5 minute read
Mother and Daughter, Sisters in the Bond
BY LAURA KNOBEL (IOTA ALPHA, ALUMNAE INITIATES), ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF LIFETIME ENGAGEMENT
When someone says something is “peanuts,” they usually mean it’s a very small thing, perhaps not even worth considering. But it’s the smallest things that can make the biggest impact.
For Alyssa Overmyer (Iota Alpha, Alumnae Initiates), if it weren’t for peanuts, she wouldn’t be an Alpha Chi Omega – or perhaps even be here!
In 1977, Dennis Overmyer stood up in his Alpha Gamma Sigma agricultural fraternity meeting at The Ohio State University and said, “My wife could be walking down 15th Avenue and I would never have the opportunity to meet her.” This persuasive argument was enough to convince his brothers they should host more social activities with the sororities on campus.
Deborah “Debbie” Pfeifer was in one of those sororities – the Alpha Omicron chapter of Alpha Chi Omega, to be exact. At a mixer between the two groups, Debbie spotted Dennis from across the room, and to get his attention, she threw peanuts at him! As Debbie (now Overmyer) says, “The rest is history.”
That history has included marriage, making a home together, a myriad of career changes and raising two children, one of whom is Alyssa, now an accomplished CPA and audit senior manager at a respected firm.
Like her parents and her older brother, Alyssa attended The Ohio State University, but unlike her parents, she never found herself in a Greek organization given her challenging coursework and the many other student activities she enjoyed.
Yet Alyssa always knew the power of sisterhood as she witnessed her mom’s connections with her Alpha Chi sisters deepen over a lifetime. “I have always admired the bond my mom shares with her sorority sisters. [They] were with her the day she met my dad, they were in their wedding and they have been ever present in my life,” she recalls. “They are each glowing examples of real, strong women.”
One sister in particular to whom Debbie has remained close is Mari-jean Siehl (Alpha Omicron).
“It was Mari-jean who was instrumental in bringing Alyssa into the sisterhood of Alpha Chi Omega,” Debbie shares. “She had mentioned that the sorority offered to women who never joined a sorority during their undergraduate years the chance to become an Alpha Chi through the National Alumna Initiate Program (NAIP).”
Alyssa knew right away that this was the right path for her. “I have always admired what Alpha Chi stands for,” she says. “To me, Alpha Chi is about not only elevating yourself but the women around you. When I recite The Symphony, I get emotional. The words are so beautiful and relevant to everyday life.”
Alyssa also has a servant’s heart and resonated with Alpha Chi’s philanthropic endeavors. She has represented her firm for the past eight years as a 50-mile bike rider for Pelotonia, which raises funds for cancer research; has run several marathons to benefit different charities; serves as a national facilitator for her firm’s training program; and has even donated her hair to the Wigs for Kids organization.
“Making a difference is my main goal in life. I try to make a difference every day,” Alyssa says.
Debbie sees this effort from her daughter and says, “It is this unselfish giving of herself that tugs at my heart strings. I couldn't be prouder of Alyssa. She is a beautiful young woman with a kind heart and generous spirit.”
Mari-jean agreed and eagerly got the NAIP process rolling for Alyssa. In addition to Mari-jean and Debbie, three other Alpha Omicron sisters served as Alyssa’s sponsors for membership. After an application and interview process with the NAIP panel, Alyssa completed her new member education and was ready to experience our Ritual.
On March 24, 2023, Alyssa was initiated into Alpha Chi Omega with the collegiate new member class at Alpha Omicron. Recalls Debbie, “I had the honor and privilege to pin Alyssa with Mari-jean’s golden lyre badge. That day Lyss and I became more than mother and daughter, we became sisters in the Bond. It was a dream fulfilled.”
Alyssa remembers the ceremony vividly. “During initiation, I was taking it all in … I wanted to be as present as possible and not miss a thing,” she says. “It was so special to have my mom and Mari-jean [be] part of the ceremony.”
True to form, Alyssa has wasted no time after initiation expanding her passion for making a difference to our sisterhood and the alumnae experience.
“Alyssa has totally embraced the mantra of membership in Alpha Chi Omega being a lifelong commitment,” says Debbie.
Adds Alyssa, “I think there is a misconception that joining a sorority is only for when you are in college … The fact that Alpha Chi offers an alumna initiate program is great because it demonstrates that being in a sorority is for a lifetime. Never pass up an opportunity to join in. I think you will find you will be glad you did.”
And join in, she did. After attending the Alpha Omicron centennial celebration with her mom, Alyssa was elected vice president of membership for Alpha Iota Alpha alumnae chapter in Columbus, Ohio, and is excited to help grow the chapter and connect with even more sisters.
In the meantime, Debbie is excited to deepen her sisterly connection to her daughter. “Future plans include Alyssa, Mari-jean and I traveling to Indianapolis next July for convention,” she says. On how Alyssa will grow through alumna membership, Debbie adds, “I can't wait to see how the newest carnation in our Alpha Chi bouquet continues to bloom.”
IS THERE AN OUTSTANDING WOMAN IN YOUR LIFE YOU’D LIKE TO CALL A SISTER? SPONSOR HER FOR ALPHA CHI OMEGA MEMBERSHIP THROUGH THE NATIONAL ALUMNA INITIATE PROGRAM! SCAN THE QR CODE TO SUBMIT YOUR SPONSORSHIP FORM TODAY.
