Alpha Phi Quarterly Winter 2023

Alpha Phi Quarterly

Inside This Issue

4 From the Crest Meet Meet Kate Halfon, Alpha Phi’s new International President, and learn how the Theta Theta chapter has been growing its alumnae numbers.

16 Meet MayaDenise Gaskin

Get to know MayaDenise Gaskin, a sophomore at the University of Arizona (Beta Epsilon) and, most recently, the crowned winner of Miss Arizona Teen USA.

28 A lways Alpha Phi

The latest news from our alumnae members and chapters.

32 S ilent Chapter

Honoring our sisters’ passings.

38 W here We Live

Get an inside look at Omicron-Missouri’s newly renovated chapter house.

41 A mongst the Ivy Accomplishments and updates from our undergraduate members and chapters.

44 A sk Alpha Phi

We polled our social media followers to discover their earliest memory of Alpha Phi.

CORRECTION

Oops! In the Summer 2022 issue, we mistakenly identified Lauren-Ann Graham as an alumna of Gamma Beta-USC Santa Barbara. She is a member of Theta Zeta-Florida Tech.

A PUBLICATION OF ALPHA PHI INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY SINCE 1888

2023-2025 Alpha Phi Quarterly Editorial Advisory Board

Ugwechi Amadi

Susan Bevan

Sheila George Bright

Ella Candage

Avery Eves

Taylor Gellatly

Kelsey Klimara

Maci Philitas

Alison Cink Rickels

Lauren Schuster

Susan Brink Sherratt

Katie Gates

Katy Summerlin

L. (Allie) Winkelman

Anne Wolfcale

Alpha Phi Quarterly Staff

Anna Claire Howard, Editor-in-Chief quarterly@alphaphi.org

Alpha Phi Quarterly Design

Tria Designs Inc. www.triadesigns.com

Editorial Policy

The purpose of the Alpha Phi Quarterly and its content is to provide information and services to the membership of the Alpha Phi Fraternity, in keeping with the Fraternity’s status as a 501 (c) (7) taxexempt private membership organization. The magazine is devoted to highlighting its members and matters of fraternal and collegiate interest. The views expressed in the articles published in the Quarterly are those of the authors and their contributors, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Alpha Phi Fraternity, its officers or staff.

Submissions

All persons interested in submitting materials for publication in the Alpha Phi Quarterly are encouraged to send them to the editor at the Executive Office. The editor reserves the right to accept, deny or edit any materials submitted.

Unless otherwise requested, all photos sent to the magazine will become the property of Alpha Phi International and will not be returned.

Articles may be sent by email to quarterly@alphaphi.org or by mail to:

Alpha Phi Quarterly

3320 W. Foster Avenue, #105, Chicago, IL 60625

Submission Deadlines

Summer 2023: April 5, 2023

Fall 2023: July 10, 2023

Winter 2024: October 9, 2023

Questions

Please direct any submission questions or inquiries regarding advertising or reprint permission to the editor at quarterly@alphaphi.org.

Publisher

Alpha Phi Quarterly (USPS Pub # 14680) is published quarterly by Alpha Phi International Fraternity, 3320 W. Foster Avenue, #105, Chicago, IL 60625. Periodical postage paid at Evanston, IL and at additional mailing offices.

Postmaster

Please send address changes to:

Alpha Phi Quarterly 3320 W. Foster Avenue, #105, Chicago, IL 60625 or quarterly@alphaphi.org.

Cover image by Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/ Shutterstock

PHOTO BY MONIQUE CARBONI

VOL. 135 NO. 1

WINTER 2023

Features

Museum of Broadway

Julie Boardman and Diane Nicoletti met as sisters at Beta Pi-USC and stayed connected through the years that followed both as friends and colleagues until ultimately coming together in 2017 to take on their largest project to-date — the Museum of Broadway.

Convention Coverage

After a 4-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Fraternity was thrilled to get back on track with hosting its 73rd Biennial Convention. This recap will serve as a fun stroll down memory lane for those who were able to attend and an inside look for those who couldn’t make it to Scottsdale, Arizona, to celebrate 150 years of Alpha Phi.

Engaged and Empowered for Success: Taylor Hale

When Taylor Hale sets her sights on something, she not only accomplishes that goal; she exceeds everyone’s expectations. This perseverance helped her excel at George Washington University (Iota Iota), drove her to win Miss Michigan USA and propelled her throughout the “Big Brother” competition on CBS that she ultimately won last year.

Let’s Get Gardening!

Holly Chichester-Morby, an George Mason (Eta Lambda) alumna and landscape design expert, offers spring gardening tips to prepare your home garden for spring.

From the International President

Dear Sisters,

International Executive Board

Kathleen (Kate) Boyle Halfon, International President

Linda (Allie) Winkelman, Vice President

Billie Coskey Battiato, Secretary/Treasurer

Dawn Kreisel Bauer

Karen Bloch Bavender

Stacey Thulin Daniel

Keri Miller Van Acker

Ex-officio:

Laura Malley-Schmitt, Council of Delegates

Ex-officio: Linda Long Boland, Chief Panhellenic Officer

Ex-officio:

Renee Smith Zimmerman Zainer, Executive Director

Ex-officio:

Rebecca Andrew Zanatta, Foundation Chair

Foundation Directors

Rebecca Andrew Zanatta, Chair

Jenny Concepción Hansen, Vice Chair

Claire Costin, Treasurer

Coree Smith, Secretary

Janis Coughlin-Piester

Janelle Del Carlo

Susan McNeice

Shana Goss Smith

Barbara Tingley

Amy Peebles, Executive Director

Ex-officio:

Kathleen (Kate) Boyle Halfon, International President

Executive Office

Executive Director:

Renee Smith Zimmerman Zainer

3320 W. Foster Ave., #105

Chicago, IL 60625

(847) 475-0663

fraternity@alphaphi.org www.alphaphi.org

Foundation Office

Executive Director: Amy Peebles

3320 W. Foster Ave., #105

Chicago, IL 60625

(847) 475-4532

info@alphaphifoundation.org

www.alphaphifoundation.org

National Panhellenic Conference

Council of Delegates:

Laura Malley-Schmitt

Chief Panhellenic Officer: Linda Long Boland

Alternate Delegate:

Laura Lynn Davidson Ellett

I am honored to have been elected to serve as your International President for the 2022-2024 biennium as we celebrate 150 years of Alpha Phi. In this issue, as we focus on what it means to be engaged and empowered for excellence, I think about how relevant that is to the leadership of Alpha Phi.

One hundred and fifty years ago, our Founders were among the earliest women students to be admitted to college. It is no surprise that they were smart, resilient, ambitious and forward thinking. They knew having a support system would help them deal with life’s challenges and other women would also need that support and the vision to form a national society. Through time and dedication, we grew from two chapters to 10, and now we are 175 chapters strong. I know our 10 Founders are beyond proud of the legacy they created that over 286,000 women have been lucky enough to be a part of. Even during a global pandemic, Alpha Phi continued to focus on growth. It was a leader in Zoom recruitment and pushed quotas to pre-pandemic levels. This growth happened because our current leaders share the same qualities our Founders did of being smart, resilient, ambitious and forward thinking. They were empowered to achieve excellence.

As we move through our next 150 years, we will need to continue to use these qualities to remain relevant and strong. Sadly, women are still not treated as equals in many ways. We need to continue to navigate and advocate in the collegiate space about why a sorority support system is not only wanted, but needed. We need to lead the way in Panhellenic to reduce barriers to entry to make our space more inclusive to others. We need to continue to provide new and innovative programming for our members as mental health issues continue to arise and while hazing, violence and abuse are still prevalent on college campuses today. We need to reimagine housing with creative solutions to be sustainable and competitive as the landscape continues to change. The needs go on, but I am confident that with the dedication of our members we can and will solve these challenges.

I believe every member of Alpha Phi has a contribution to make, and the key is finding the best way to use those talents and gifts. Not every member is going to be a chapter advisor, a CCA or a board member, but each member can be a contributor. Whether it is simply paying your alumnae dues, being a member of the Alpha Phi Network, attending a red dress gala, joining the wine club, donating to the Alpha Phi Foundation or going to an alumnae event in your area, we all have opportunities in which to participate. I challenge all of you to reach out and reconnect or re-engage even just one Alpha Phi sister. Together, we can be engaged and empower excellence in one another.

AOE, K ate Boyle Halfon (Eta Delta-CSU East Bay) International President

“Sadly, women are still not treated as equals in many ways [...] We need to lead the way in Panhellenic to reduces barriers to entry to make our space more inclusive to others.”

It just takes one candle to provide light in the darkness, one text to spark an interest, one crazy thought to generate a new idea, one note to change your perspective and one Alpha Phi to make a difference.

I know I am ready. Are you ready to join me?

“

Kate Boyle Halfon (Eta Delta-CSU East Bay)

This is an excerpt from Kate’s Candlelight Banquet Speech she gave at Convention 2022 in Scottsdale, Arizona, to commemorate 150 years of Alpha Phi.

A Conversation with Kate Halfon, Alpha Phi International President, (Eta DeltaCSU East Bay)

Kate Halfon was recently elected to the prestigious position of Alpha Phi International President. Get to know her better in this Q&A and learn about her ambitions for the Fraternity.

What does a typical day in your life look like as a wife, mother and real estate broker?

I start my day every morning with yoga before doing anything else. It allows me to clear my head and be ready to focus on the tasks of the day. Then, I get ready for my day and make smoothies for my two high schoolers on school days before they head out the door. I try and start my workday by checking email, checking in with my staff and determining the most important priorities for the day. We have a hybrid work model with biweekly in-person meetings and lots of time spent in the field. My husband, Mark, and I share a large home office, so we juggle scheduling calls at noncompeting times. During the week, dinners are quick and easy and not always together, but Sunday dinners

At right: Kate Halfon stands proudly with her husband, Mark, and their three children at the 2022 biennial Alpha Phi Convention in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“I enjoyed the committee work because it allowed me to meet and engage with other Alpha Phi’s in other parts of the world.”

are a big deal in my family. Everyone knows to not make other plans. My mother, sister and mother-in-law come over, as well as other aunts, uncles and cousins, occasionally.

