (Continued on page 6)

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