Alumnae Connections Around the World

Angela Park Tilley, Theta Xi – Clemson University, and Katie Overcash, Psi–University of Alabama, met through the Charlotte Alumnae Chapter in 2006. After discovering a shared interest in yoga and travel, Angela and Katie together have visited Florida, Mexico, Panama and, now, Africa.

A fast friendship started when Angela and Katie traveled to Orlando together for International Convention 2016, and they became even closer during the COVID-19 lockdown. November marked their second Above Yoga retreat, but it was their first time spending 10 days in Kenya, where they also ventured on a one-week safari.

Among their most impactful moments was living in the conservatory with the animals. They saw elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, cheetahs and the last two northern white rhinos on the planet—two females, Najin and Fatu.

Angela and Katie are planning another yoga retreat to Morocco in the fall of 2024 and a Cambodia trip in 2025!

"Kristy Walden Thomas, Gamma Iota–Mercer University, Laura Burkards Junkin, Upsilon–University of Oklahoma, Laurie Vesalo, Omega–University of Akron, Kristin Schafer Bowler, Zeta Psi–Western Michigan University, and I were LCs in 1999-2000. Beginning with an LC road trip from Indianapolis to Chicago for Christmas shopping and ice skating. Kristy and I visited Laurie when she lived in New York City for New Year's in 2002 and again in 2008 with some Junior Circle friends. The group came to Savannah to visit me in 2004. I remember visiting Laura when she lived in Chicago; Laura and Kristen came to Atlanta for New Year's once. I flew to meet Kristy and her family for Thanksgiving in Oahu, Hawaii, and when she was living in Washington, D.C., I flew to visit her, and we got to see the National Christmas Tree Lighting and toured the White House. In 2018, Kristy and I traveled to St. Lucia (we let our husbands come this time) to celebrate our birthdays. It has gotten harder to get together with my LC sisters as we have gotten older, but we still keep in touch. I hope our next trip is sooner rather than later!" - Sharri Edenfield Lindsey, Gamma Alpha–University of Georgia

"I hope so too. That Savannah trip was one of my best memories ever. I still think about how hard we laughed." - Laurie Vesalo Omega–University of Akron

Eight Delta Etas just returned from a two-week river cruise of the Christmas markets in Switzerland, Germany and France! This group, (and 10 others) have stayed connected every Saturday since March 2020 via Zoom and helped raise funds for the Patricia Carey Floren Foundation Scholarship." - Patti Holcombe Gylock, Delta Eta–San Diego State University

"Britt and I didn’t know each other while we were in the chapter, but have connected as alumnae.

Brittney Lewis Paxton, Theta Lambda–University of West Florida, is the Assistant Director of Member Education and Experience for Delta Tau Delta. The fraternity hosts conferences, and I was invited to be a small group facilitator for a group of brothers from all over the United States to bring emotional intelligence to their chapters.

During the event, I met two Alpha Gams, Alyssa Mohr, Zeta Nu–Alma College, and Alex Kennedy, Alpha Upsilon–Central Michigan University.

Alex was the Director of Member Education and Experience for Delta Tau Delta at the time, and Alyssa was the Coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life for Kettering University. The connections between sisters can support each other through various avenues!" - Lauren Strickland, Theta Lambda–University of West Florida

Sisters from the 70s pledge classes at Alpha Kappa–Bowling Green State University Chapter have been planning group travel events for over 10 years.

In 2013, Barb Reich Zeller arranged a reunion for over 40 sisters to gather at Barb's home in Kelleys Island, Ohio, for a potluck dinner, and a mini-golf event to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

In 2015, Nancy VanSchoor Ptak put together a reunion so sisters could revisit the BGSU campus. Nancy planned three reunions following that, with the most recent being in 2022 at The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake, at Lake Erie in Ohio.

In 2023, Sherri Campbell Kalvin organized a cruise from Tampa to Cozumel, Mexico for 28 sisters, and she has already begun planning another cruise for 2025, with the next on-land reunion taking place again at Kelleys Island this June.

- Peg Gilmore McAfee, Alpha Kappa–Bowling Green State University

"Five Alpha Betas met in 1980 at the University of Michigan. Four of the five of us pledged in the fall of 1980; the fifth was one of our roommates in the dorm and pledged in the winter of 1981 during COB. We roomed with each other in various combinations throughout our years in the chapter house. We remained great friends and were in and/or attended each other's weddings. In 1996 we did our first trip to Chicago. We all had at least two small children each by then and needed to get away. We've taken a trip averaging 18 months apart ever since. We have our 20th trip coming up at the end of April 2024." - Debbie Foster Sunden, Alpha Beta–University of Michigan