Tell us about your Alpha Phi volunteer and leadership journey. My journey began as a volunteer just after traveling as a consultant for Alpha Phi from 1994 to 1995. Mark was in graduate school at NYU, so I moved back there and was the recruitment advisor at Columbia University. We moved back to California the following year, and I became the chapter advisor at UC Berkely. I served in that role for four years and overlapped as the Collegiate Membership Coordinator for the Pacific Northwest Region part of that time and then became the Regional Manager.

Over the last 30 years, I served on a variety of committees including the Committee on Leadership, Strategic Planning, Extension, Membership, Housing, Volunteer Structure and ED Search. I also had the opportunity to chair some of these committees. I enjoyed the committee work because it allowed me to meet and engage with other Alpha Phi’s in other parts of the world. I love extension and the excitement and creativity you can have with a new chapter. I served on the extension teams for Alabama and Stanford, and I was the Team Lead for UC San Diego. Later, I was appointed to the IEB to fill a vacancy in 2011-2012, which was a great opportunity, but my kids were young, so I did not continue in the role at that time. But I knew I wanted to make my way back to the board table eventually. Throughout my Alpha Phi journey, I have had great leaders and mentors supporting me and encouraging me to try new things.

What is it like serving with your International Executive Board, and how do you all work together to champion the Alpha Phi experience?

My board is fantastic and brings a lot of different experiences to the table. We started out by doing some teambuilding and learning about each other’s leadership styles so we could learn how to work together. Each member serves on at least two other committees, takes her roles seriously and comes to the table prepared. We have lively discussions and make sound decisions because everyone

Getting to Know Kate!

Describe yourself in five words or less. Creative, fun, dedicated and loyal

What are the proudest moments of your professional career?

Setting up a successful and thriving property management company

What personal and professional skills did Alpha Phi help you refine? How to give constructive feedback, teambuilding, communicating effectively, having difficult conversations and leadership.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received or given?

“If you not making mistakes then you are not doing anything.” It reminds me to continue to try new things and push the envelope. They may not always be right but you learn from them either way and usually end up with a better outcome.

What’s your favorite Alpha Phi memory?

There are too many to pick just one! Most recently, I would have to say was initiating two members at the Alpha chapter house during the 150th celebration.

What’s your favorite Alpha Phi song?

“All I Needed”

This or That:

Bid Day / Finding your Big Sister Leadership Conference / Convention Founders’ Day / Graduation

has the same goal of doing what is best for the organization. We work hard, but we also try and make time to have a little fun together as well. I look forward to what we will accomplish together for the rest of the biennium.

Which experiences as an Alpha Phi stand out most as ones that deeply impacted you or helped shape who you are today?

It really started back in college when I filled a Panhellenic role as a freshman. The Greek advisor encouraged me to run for Panhellenic president and really believed in my capabilities. It was my first experience having someone believe in my leadership abilities. I was a shy, quiet kid and the youngest of four, so I kind of flew under the radar. This was my first time starting to soar above. When I became chapter president, I was confident in my abilities to lead and motivate others to be leaders. The ELC experience was certainly the most life changing of them all. We put a lot of time and effort into training the consultants and I soaked up every minute of it. Those experiences laid the foundation for me to continue to grow as a leader. I loved being a chapter advisor, extension team lead and regional manager. In each of those roles I led a team of volunteers and worked to build connections and mentor other leaders the way I was mentored.

What do you believe you are bringing to the Fraternity in this role as the new International President?

I bring a wealth of Alpha Phi knowledge and experience to the role. As the owner of a property management company, I am good at managing people, conflict resolution, time management and organization. I have strong decision-making skills and am a creative thinker. The landscape of Greek life is changing, and we need to be ahead of the curve in this area and creative solutions are needed. I think I am well-suited for that. I am also an inclusive leader and believe everyone has a role to play.

What are you most looking forward to in this new position?

I look forward to reevaluating our strategic plan and vision to position the organization for success for the next 150 years.

Like Daughter, Like Mother

Alumnae Initiations at Saint Joseph’s

MOST LONGSTANDING HISTORIC colleges are rich in their traditions, and Theta Theta-Saint Joseph’s University is no different. Founded by Jesuits in 1851, this Catholic institution is nestled in the heart of the City of Brotherly Love and is known for its picturesque campus amidst a bustling city environment.

But there’s something else that helps Saint Joseph’s stand out, and that’s it’s continuous rate of alumnae initiations into the Theta Theta chapter.

Alumnae initiations are not unheard of, of course. Alpha Phi initiates 10 alumnae members — primarily mothers of collegians — on average per year across all of its chapters. But Saint Joseph’s is unique in that it initiated nine members alone — eight mothers and one aunt — for the 2022-2023 period. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Theta Theta reported installing 12 mothers total between the fall seasons of 2019 and 2021. In fact, Saint Joseph’s has reported consistent alumnae initiations as far back as 2012-2013 when 10 mothers were initiated and with its most successful initiation being 2015-2016 with 28 mothers initiated as alumnae.

“This is a fun, special event the girls look forward to from the time they join as a freshman,” said Laura Wareham (Theta Tau-Renssalaer), Theta Theta’s chapter advisor.

It comes as no surprise that the Theta Theta chapter housed at Saint Joseph’s in the City of Brotherly Love holds a special place in its own heart for sisterly love and outreach, as well.

So, how do alumnae initiations work, exactly?

They Got It from Their Mamas

“I

– L aurie Renz

(Initiated on 11/12/2022)

Any collegians who want to install

“After finding out that I was able to initiate my mother or another important female figure […], I always knew that I wanted to invite my mom to participate. This is such a special moment to recognize a significant woman in my life, and I feel like she doesn’t get enough recognition on the day-to-day. I [loved making] her feel extra special by doing this for her.”

– E mily Elizabeth Renz

(Initiated on 11/01/2020)

raised my daughters to give back to the community. My daughter Emily Elizabeth has been very passionate about Alpha Phi and all that it stands for. This is my way of helping her to continue being passionate about the things she believes in, and it will always connect [us.]”

These are quotes pulled from the recommendation letters of current Theta Theta members who sponsored their mothers to be initiated in November 2022.

their moms or other close female family members or friends into the Fraternity need only to complete the alumnae initiation application on alphaphi.org and submit a letter of recommendation for the candidate two weeks before the proposed initiation date. If the IEB grants its approval, the candidate and sponsor will be notified by the Alumnae Engagement Department by email. The candidate will receive an alumnae initiate welcome email, which contains important information about Alpha Phi Fraternity. Following the candidate’s initiation, the Alumnae Engagement Department will place an order for the membership badge and certificate.

It’s important to note that the candidate may not be an initiated member of any other NPC group, nor may she meet qualifications for collegiate chapter membership. The sponsor must be a member in good standing, and no candidate may be initiated before receiving notification of approval. If a candidate is not approved, her sponsor will be contacted by the Alumnae Engagement Department.

“Alpha Phi will give me another way to connect with my daughter. The values are very much the same as the way I lead my life. I am looking forward to meeting more likeminded people.”

– E lizabeth Ervin (Initiated on 11/12/2022)

“My mother, Elizabeth, is one of the people in my life whom I am most grateful for. She has allowed me to thrive as my own individual and encouraged me to express myself in whatever way I wish as long as I maintained the strong morals that she instilled in me like gratitude, wellness, kindness and peace. She deserves to be initiated into Alpha Phi’s Fraternity because she represents […] Alpha Phi’s ideals. As a woman with three sisters and three daughters, no one understands how vital sisterhood is like her […] My mother’s initiation will significantly benefit Alpha Phi because she cultivates exactly what Alpha Phi represents which will help further build Alpha Phi’s strong sisterhood unity.”

– L auren Ervin

(Initiated on 03/01/2020)

“The reason I want to initiate my mother into Alpha Phi comes down to the fact that I wanted to give her a gesture that showed how much she really means to me. She truly is […] my best friend. Growing up without a sister, she was that figure for me as well as being a parent and this is just a way to show her how much I appreciate everything she has done. My mom was not in a sorority because they did not even offer them at her college at the time. This is going to mean so much to her, and I love that I would be able to give her the chance she didn’t have in college, and it would be together […] She would be an amazing addition to Alpha Phi and exemplifies all the traits of an Alpha Phi.”

– J enna Troyano

(Initiated on 11/01/2020)

“The reason I hope to be an Alpha Phi is that I am overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and charity work this organization accomplishes. I have watched my daughter build some very close bonds with her sisters as well as become involved in raising money for women’s heart health, and I truly believe that I can also make a difference. I am humbled by the thought of being an Alpha Phi.”

– Renee Troyano (Initiated on 11/12/2022)

After four long years and one missed Convention due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 73rd biennial Alpha Phi Convention resumed in June 2022 amongst the picturesque Paradise Valley desert of Scottsdale, Arizona. With the McDowell Mountain Range as its backdrop the 2022 Convention welcomed members to celebrate 150 years of Alpha Phi, recognize the many achievements from the biennium and elect the new International Executive Board (IEB).

In its history, Alpha Phi has hosted 72 Conventions in locations like Chicago, Miami, Palm Springs, and now, of course, Scottsdale. It’s where collegians and alumnae come together to conduct Fraternity business, learn about new programs and initiatives and celebrate chapter achievements. This year’s Convention offered attendees the opportunity to network, commemorate the success of Alpha Phi Foundation’s Leading with Heart campaign, recognize our achievements over the past biennium, conduct important Alpha Phi business, celebrate 150 years of Alpha Phi and more.

“One hundred and fifty years truly is a celebration,” said Dakotah Lindsay (Beta Pi-USC), former director of marketing and communications for Alpha Phi, during her Carnival speech at Convention. “It is a time for us to recognize the

enormity of what our Founders did when they created Alpha Phi in 1872. It is a time for us to honor the outstanding women who have come before us — the women who made our 25th anniversary possible, the 50th, the 100th, and so on. It is a time for us to celebrate where we are today — 150 years old — and it is a time for us to look to the future — the future members of Alpha Phi and the next 150 years.”

As a part of the 150th celebration, this year’s Convention offered a “Build Your Own Celebration Weekend” registration package option that allowed attendees to mix and match different Convention offerings to create a totally customizable experience. This option made it even more feasible for Alpha Phis who weren’t attending as delegates, but who wanted to be a part of the celebrations, combine Convention with a vacation or reunite with their sisters.

Fun times were had by all who attended the 2022 Convention dancing at the Westernthemed

Awards

Convention 2022 Award Winners

THE MICHAELANEAN AWARD

This prestigious award is named in honor of Rena Michaels Atchinson, the first president of the Alpha chapter, this award is given each biennium to those who have shown outstanding loyalty and continuous devotion to Alpha Phi at the local level. The 2020-2022 biennium award winners are:

• S usan Weiskittle Barrick (Beta Omicron-Bowling Green)

• L iz Billies (Iota-Wisconsin)

• B erkenda Higgenbotham Cantlo (Epsilon Upsilon-CSU Northridge)

• L aura Chavez (Beta Gamma-Colorado)

• D ene Coyle (Epsilon Iota-Duquesne)

• R eagan Cuddy (Zeta OmicronJohns Hopkins)

• C hristen Shelton Flamm (Eta BetaCSU San Bernardino)

• A llison Floyd (Beta Mu-Alabama)

• G ina Forneris (Iota-Wisconsin)

Convention was held Wednesday, June 22, through Sunday, June 26, 2022, at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa in Scottsdale. Day 1 was kicked off with registration, arriving from across the country. Simultaneously, the Alpha Phi Foundation’s Hospitality Suite and Shop Alpha Phi opened with more than a dozen vendors. This also marked the opening of the 150 Years of Alpha Phi History Experience.

“Throughout our 150th Celebration, we have celebrated Alpha Phi’s incredible history of 150 years of brave women,

of innovation and a pursuit of limitless excellence,” Lindsay said.

“We want to make sure that our history is preserved so that all Alpha Phi members — including those 150 years from now — can access it, learn from it, enjoy it and celebrate it.”

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022

1DAY

The Welcome Dinner, sponsored by Holmes Murphy, was the first full-attendee event hosted later that night to kick off Convention. Followed by collegiate and alumnae receptions, this event was hosted by the 2022 Convention Committee. It was Western-themed (fitting for the location), and there was live music, a mechanical bull, Alpha Phi songs led by the Convention Chorus and line dancing led by Lauren Locke (Gamma IotaTexas Tech) and Camille Griffin (Iota Omega-Ole Miss). Every attendee also received a custom 150th celebration handkerchief.

• B ridget Hansen (Gamma AlphaSan Diego State)

• Jen ny Concepcion Hansen (Beta PiUSC)

• A lexandra Hardin (Iota Omicron-WPI)

• A shley Nassar Weeks (Eta XiUNC Wilmington)

• A my Pithan (Epsilon Omega-Texas A&M)

• D ina Podnar (Zeta Psi-Dayton)

• Ni ssa Johnson Paternostro (Beta Upsilon-Oregon State)

• El len Rothschild (Iota Tau-Harvard)

• J essica Safir Stockwell (Iota GammaUniversity of the Pacific)

• M ichelle Webb (Beta Delta-UCLA)

THE CONSTELLATION AWARD

This honor recognizes alumnae members whose sustained voluntary efforts advance the Fraternity’s strategic progress. The 2020-2022 biennium award winners are:

• J udy Ethell (Zeta Alpha-Eastern Illinois)

• E van Guthrie Jones (Omega-Texas)

• L iane Jones Locke (Gamma IotaTexas Tech)

• J ennifer Larson Ryback (Omega-Texas)

• L aura Lynn Davidson Ellett (Beta Delta-UCLA)

Following the Welcome Dinner, an Award Finalist Reception was held for the first time where the officers and volunteers of the chapters nominated for awards received certificates recognizing their achievements from the 2020-2022 IEB. The Constitution Q&A was also held, followed by a collegiate reception sponsored by College Fresh at the hotel pool and an alumnae reception hosted by the Alpha Phi Foundation.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2022

Day 2 kicked off with the new Finalist Breakfast, which was a breakfast with the IEB for any chapters who are finalists for any of the major Convention Awards, followed by all Convention attendees participating in Disney’s Approach to Leadership by the Disney Institute thanks to the generosity of Alpha Phi Foundation donors.

New to the Convention itinerary was the Lifelong Alpha Phi Luncheon, which was hosted by the Fraternity and the Foundation and celebrated members’ lifetime commitment to Alpha Phi. Dr. Kristen GwinnBecker, HistoryIT’s Founder and CEO, shared about Alpha Phi’s partnership with HistoryIT as part of the 150th celebration.

“We recognized all of the Alpha Phis who have attended many Conventions, including Martha Mast (Beta NuDuke), who has attended the most,” Lindsay said. “We recognized the past Board members who are 50-year members. We also shared the finalists for most outstanding advisory board and most outstanding chapter advisor and the winners of the alumnae community awards.”

The Leading with Heart Campaign raised over

$42 million!

Past Board members who are 50-year members include the following members:

• S usan Weiskittle Barrick (Beta Omicron-Bowling Green)

• B illie Coskey Battiato (Phi-Oklahoma)

• D eana Koonsman Gage (Gamma Iota-Texas Tech)

• K athleen Feeney Hiemstra (Delta Theta-Western Michigan)

• K aren McChesney Howe (Gamma Sigma-Wisconsin Stout)

• L inda Gardner Massie (Delta Alpha-East Carolina)

• D iane Spry Straker (Delta Alpha-East Carolina)

• A lin Hernandez Wall (Beta Delta-UCLA)

Throughout the afternoon of Day 2, the academies continued with Chapter Advisor Academy, Chapter President Academy and Alumnae Academy. That evening, the Foundation hosted a Leading with Heart Reception

Awards

THE SALLY MCCALL GRANT AWARD

This distinguished award honors an alumnae member of Alpha Phi who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to members and has made a broad impact on mentorship in the Fraternity. The 2020-2022 biennium award winner is:

• Li nda Long Boland (Gamma Kappa-CSU Long Beach)

THE MARTHA FOOTE CROW AWARD

The Martha Foote Crow Award of Achievement recognizes collegiate members who have brought honor to the Fraternity through their achievements. Those selected for this award are distinguished by exceptional and rare accomplishments. The 2020-2022 biennium award winners are:

• J osie Totah (Eta Upsilon-Chapman)

• Corinne Zanolli (Kappa-Stanford)

URSA MAJOR AWARD

The Ursa Major Award was first presented at the 1974 Convention and honors alumnae members who have achieved success in their chosen field whether professional or volunteer, on a local, state, provincial or regional level. The 2020-2022 biennium award winners are:

• R emi Bader (Epsilon Nu-Delaware)

• M aureen Sinclair Bartee (Beta Delta-UCLA)

• Lynn Mestnik Johnson (Delta GammaNorthern Colorado)

• Taylor Lorenz (Beta Gamma-Colorado)

• A my Okuda (Beta Pi-USC)

• Nic ole Silverberg (Beta-Northwestern)

FRANCES E. WILLARD AWARD

The Frances E. Willard Award honors Alpha Phi alumnae who have achieved outstanding success in their chosen fields and who have gained recognition on a national or international level. The following women received this distinguished award at the 73rd biennial Convention for both 2020 and 2022:

• 2 022: Anne Lewnes (Epsilon PsiLehigh)

• 2 020: Amanda Nguyen (Iota TauHarvard)

Foundation Awards

NANCY OWEN CRAIG OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPIST AWARD

• Di ane Straker (Delta AlphaEast Carolina)

MARTHA WATKINS MAST AWARD

OF EXCELLENCE

This award recognizes one collegiate chapter and one alumnae chapter whose support of the Foundation through education, service and philanthropy is exemplary. These women embody the spirit of philanthropy.

• I ota Zeta-Colorado School of Mines

• Dallas and Suburban Alumnae Chapter

INTERNATIONAL PARTNER IN PHILANTHROPY AWARD

This award recognizes the top three fundraising chapter donors of the biennium.

• S igma-Washington

• E ta Upsilon-Chapman

• B eta Epsilon-Arizona

CONSTELLATION

AWARD

This award recognizes the chapters’ cumulative giving in $500,000 increments. These three chapters were recognized for reaching new heights in their chapter’s lifetime giving this past biennium.

• S igma-Washington

• B eta Epsilon-Arizona

• Om ega-Texas

Collegiate Chapter Awards

MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCEIN PRIMARY RECRUITMENT

• E ta Upsilon-Chapman

• D elta Zeta-Maryland

• O micron-Missouri

Ì T heta-Michigan

• Ps i-South Dakota

• Z eta Pi-Case Western Reserve

• G amma Kappa-CSU Long Beach

• T heta Theta-St. Joseph’s

• E psilon Xi-Southern Illinois

Ì E ta Kappa-UC Irvine

• Pi-North Dakota

• T heta Mu-Hofstra

Ì E ta Psi-Eastern Washington

MOST IMPROVED FORMAL RECRUITMENT

• L ambda-UC Berkeley

• E psilon Chi-Cal Poly

Ì Et a Epsilon-Villanova

Ì I ota-Wisconsin

Ì Io ta Mu-Georgia Tech

• B eta Theta-British Columbia

• E psilon Rho-UC Davis

• E ta Xi-UNC Wilmington

• T heta Nu-Appalachian State

• I ota Eta-DePaul

Ì I ota Sigma-Carnegie Mellon

• D elta Gamma-Northern Colorado

• E psilon Gamma-Sacramento State

• K appa Delta-Stevens Institute of Technology

Ì E psilon Theta-Northern Iowa

MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN CONTINUOUS OPEN BIDDING

• G amma Beta-UC Santa Barbara

• B eta Mu-Alabama

• K appa Eta-Florida

• E ta Alpha-New Hampshire

Ì Bet a Sigma-Utah

• T heta Nu-Appalachian State

• E ta Theta-San Francisco State

• B eta Psi-San Jose State

Ì I ota Iota-George Washington

• E ta Beta-CSU San Bernardino

• G amma Zeta-Puget Sound

• G amma Tau-Willamette

• D elta Kappa-Wisconsin La Crosse

• Et a Sigma-Lafayette

• G amma Omega-Midwestern State

• G amma Xi-Wichita State

Ì E psilon Eta-Old Dominion

MOST IMPROVED CHAPTER

• I ota Mu-Georgia Tech

• L ambda-UC Berkeley

• E ta Epsilon-Villanova

Ì I ota-Wisconsin

• E psilon Rho-UC Davis

• T heta Nu-Appalachian State

• I ota Eta-DePaul

Ì I ota Sigma-Carnegie Mellon

• E psilon Psi-Lehigh

• E psilon Theta-Northern Iowa

• D elta Gamma-Northern Colorado

Ì E psilon Eta-Old Dominion

MOST OUTSTANDING ADVISORY BOARD

• I ota Lambda-Connecticut

• Z eta Delta-Iowa State

• Ga mma Eta-North Texas

• G amma Iota-Texas Tech

Ì B eta Delta-UCLA

MOST OUTSTANDING CHAPTER ADVISOR

• D ene Coyle, Chapter Advisor for both Beta Iota-West Virginia & Gamma RhoPenn State

• M ollie Bort, Chapter Advisor for Beta Beta-Michigan State

• N orma Peelman, Chapter Advisor for Gamma Zeta-Puget Sound

Ì S arah Benoist, Chapter Advisor for Zeta Upsilon-Washington University

and a Leading with Heart Dinner to celebrate the success of their monumental Leading with Heart Campaign that resulted in over $43 million raised to endow the Alpha Phi experience.

Following dinner, the Volunteer Appreciation Reception was hosted and sponsored by College Fresh at the pool. There was also a Collegiate Social with karaoke and games.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

The entirety of Day 3 was sponsored by Herff Jones, Alpha Phi’s sisterhood sponsor. This morning kicked off Housing Academy and Convention Assembled, where the chapter presidents processed into the event along with Boards and Past Boards and Presidents.

“The Membership Department also hosted an incredibly fun Alice in Wonderland themed Collegiate Chapter Awards Luncheon full of super fun performances, videos, awards and Sally Grant (GammaDePauw) jumping out of a cake.”

The 150th Celebration was also hosted on the evening of Day 3 with a fun carnival that included games, a DJ, carnival food, live performers, and a special video commemorating 150 years of Alpha Phi.

The night concluded with the Order of the Ivy Reception for all past and current Educational Leadership Consultants.

JUNE 25, 2022

After breakfast, the final session of Convention Assembled was held, which was followed by the Service of Remembrance that recognized members who had entered the Silent Chapter. Past International President Nancy Wittgen Burks DeVoe (GammeDePauw) sadly passed away at the beginning of Convention, and there was special recognition of her at this time.

The Women of Achievement Luncheon was also held on Day 4 wherein all of the National Panhellenic Council (NPC) organizations were invited to send a representative to be thanked for their partnership.

“We also recognized our individual award winners

from the past two bienniums,” Lindsay said. “Corinne Zannolli — our MFC award winner — spoke and Allie Winkelman (Gamma Epsilon-Lake Forest) led a Q&A with 2020 FEW award Winner Amanda Nguyen (Iota Tau-Harvard), which was outstanding. Afterward, we held an award winner meet and greet where a few hundred Alpha Phis met Amanda.”

Alpha Phi also initiated seven alumnae on the afternoon of Day 4. They were all mothers, daughters, family members and friends of members at Convention.

Lastly, the Candlelight Banquet was hosted on everyone’s last night at Convention. There was a string quartet, and it was literally illuminated by candlelight. Kate Boyle Halfon (Eta Delta-CSU East Bay), the new International President, and the rest of the IEB processed into dinner and were installed

The Carnival featured circus-themed entertainment

LOOKING AHEAD

The next Convention will be held at the Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, California, near Palm Springs. It’s sure to be another wonderful event full of celebrations, recognition an d important Fraternity business. We hope to see you there!

Alice in Wonderland with Sally Grant

The Women of Achievement Luncheon with Amanda Nguyen

Awards

EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH, WELLNESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY AWARD

• I ota-Wisconsin

• G amma Rho-Penn State

• K appa Epsilon-Georgia

Ì Bet a Pi-USC

• Ep silon-Minnesota

• Io ta Sigma-Carnegie Mellon

• T heta Nu-Appalachian State

Ì I ota Xi-Denver

• D elta Upsilon-Baldwin Wallace

• D elta Nu-Maine

• T heta Phi-Christopher Newport

Ì D elta Gamma-Northern Colorado

EXCELLENCE IN CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD

• E psilon Beta-Butler

• D elta Zeta-Maryland

• B eta Sigma-Utah

Ì I ota Rho-Clemson

• K appa Gamma-Southeast Missouri State

• K appa-Stanford

• D elta-Cornell

Ì Ga mma Omicron-Drake

• Ep silon Alpha-Ashland

• C hi-Montana

• E psilon Psi-Lehigh

Ì T heta Phi-Christopher Newport

EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES AWARD

• A lpha-Syracuse

• D elta Zeta-Maryland

• G amma Pi-Arizona State

Ì K appa Eta-Florida

• E ta Lambda-George Mason

• E psilon Iota-Duquesne

• Z eta Beta-Loyola Marymount

Ì Z eta Pi-Case Western Reserve

• D elta Rho-Ball State

• E psilon Gamma-Sacramento State

• D elta Delta-Oklahoma City

Ì X i-Toronto

EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AWARD

• B eta Sigma-Utah

• G amma Iota-Texas Tech

• E ta Epsilon-Villanova

Ì Th eta Delta-Creighton

• I ota Eta-DePaul

• T heta Nu-Appalachian State

• K appa Beta-UC San Diego

Ì T heta Theta-St. Joseph’s

• K appa Delta-Stevens Institute of Technology

• T heta Sigma-Southern Utah

• T heta Rho-Cameron

Ì Z eta Xi-Elmhurst

EXCELLENCE IN MEMBER EDUCATION & PROGRAMMING

• B eta Epsilon-Arizona

• B eta Sigma-Utah

• I ota Lambda-Connecticut

Ì B eta Delta-UCLA

• D elta Xi-Nebraska Kearney

• I ota Omicron-WPI

• E ta Xi-UNC Wilmington

Ì Ga mma Eta-North Texas

• E psilon Eta-Old Dominion

• E psilon Psi-Lehigh

• T heta Zeta-Florida Tech

Ì D elta Chi-William Woods

EXCELLENCE IN FACILITY OCCUPANCY AWARD

• A lpha-Syracuse

• B eta Sigma-Utah

• G amma Phi-Florida State

Ì K appa Alpha-UNC Chapel Hill

• Z eta Sigma-Franklin & Marshall

• I ota Chi-Yale

• G amma Kappa-CSU Long Beach

Ì Et a Tau-SUNY Cortland

• I ota Epsilon-Kettering

• Pi-North Dakota

• E psilon Gamma-Sacramento State

Ì E psilon Delta-Northern Illinois

MOST OUTSTANDING HOUSE CORPORATION BOARD AWARD

• B eta Sigma-Utah

• G amma-DePauw

• Phi-Oklahoma

Ì G amma Alpha-San Diego State

EXCELLENCE IN MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA AWARD

• B eta Beta-Michigan State

• Phi-Oklahoma

• A lpha-Syracuse

Ì B eta Epsilon-Arizona

• E psilon Xi-Southern Illinois

• B eta Iota-West Virginia

• E psilon Iota-Duquesne

Ì G amma Kappa-CSU Long Beach

• Ep silon Alpha-Ashland

• T heta Phi-Christopher Newport

• T heta Tau-Rensselaer

Ì E psilon Gamma-Sacramento State

STANDING UP FOR THE SORORITY EXPERIENCE AWARD

• B eta Nu-Duke

• B eta-Northwestern

• I ota Tau-Harvard

• Z eta Upsilon-Washington University

• F inalist Ì W inner

CONSTELLATION OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS & MOST OUTSTANDING CHAPTER WINNERS

This makes them a finalist for Alpha Phi’s Most Outstanding Chapter Award.

• E ta Upsilon-Chapman

• E psilon Chi-Cal Poly

• N u-Nebraska

• B eta Epsilon-Arizona

Ì A lpha-Syracuse

• Ps i-South Dakota

• T heta Theta-St. Joseph’s

• I ota Zeta-Colorado School of Mines

• E ta Xi-UNC Wilmington

Ì E psilon Kappa-West Chester

• X i-Toronto

• T heta Tau-Rensselaer

• T heta Sigma-Southern Utah

• T heta Phi-Christopher Newport

Ì E psilon Gamma-Sacramento State

Alumnae Community Awards

ALUMNAE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD

• C hicago Northwest Suburban Alumnae Community

• D enver Alumnae Community

• Philadelphia Alumnae Community

Ì A ustin Alumnae Community

ALUMNAE COMMUNITY INSPIRATION AWARD

• D oor County Alumnae Community

• Toronto and Area Alumnae Community

• L ong Beach Alumnae Community

Ì W ichita Alumnae Community

ALUMNAE COMMUNITY CONNECTION AWARD

• M ilwaukee Alumnae Community

• Philadelphia Alumnae Community

• Portland Alumnae Community

Ì Tampa Bay Alumnae Community

ALUMNAE COMMUNITY PRIDE AWARD

• L ong Beach Alumnae Community

• M ilwaukee Alumnae Community

• Toronto and Area Alumnae Community

Ì Southeastern Louisiana Alumnae Community

EPIC ALUMNAE COMMUNITY

• C hicago Northwest Suburban Alumnae Community

• Toronto and Area Alumnae Community

• L ong Beach Alumnae Community

Ì A ustin Alumnae Community

LEADING WITH HEART

How the Alpha Phi Foundation has set a new standard for philanthropic giving

CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES

Leading With Heart was strategically designed to enrich...

LEADERSHIP TRAINING

THE ESSENCE OF LEADING WITH HEART

Leading With Heart is the most ambitious and influential campaign the Alpha Phi Foundation has embarked on to date. Leading With Heart is a multi-dimensional effort that allows us to meet our members where they are in their pursuits while simultaneously securing our future.

Together with donors and sisters near and far, we ensured Alpha Phi’s vibrant future deepened our impact, and boldly embraced our call to lead with heart for the next 150 years.

Leading With Heart is the purest example of the power of women bonded together under a solemn vow, working to strengthen our Fraternity and transform the world.

SCHOLARSHIP WOMEN'S HEART HEALTH

MAKING A LASTING IMPACT

The impact of Leading With Heart is greater than the dollars raised. Alpha Phi leaders envisioned a comprehensive endowment campaign that would not only provide financial assurance for future generations of Alpha Phis, but a campaign that would fundamentally change our Fraternity and our perception of philanthropy.

Alpha Phi Foundation believes in the power of philanthropy; Leading With Heart evolved how we practice this belief. Embracing the spirit of a comprehensive campaign, the Foundation shifted how we engage with Alpha Phi members, striving to connect with and involve as many members as possible.

“Just as Alpha Phi is for life so is the philanthropic spirit exhibited by the generosity of our members throughout their lives. The Leading With Heart campaign showcased the power of generational commitment to the Alpha Phi Foundation and philanthropy. From new members experiencing their first Red Dress Gala to fifty-year members participating in alumnae community fundraising activities, each member contributed to the successful Leading With Heart campaign and showcased the power of lifetime giving.”

JACKEE SCHOOLS

(ETA LAMBDA–GEORGE MASON)

Alpha Phi International President, 2019-2022

After all, the Foundation belongs to each member, volunteer and donor. Impact is made through the support of every donor, collegiate, alumnae and chapter, no matter the size of their gift. And the responsibility to make a positive impact on the world is owned by every Alpha Phi.

LEADING WITH HEART by THE NUMBERS:

$38M GOAL

THE HEART and SOUL of LEADING WITH HEART

The heart and soul of every campaign is the dedicated donors and volunteers who offer time, talent and treasure to a cause bigger than themselves. Donors entrust their treasure to the Foundation and are the reason that impact is possible — and multiplies. Volunteers bring life and vision to the cause and inspire generosity in others. Together, these individuals championed Leading With Heart and made possible the transformational success of the campaign.

THE HEART: DONORS

35,626 TOTAL DONORS

16,861 TOTAL MEMBER DONORS

11,065 FIRST TIME MEMBER DONORS

53 ALUMNAE COMMUNITIES

175 COLLEGIATE CHAPTERS

18,765 FAMILY & FRIEND DONORS

$43,592,644 RAISED

115% OF GOAL MET

12,471 ALUMNAE DONORS

4,390 COLLEGIATE DONORS

THE SOUL: VOLUNTEERS

VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED TO LEADING WITH HEART BY SERVING THROUGH ONE OR MORE OF THESE ROLES:

516+ VOLUNTEERS

Campaign Steering Committee, Board of Directors, Ambassadors, Collegiate Stewardship Volunteers, Fund Initiators, Peer-to-Peer pages, Facebook Fundraisers

There is still work to be done, and the Alpha Phi Foundation will continue to evolve alongside our beloved Fraternity. As our sisters and women around the world continue to assume leadership roles in society, we must continue to support them.

MAKE A GIFT AND EMPOWER OUR WOMEN TODAY

Online: alphaphifoundation.org/ways-to-give/donate

Mailed Check: Alpha Phi Foundation, Inc. PO Box 7410667 Chicago, IL 60674-0667

“Today is no time to be idle.”

MARTHA FOOTE CROW (ALPHA–SYRACUSE), FOUNDER

National Competitor. Volunteer. Full-time Student. Alpha Phi.

Sophmore MayaDenise Gaskin (Beta Epsilon–University of Arizona) navigates a busy schedule while striving for personal excellence.

TRY TO IMAGINE JUGGLING A COMMITMENT AS intense as competing in the national pageant circuit with the responsibility of being a full-time student and Fraternity member. Sounds difficult, right? Well, one young Alpha Phi has done just that.

Originally from San Ramon, California, 19-year-old MayaDenise Gaskin is a sophomore at the University of Arizona (Beta Epsilon) where she is studying broadcast journalism. Concurrently, she was also recently crowned Miss Arizona Teen USA.

The pageant scene is familiar territory for Gaskin. Having danced since the age of 2 in tap, hip hop, jazz and pom, she began competing in beauty pageants when she was just 7 years old, inspired by the beautiful and brilliant women she saw on television. After signing herself up for the 7- to 8-year-old division in a local Sacramento pageant, she won and came home to San Ramon with the crown. While this pageant was small compared to the ones she would later compete in, Gaskin credits that victory, crown and sash to changing her live forever.

Fast forward to 2021 when Gaskin enrolled at the University of Arizona and decided to embark on another w orthwhile competition of sorts where her personality, creativity, determination and intelligence would need to shine — fall recruitment.

G askin ultimately decided to go through recruitment and join Alpha Phi because of the genuine connections she made with the Beta Epsilon members she met during recruitment. She wanted to network with like-minded students and surround herself with a community of strong women while navigating her college years, and she knew Alpha Phi was the right fit. And according to Gaskin, witnessing the “magical” preference ceremony during recruitment s ealed the deal.

While embarking on her first year of college and becoming an active member of Beta Epsilon, Gaskin

was also training rigorously for the Spring 2022 Miss Arizona Teen USA competition.

“Getting ready for a pageant is intense,” Gaskin said. “There are literally hours of walking practice to perfect my posture, making sure I know how to turn correctly in the evening gown that I am wearing for that pageant and, of course, ensuring I walk gracefully while wearing fiveinch platform heels.”

“I also have two personal trainers and a nutritionist to hold me accountable and make sure I look and feel my best on stage.”

And that’s not all. Gaskin also completed more than 2,000 hours of community service through her pageantry by working with various nonprofits across the nation.

“Understanding that there is always someone who is less fortunate than you is a lesson that I learned at a young age, and it has stuck with me through my life,” Gaskin said.

In addition to the physical training and community service, Gaskin had to mentally prepare for the pageant as well.

“The most challenging part of preparing for a pageant is interview preparation,” Gaskin said. “Every pageant has a private interview with a panel of judges. The judges may ask the contestant anything, whether it be something from their personal statement biography, resume or any current events that may be circulating the news at that point in time. Before a pageant, I stay engaged in the news while meeting with my interview coach. I often have a mock interview that will mimic what a traditional pageant interview would feel or look like, then I will receive feedback from the mock judges. I typically dedicate around 15 hours per week to interview practice leading up to a pageant.”

All of this hard work, training and preparation ultimately paid off when Gaskin was crowned Miss Arizona Teen USA in May 2022, a feat achieved by giving it her all and setting herself apart

from the competition.

“While many contestants tend to get caught up in the competition and compare themselves to others, I was only focused on doing my personal best,” Gaskin said.

“I made a goal during that pageant week to run my own race. I knew the outcome was out of my control and that all I could do was be me and give it my all. I stayed consistent throughout the competition by keeping my head held high and befriending my fellow contestants.”

This victory was more than just a crown and some highvalued prizes for Gaskin. It represented many years of hard work, dedication and a lifetime’s commitment to pageantry and serving her community.

“I compete to inspire others,” Gaskin said. “I have always been a courageous person, and I have the courage and desire to change people’s lives for the better.”

“Through pageants, I met young girls who told me they’re inspired because they have never seen a pageant girl who looks like them until they saw me. I have always wanted to be a role model for young African American children. Growing up in San Ramon, I never had classmates or teachers who looked like me. It was hard being different from everyone, and at a young age I had no idea why I was different. But I was able to learn from my experiences with discrimination and racism, and now I treat every single person I meet with respect and make sure they feel special and wanted.”

After winning Miss Arizona Teen USA, Gaskin’s next stop was Miss Teen USA — the most competitive pageant for young women between the ages of 13 and 18 — where she competed with other state pageant winners from all 51 states and territories and placed in the top 16..

“I’ve watched Miss Teen USA on TV for years, so being there in person as a competitor was surreal,” Gaskin said. “Miss Teen USA was definitely more

What is …

HER ADVICE: Get involved in your community, whether it’s through volunteering or supporting a cause you’re passionate about.

HER GO-TO BREAKFAST: Waffles and a protein shake

SHE READING AND LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW: The Weeknd’s newest album, “Dawn FM,” and “The Blacklist” on Netflix.

HER FAVORITE WEEKEND ACTIVITY: Hangout with her Beta Epsilon sisters, Judith Charles, Kasey Wong, Aubree Amoriello and Amanda Norris.

stressful than competing at Miss AZ Teen. There are 51 girls all with the same goal — bringing the Miss Teen USA title back to their home state. But unlike what many may think, and even though we were competing against one another, all of the girls I met in the pageant were so sweet. I can truly say I’ve met my future bridesmaids in the Miss Teen USA class of 2022, and I can now say I have a friend in every state.”

Throughout her pageantry career, Gaskin has held a special cause close to her heart and used her platform to advocate on its behalf.

“My personal platform is ‘Let’s Move! Together,’ which helps fight pediatric obesity and teaches today’s youth about the importance of healthy living. I have visited classrooms, summer camps and dance studios and spoken to more than 300 students sharing the message of ‘Let’s Move! Together.”’ Through this platform, I have created a legacy that I hope to continue throughout the rest of my life.”

Now in her sophomore year at the University of Arizona, Gaskin is studying broadcast journalism, and she hopes to one day make it to the sidelines as a sports reporter for ESPN. For now, though, she’s focused on her classes, fulfilling the commitments that come with her crown and title as Miss Arizona Teen USA, giving back to her community and becoming more involved with the Beta Epsilon chapter.

“I want to focus on my future career as a reporter, as well as on my involvement with Alpha Phi. I recently applied for an executive position within the chapter and hope to one day become chapter president,” Gaskin said. “Sometimes I think that I’ve put too much on my plate and that I won’t be able to do it all, but I’ve learned that if you put yourself out there and try, the outcome will be positive.”

No matter what lies ahead for Gaskin, there’s no doubt that her future will e bright.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL BROCHSTEIN/SOPA

Original “Ziegfield Follies” costumes from the early 1900s on display at the Museum of Broadway

Lights, Curtains, Action! Lights, Curtains, Action! Lights, Curtains, Action!

Beta Pi alumnae Julie Boardman and Diane Nicoletti have taken their careers and friendship to new heights by opening the world’s premier Museum of Broadway in the heart of Times Square.

and Nicoletti (right) at the museum’s

Have you ever wondered

what happens to the iconic set designs, costumes and props from Broadway performances once those shows stop running? According to Julie Boardman (Beta Pi-USC), one of the two founders of the Museum of Broadway, when the final curtain falls on these items, many will end up in storage units or even a landfill — discarded and forgotten.

However, these treasures and their tragic end inspired Julie. She knew with the right team and resources she could reroute these items to a new home in the form of a museum where they could live on to educate the masses and preserve Broadway’s history for generations to enjoy.

This idea combined with her years of experience as a Broadway producer and as the founder and CEO of her own promotional marketing and event staffing agency, Boardman Productions, prompted Julie to connect with her longtime friend, colleague and fellow Beta Pi Diane Nicoletti to create the world’s first permanent museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing Broadway’s history.

“I just couldn’t believe what Julie was telling me,” recalled Diane, who is also the founder and COO of Rubik Marketing, an experiential marketing agency behind fan experiences for clients like HBO, Disney, L’Oréal and Cartoon Network. “How did this not exist? I was like, ‘No, this is brilliant.’ And we got to work.”

Diane and Julie first met on campus at USC, having both gone through recruitment and joined Alpha Phi. Julie transferred from Loyola-Marymount where she was also a member of the Fraternity and quickly became active in Beta Pi in various elected roles, eventually working her way up to chapter president.

Both women remained active in the Fraternity while pursuing their respective degrees and completing internships before graduating. Julie was making her mark as a performer and staffing agent before turning her attention toward producing Tony Award-winning Broadway shows like “Funny Girl” and “Company,” while Diane jumped into event marketing working for large agencies and venues before breaking out on her own and founding her own

experiential marketing agency in 2009. The two grew to work closely together when Diane would hire Julie’s staffing agency for her events, which was what led to their landmark conversation over opening a Broadway museum together. The rest, as they say, is history.

Even from the ideation phase of this massive undertaking, Diane and Julie knew what they did not want to do. They weren’t going to create a static museum where patrons would walk through staring at and reading things hanging on the walls or behind glass cases. They knew it, instead, needed to reflect the immersive and interactive experience of attending a Broadway show.

“We developed a team of curators, designers, architects and contractors to bring this dream of an experiential, interactive museum that tells the story of Broadway to life,” Diane said.

The Museum of Broadway was a self-funded project from the start, and both women wasted no time securing meetings with major players in the New York theater industry, including theatrical producers, theater owners and organizations like the Broadway League to sponsor their for-profit museum.

And, of course, location is key. Diane and Julie needed to select a home for their museum that would drive revenue, be easy to locate and attract foot traffic — all while remaining close to the theaters. They ultimately selected a four-story, 26,000-square-foot former Irish pub on West 45th Street in Times Square next to the Lyceum Theater to house their museum.

“Broadway is uniquely American,” Diane mentioned. “So, it should be here in the heart of the city where it began.”

With the support of their community and having acquired artifacts to display, everything

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONIQUE CARBONI

seemed to be falling into place for the Museum of Broadway to open its doors in 2020 … until life came to a screeching halt with the outbreak of COVID-19.

This delay, however, gave the founders additional time to collect more priceless Broadway antiquities, photographs, costumes and set pieces to feature in the museum. Today, most of the 1,000-plus items and photographs on display are on loan from individual artists, creators, producers and even performing arts institutions like Disney Theatrical Productions and the Public Theater.

Now, more than five years after its inception, surrounded by countless members of the theater community, team members, state and local officials, friends and family, Diane and Julie opened the doors to the Museum of Broadway to the public on November 15, 2022, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. And, since opening, it has quickly become one of the Big Apple’s newest must-see attractions.

“A lot of us were in tears that this was finally happening,” Julie said. “We had all just come through COVID when Broadway was totally shut down. And it’s truly the lifeblood of this city. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Broadway was the No. 2 reason people visited New York City behind shopping. And now, not only is Broadway and life back on after this pandemic, but people have a new way to experience it.”

The museum is laid out in four areas — the map room, where visitors can view a short film outlining the history and migration

Opposite Page: An elaborate costume from “The Phantom of the Opera,” the longest-running production in Broadway history, on display at the museum.

Top: An exterior view of the Museum of Broadway at night.

Above: Two visitors enjoying the interactive aspect of the museum in the “Ziegfield Follies” exhibit on opening night.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONIQUE CARBONI

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILIO MADRID

of New York City’s theaters from the Financial District to Times Square with a map of each theater’s location; the timeline of Broadway from its birth in 1750 to present day, where patrons can immerse themselves into some of the most beloved musicals and plays of all time; the “Making of a Broadway Show,” which is a special exhibit honoring the skilled professionals both on and offstage who make Broadway happen; and, lastly, the gift shop and rentable studio space.

Furthermore, the museum is organized chronologically with the timeline taking up a large portion of the exhibit space, starting with Broadway’s earliest shows and running all the way through the modern productions performed today. More than 500 performances

are highlighted at the museum with artifacts including: original “Ziegfeld Follies” costumes from the early 20th century; a feathered red “Hello, Dolly!” headpiece; a military jacket from the 1968 production of “Hair;” a pair of knee-high, laceup red heeled boots from “Kinky Boots;” mask molds from “The Phantom of the Opera,” the longestrunning production in Broadway history; a New York Jets jacket worn in the original 1957 production of “West Side Story;” and the iconic fire engine-red dress from the 1977 production of “Annie,” among several other timeless pieces.

Many of the exhibits and displays in the museum were also created by the same theater designers who made the dynamic on-stage scenery featured on Broadway stages, making visitors feel like they’re a part of such iconic shows as “Cats,” “The Lion King,” “Rent,” “Oklahoma!” and “Wicked.”

In addition to the rotating exhibits, Diane and Julie said they plan to host a couple of special exhibitions each year in the expansive space on the first floor. At the time this article was written,

Opposite Page: This neon sign and green display celebrates the “The Wiz” at the Museum of Broadway.

Top: Andrea McArdle, Broadway’s original Annie, admiring the iconic dress from the production framed and on display at the museum of Broadway.

Above: “Rent” costumes on exhibit at the museum with Jonathan Larson’s handwritten notes on the wall behind them

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILIO MADRID

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONIQUE CARBONI

this room displayed the drawings of Al Hirschfeld, Broadway’s own King of Caricature, complete with coloring pages for visitors to enjoy.

And, of course, as Broadway productions reach the end of their production circuits, these women will be two of the first in line to offer the more notable objects from those shows a new home at the museum.

What makes this gallery stand apart, however, is that it’s more than a museum — it’s a completely immersive Broadway experience. An “attraction,” even, as Diane put it, worthy of being its own New York City destination for anyone who loves Broadway and American history.

“We asked ourselves, ‘What story do we want to tell, and how do we want to tell it?’” Julie recalled. “There’s so much history to Broadway, and you could organize that history in a lot of different ways. But we knew we wanted to lean on Diane’s strengths in experiential marketing to make this a true experience where people felt like they were a part of these productions and had an insider’s peek into the process.”

And a key characteristic of the museum being “experiential” is in how it enables visitors to experience it.

Today, most of us — particularly the younger generations — experience life through our phones, whether we’re taking photos and videos, posting to our social media pages, live streaming or creating our own personal brand of content to share with our followers. Diane

and Julie recognized that for their museum to be successful, it needed to be a shared experience.

“We wanted to ensure that the visual storytelling came through and that people would be able to share their experience,” Diane echoed. “That’s how we consume content, right? It has to be shareable. We want people to have fun so that they talk about it, post about it and share that experience like they would anything else they thoroughly enjoyed.”

“And it’s not just the millennials who are experiencing the museum this way,” Julie continued. “The older patrons are really into it, too, and they’re excited that we encourage this level of participation in our exhibits.”

Diane and Julie have created a museum experience people of all ages, from young children to older patrons, can enjoy in their own unique ways.

“Everyone has a different entrypoint into Broadway, whether

they just know the current shows, grew up loving Broadway as a theater kid, if they just know the songs from pop culture or even if it’s been years since they last saw a show,” Julie explained, having grown up performing herself and seen her first Broadway production at the age of 10. “Everyone has a moment that Broadway entered their life and left a mark. This museum is a great way for them to revisit that.”

There’s even a translation app non-English-speaking patrons can download and use as they walk through the exhibits, making the Museum of Broadway an inclusive experience.

Reflecting back on the days of this project, Julie is still in awe that she and Diane were the first to recognize the need for this museum and bring it to life.

“The fact that Broadway has been around for such a long time, yet a space like this never existed before we made it happen is just unbelievable,” Julie said. “I mean, we’re the ones who got to create it and shape the way the Broadway story is told and consumed. It’s humbling to say the least.”

Like Idina Menzel sang as Elphaba in “The Wizard and I” from “Wicked,” the future for Diane, Julie and the Museum of Broadway is truly “unlimited.”

“Everyone has a moment that Broadway entered their life and left a mark.”

—Julie Boardman (Beta Pi-USC)

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONIQUE CARBONI

Engaged and Empowered for Excellence

you asked a younger Taylor Mackenzie Dickens Hale (Iota Iota-George Washington) if she envisioned herself graduating from one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious colleges, being crowned Miss Michigan USA, starting her own business as a personal stylist and becoming the first African American woman to ever win a noncelebrity edition of the hit CBS television series, “Big Brother”, she would have probably said … why not?

Growing up in Detroit, Taylor learned at an early age that confidence, determination and hard work were necessary for her to reach her full potential, and this mindset carried over into her adult years. Backed by an unyielding work ethic and an almost superhuman drive for success, Taylor is as brilliant and bold as she is beautiful and persevering. And with the Miss Michigan 2021 crown and a monumental “Big Brother” win in her back pocket, she’s only just getting started.

Taylor grew up within the city limits of Detroit — Michigan’s most populated metropolis with more than 630,000 residents — in a prosperous, predominantly Black area. However, her school experience was vastly different from her home life.

“As a child, I understood what Black success looked like,” Taylor recalled. “But I would enter another world at school where I was one of maybe four Black kids from the time I first started school in junior kindergarten throughout my years as a teenager in the upper school. I lived in this world where no matter how much I achieved or gained access to, I was still an outsider, So, even as a child, I had to navigate being exposed to just unimaginable wealth, access and privilege during the day while also having those things myself, but still being the minority throughout those hours at school. It was an interesting dichotomy, and it caused me to expand my mind at an early age, which I believe was a good thing.”

Experiencing this unique perspective not only thickened Taylor’s skin, but taught her that hard work, perseverance and drive were key to meeting her life goals. It also instilled a desire to live, study and work in a culturally diverse area where she could embrace a melting pot of people from various backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures and upbringings.

“When I was choosing where to attend college, it was crucial that I found a diverse city and campus,” Taylor said. “DC is beautiful and almost feels like a European city. And with all of the embassies, it’s incredibly diverse in a lot of different ways. I also didn’t want to go to a ‘typical’ college campus because while I love being involved, I’m not a big school spirit person. George Washington was the perfect place for me to land in this new city I wanted to make my home away from home.”

Why Alpha Phi?

For Taylor, a key factor in making Iota Iota and DC feel like home was embracing her new life as a collegian and making new friends. Alpha Phi was the perfect conduit for this endeavor.

“I remember meeting girls on campus and in my classes who were always so warm and friendly, and one of them told me I should try recruitment” Taylor recalled. “And I thought, ‘OK, people telling me that I’m smart, beautiful, talented and that I could contribute to

their organizations in a lot of different ways? I’m sold.’”

It was also crucial to Taylor that she found a Greek organization that was culturally diverse and that encouraged its members to learn from one another’s experiences. Almost instantly after connecting with an Alpha Phi, she knew that was where she needed to be.

“Oddly enough, I connected with the first person I spoke with at Alpha Phi over our similar life experiences, and the fact that we had the same color of nail polish,” Taylor said. “Being in DC and going through recruitment, the girls were all politically minded, probably more than you’d find in other cities or college towns. So, I felt confident knowing that [Alpha Phi] had the brains, beauty, fun and a level of comfortability that made me feel at home. It was a match made in heaven from the jump.”

Taylor also mentioned how she viewed joining Alpha Phi as a worthwhile financial investment in herself and her future, both at George Washington and beyond.

“Every organization has dues that serve as a financial representation of your commitment level, so I was willing to make that investment in myself, my social life and my future both on campus and after graduation,” Taylor said. “I’m close with four girls from my pledge class, as well as my Little and my Grandlittle, and it’s weird if we go more than a few days without talking or texting.”

Taylor also recalled some of her fondest memories from college taking place when she lived on campus in the Iota Iota house.

“Of course, it’s fun to participate in events with other fraternities and sororities, philanthropies, campus happenings, etc. but there’s also so many goofy and fun things that happen just sitting on the couch at the house or in your room with your sisters and roommates,” Taylor said. “I lived in that house for about a year and a half, so a school year plus a summer, and there were so many fun things I was able to experience from being a part of Alpha Phi and living on campus. This experience was totally encompassing and energized my overall college experience.”

“I believe that your very best friends are truly your soulmates, and that friendship has this deeper love than even a romantic love or partnership, especially when it’s rooted in something as strong as an organization like Alpha Phi and a shared college experience.”

From a Pageant Stage to the TV Screen

Following graduation from George Washington, Taylor immersed herself into a passion-fueled career as a personal stylist, predominantly in men’s fashion designing custom suits.

“It was fun because I was able to play dress up at work on my clients,” Taylor explained. “It was a sales job at its core, but I was able to be creative, too.”

While Taylor enjoyed her career as a stylist in DC, the COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed her profession and its day-to-day operations, like so many around the world. This motivated her to move home to Detroit and pursue independent personal styling more seriously by opening her own business. It was during this transition that she also decided to prepare for and compete in the Miss Michigan USA pageant starting with some smaller competitions within the circuit.

Taylor kickstarted her pageant career by competing for Miss District of Columbia in 2017 while she was still attending George Washington. Despite this being her entry point to competitive pageantry, she finished in the top 15 bracket. Later, she went on to be crowned Miss Spirit of Detroit, Miss Pure Michigan in 2019 and the Miss Michigan USA 2020 runner-up.

Taylor went on to compete in Miss USA 2021, but didn’t place. She was, however, named Miss Congeniality.

Following her reign as Miss Michigan USA in 2021, Taylor received a direct message on Instagram from a CBS casting director encouraging her to audition for “The Amazing Race.” Taylor admitted she had no interest in that competition, but would be interested in auditioning for “Big Brother.” From there, she auditioned, secured her spot on the show and waited until it was time to compete.

Hale entered the “Big Brother” house with one goal in mind — to win. And to do so, she had to be strategic in her alliances and how she portrayed herself.

Her obvious wealth of confidence was a turnoff to other housemates who perhaps lacked confidence themselves, and from the beginning of the experience Taylor seemed to have a target on her back. It seemed almost weekly that she was “on the block,” which is “Big Brother” lingo for being up for elimination.

However, Taylor persevered and even learned things about herself in the process.

“I’m a person who is comfortable and confident being around other comfortable, confident women, and I genuinely enjoy lifting up and supporting other women,” Taylor said. “So, there was nothing that could have happened in that house that other women would have done that would intimidate me.”

But Taylor admitted that it was “mind-altering” for me to suddenly be thrown into a house with people who seemed to lack her degree of confidence and not only resent her for that, but project their own insecurities onto her, as well.

“I had to play a social game,” Taylor explained. “I worked my way from the bottom up — like the bottom of someone’s shoe — to get to those final two seats. And I didn’t do that by winning competitions or having the most ‘power.’ I did it through my influence. That was able to carry favor and influence others into taking me to the end. That’s the real power in this game.”

Taylor’s win marked the first time in “Big Brother” history that a Black woman had won the game and only the second time a Black person had won in its 24 seasons. When asked what this win meant to her, she said she believed her victory marked a new era on how to play the game.

“For a long time, power and legitimacy were only viewed through the lens of how many competitions did you win or who you evicted,” Taylor said. “And for this to be a game that can last up to 99 days, that’s too much time to measure by the very few competitions that we have. If it were a game based solely on competitions, it’d be a 30-day game.”

“This is a social game first. So, me winning felt like

This organization is not you. You are the organization.

a monumental moment in terms of changing how the game was viewed.”

Perhaps one of the more striking components of Taylor’s “Big Brother” victory was that she won by a sweeping eight votes to one.

“That eight-to-one vote really blows my mind,” Taylor expressed. “Because it wasn’t, ‘Oh, I hurt your feelings or did something bad, and I’m trying to gain your favor.’ No, it was a statement of ‘You overcame obscene odds in this house and made it to the end. So, you deserve this.’ That meant everything to me.”

And Taylor didn’t only come out on top in the Big Brother competition. She was also voted America’s favorite player, bringing her total winnings to a whopping $800,000.

“To actually win the title of America’s Favorite Player made me realize that I wasn’t crazy and that my read on the house, on my relationships with different people, on my humor and comedy — all of that wasn’t off,” Taylor said. “It felt amazing to be so well received by America because there are so many days in that house and in the ‘Big Brother’ bubble that you question your sanity. You start to wonder if you’re funny, if you’re encouraging, and even if the way you view yourself is true. So, to have all of that affirmed by America — what a validation.”

What’s Next for Taylor Hale?

With this competition behind her, Taylor is looking ahead to a bright future spent travelling the world, spoiling those closest to her with lavish vacations funded by her prize money and breaking into the world of entertainment news.

“My goal with winning Miss Michigan and competing in Miss USA was always to pursue a career in entertainment news, and that hasn’t changed,” Taylor explained. “I’m fighting tooth and nail to get into that industry, and now having won ‘Big Brother,’ that dream is much more accessible.”

Taylor also said that while she is a selfproclaimed introvert, she is interested in expanding on her newfound fame and using her position as an influencer to inspire others.

“I want to make quality content that people will relate to, draw inspiration from, laugh at and feel good about consuming,” Taylor said. “This win on ‘Big Brother’ has truly expanded my horizons and granted me more freedom and ability to pursue my passions.”

It seems that no matter where life has taken Taylor — from growing up in Detroit, attending George Washington, starting her own personal styling business, competing in the national pageant

circuit and, of course, making history as the first Black woman to win “Big Brother” — she has stayed true to who she is at her core and has never shied away from advocating for herself. And she credits having finetuned that life skill while in Iota Iota.

“I would not have been a core member of Iota Iota if I didn’t advocate for myself and carve my own path with the way I was involved in the chapter,” Taylor recalled. “And that’s some of the best advice I can give young women in Alpha Phi — advocate for yourself. Be engaged and active in the organization. Remember that you joined the Fraternity for a reason, and this organization is not you. You are the organization. And it’s your responsibility to show up and make the chapter what you want it to be.”

And as Taylor explained, this is something members can take with them beyond college and apply throughout their lives.

“I love the quote, ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’ because it’s true,” Taylor said. “It’s up to you and you absolutely have the power and capabilities within yourself to make that kind of impact. It always comes down to that.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MISS USA; CBS/BIG BROTHER

DELTA GAMMA-NORTHERN COLORADO

Alumna Delivers Powerful TEDx on Gender Bias

Alpha Phi delivers TEDx on Washington DC Stage on uncovering bias in gender and women's sexuality, with a strong call to action to stop judging women’s' bodies or equating intellect, virtue and worth with your perception of their chastity.

HAVE YOU EVER WORRIED THAT YOU LOOKED EITHER “TOO sexy” or “not sexy enough?” You are not being superficial if you have–you are being honest. Gender stereotyping regarding a woman’s sexuality and self-expression impacts her presence, perceived trustworthiness and workplace opportunities. Beginning in childhood, girls are conditioned to manage other people’s perception of their sexuality, and this continues into adulthood. Covert sexism is so entrenched in our culture, language and beliefs that oftentimes we don’t even see it.

In her provocative and illuminating TEDx talk, corporate attorney turned life and leadership coach, Lora Cheadle (Delta GammaNorthern Colorado), challenges our outdated and harmful assumptions, and the behaviors that proceed from them, around women’s sexuality. She explains the time has come to overcome our discomfort with women’s sexuality and to normalize a full range of female selfexpression. With a mic-drop ending that will leave you equal-parts stunned and inspired, Lora provides a path forward that allows us to individually and collectively identify and acknowledge our judgments about women’s sexuality and avoid acting on them. As a lawyer, she has been discriminated against based on her perceived sexuality. After winning her first case ever, the judge saw fit to call her into his chambers and berate her for being too sexy and bold enough to win a case against an experienced, white, male attorney.

Have you ever worried that you looked either ‘too sexy’ or ‘not sexy enough?’

You are not being superficial if you have–you are being honest.

Xi-Toronto Celebrates 150 Years of Alpha Phi

The 150th Founders Day Celebration at the XiToronto Chapter House was organized by the Toronto and Area Alumnae Community organization. Attendees from Toronto, Wilfrid Laurier and Ottawa chapters were all in attendance for this event.

California Hosts Rho Alumnae for Small Reunion

In September 2022, Rho-Ohio State Alpha Phis met for a funfilled walk down memory lane in Newport Coast, California. Present was Christine Lingard

Lanoue (’69), Renee Trepanier

Hannebrink (’72), Bobbie Vanata (’69), Sally Greenlee Holterhoff (’70), Camille Smith (’70) and Maureen Martin Lane (’70). These members spent three days commiserating on their shared past and catching up on their present-day lives.

Theta Zeta Member Elected as County Judge

Kimberly Musselman, Theta Zeta-Florida Tech, has been elected as a Brevard County Judge in Brevard County, Florida.

Kimberly has worked in the court system for 30 years as an investigator, probation officer, judicial law clerk, prosecutor and assistant state attorney at the state attorney's office. She also has an esteemed history with Alpha Phi at Florida Tech where she served as a charter member of Theta Zeta, the Chapter Promotions Officer and Chapter President during the chapter's second year.

As an alumna, Kimberly remained active in Alpha Phi serving as the chapter advisor for Theta Zeta for 15 years. She also worked as a southeast regional volunteer in the roles of Human Resources Coordinator and Collegiate Chapter Administrator as well as an extension volunteer on regional initiatives.

Reflecting on her Alpha Phi experience, Kimberly said, " Being a member enriched my personal and professional development and created opportunities for me to become a better volunteer in my local community.”

THETA ZETA-FLORIDA TECH

Phi-nomenal Authors

BETA DELTA-UCLA

Julie Mayerson Brown

is a native Californian and contemporary women’s fiction author. She describes her current series of books, “Welcome to Clearwater,” as a cross between the television series “Gilmore Girls” and Hallmark movies. In them, you’ll find topics including family drama and secrets, romantic subplots, sister relationships, best friendships, and main characters who struggle to get their derailed lives back on track. Book No. 4 in the series, “The Everywhere Girl,” was released in fall 2022. In addition to novels, Julie has written essays, plays and even song lyrics. She can usually be found in a quiet corner of her local library working on her next book. Learn more at www.juliemayersonbrown.com.

OMICRONMISSOURI

Sally Howe Bayless recently published "Antiques, Artifacts & Alibis," the first book in the Dogwood Springs Cozy Mystery Series. It’s the story of a woman who’s in the process of rebuilding her life and finds a dead body in her new office the first day on the job. The series features a pet who will win your heart, friends who feel like family and a sweet small town. This is Bayless’ first mystery novel. She has previously published eight romance titles. Learn more at www.sallybayless.com.

ETA ALPHANEW HAMPSHIRE

Maureen Tacito PE, a civil engineer and author of the “Juno the Seashell” book series is donating all of the proceeds of her books (“Juno’s Island Adventure,” “Juno’s Merry Christmas,” “Juno’s Cape Cod Vacation,” and “Juno’s Day at Home”), Juno Sanibel Stickers, and Juno Captiva Stickers to F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva, Inc. for Hurricane Ian recovery efforts.

“Juno’s Island Adventure” tells the story of Juno the Seashell embarking on a magical trip around Florida’s Sanibel and Captiva Islands. As a resident of beautiful Sanibel Island and avid sheller, these destinations hold a special place in the author’s heart. Learn more at thejunobooks.godaddysites.com.

IOTA BETA AND KAPPA KAPPA

Three Generations of Alpha Phi

A daughter, mother and grandmother recently celebrated the initiation of the youngest member of their trio in the Alpha Phi Fraternity.

Lyndsay Varenhorst (far left) was initiated into the Fraternity in late October 2022. Her mother, Joanna Kelley Varenhorst (middle), and grandmother, Mary Kelley (far right), were initiated together 25 years ago at the Iota Beta chapter installation in spring 1997. Mary was initiated into Iota Beta as an alumna, and Joanna was a charter member of the same chapter at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. Lyndsay is currently a member of the Kappa Kappa chapter at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas.

“Being an Alpha Phi means that not only are me mothers and daughters, but we are also sisters,” Joanna Kelley Varenhorst said. “It meant so much to my mother and I to be present at Lyndsay’s initiation and to share the special traditions with her. She did not know that we would be there,

Wedding Bells

DELTA EPSILON-IOWA

Amanda (Lee) Williamsen married Corey Williamsen on July 17, 2022. She is the current Chapter Advisor for Delta Epsilon.

Two of her Alpha Phi sisters stood by her side when she was married. Amanda (Gomberg) Kraus was her matron of honor, and Caitlin (Alden) Stark was a bridesmaid. She also had several more of her Alpha Phi sisters in attendance at her wedding, including Megan Dennis, Christine (Carlson) Cederoth, Natalie Davis and Stephanie Scholl. Congratulations, Amanda!

ZETA-SIGMAFRANKLIN & MARSHALL

Cori Kaylor married Mike Stethem on September 3, 2022, at Arlington Hall in Dallas, Texas. The couple first met in the fall of 2018 during the first year of their MBA program at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill.

In addition to Elizabeth Brotman Daniel (Zeta Omicron–Johns Hopkins), seven Zeta Sigma sisters were in attendance: Rachel Haimowitz, Tanya (Krieger) Levine, Michelle Dembo, Daisy Hand, Juliet Gore, Triana Brown and Hannah Mead. Congratulations, Cori!

GAMMA PHI-FLORIDA STATE

Selavi Patel Grimes recently celebrated her marriage to Cord Grimes with a Hindu/Christian wedding in March 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Pictured here is Selavi, her husband and her Alpha Phi sisters, many of whom were the founding sisters of the Gamma Phi chapter. It had been nearly 10 years since many of these women graduated, but they were still able to make time for each other and Selavi on her special day. Congratulations, Selvi!

EPSILON BETA-BUTLER

Epsilon Beta-Butler Alumnae Host Reunion Party

The Alpha Phi Epsilon Beta alumnae chapter from Butler University recently celebrated in a big way with a reunion.

At this event, everyone received a custom t-shirt that featured an image of the chapter house on Butler’s campus. The members also completed a service project in which they packed hygiene bags for a local charity that offers mobile medical clinics for homeless women.

Additionally, there was a Go Red Dinner with a focus on heart health, a donation was made to the Butler chapter from the reunion for $3,430, and charter members for Epsilon Beta (1967) were honored with 50-year certificates. 

Silent Chapter

Akron (Eta Gamma)

Connie Collings ('86)

Alabama (Beta Mu)

Laken Boone ('13)

Mary Jones Dunkin ('57)

Lianna Lamanna

Edith Hammond Libson Hardy ('52)

Arizona (Beta Epsilon)

Judith Drew Amsbaugh ('53)

Natalie Fuldner Beck ('54)

Julia Burgess Lundell ('53)

Diana Smith O'Dowd ('61)

Alison Reichle ('67; also Delta Tau–LSU)

Nancy Stanford ('56)

Boston (Eta)

Muriel Gebler Sweeney ('54)

Bowling Green (Beta Omicron)

Ruthanna Fridley Allion ('46) *

Meghan Davis ('77)

Phyllis Kerstetter Shrank ('47)

Cal Poly (Epsilon Chi)

Mary O'Hern ('75)

Colorado (Beta Gamma)

Zoe Kelly ('17)

Gale Martin Waddell ('43)

Colorado College (Gamma Theta)

Anne Lungren Wunsch ('57)

Cornell (Delta)

Jane Rippe Eckhardt ('52)

CSU Long Beach (Gamma Kappa)

Nancy Callan Mauger ('59)

CSU San Bernardino (Eta Beta)

Molly Thompson ('16)

Denison (Beta Kappa)

Sally Hagenbuch Demartini ('68)

Mary Congleton Erf ('50)

Carol Anderson Griffin ('66)

Martha Knight ('58)

Jane McCormick ('44)

Marjorie Crangle McFarland, PhD ('46)

Jean Galloway Sauer ('43)

Jean Mather Seibel ('47)

Jean Wilson Stockfleth ('37)

Kathryn Moore Wallace ('43)

DePauw (Gamma)

Nancy Wittgen Burks DeVoe ('43)

Lois Reedy Heald ('46)

Evelyn Wood McCreary ('46)

Judith Neighbors McSwine ('55)

Lois Smisek Owen ('53)

Ellen Weathers Stevens ('46)

Willene Heaps Wiedman ('46)

Drake (Gamma Omicron)

Mary Mead ('59)

Drury (Gamma Gamma)

Mary Jelinek Moss ('57)

Duke (Beta Nu)

Ann Davis Butler ('50)

Mary Ramseur Carpenter ('52)

Janet Brokenshire Ross ('50)

East Carolina (Delta Alpha)

Judith Roberts Williams ('69)

Florida State (Gamma Phi)

Kathleen Reidy Olsen ('63)

Georgia State (Gamma Mu)

Charlotte Williams Brayton ('59)

Idaho (Beta Zeta)

Bernice Bakes Felt ('45)

Kaylee Goncalves ('19)

Judy Benson Roe ('70)

Indiana (Beta Tau)

Sarah Pyle Bratton ('57)

Jeanne List Kearney ('47)

Shirley Olsen Rood ('52)

Indiana U. of Pennsylvania (Delta Phi)

Eileen Zug Bugosh ('65)

Iowa (Delta Epsilon)

Cari Bauman BaumanReid ('92)

Kansas (Gamma Delta)

Joanne Banks Coffeen ('51)

Kent State (Beta Omega)

Ceatta Osako Mickey ('54)

Shirley Baker Smith ('48)

Lisa Felt Tober ('88)

Wanda Gisinger Washburn ('48) *

Manitoba (Beta Eta)

Marion Graham Magee ('46)

Miami University (Gamma Nu)

Jean Cameron Hahm ('65)

Michigan (Theta)

Anita Kalmar Duvall ('51)

Minnesota (Epsilon)

Barbara Peterson Carriger ('67)

Melinda Wayne Seeger ('61)

Mary Sundberg Wehmann ('51; also Beta Gamma–Colorado)

Missouri (Omicron)

Reba Nelson Cassin ('47)

Ruby Gattermeir Moss ('49)

Montana (Chi)

Janice James Ellefson ('53)

Ann Woods McDonald ('53)

Margaret Montague Mullen ('51)

MaryAnn Arras Porter ('56)

Nebraska (Nu)

Marilyn Parsons Cassling ('48)

Lois Hughes Dedrick ('46)

Susan Duranski Lutton ('74; also Delta Xi–Nebraska Kearney)

Nebraska Kearney (Delta Xi)

Dorothy Klein ('63) *

Kathy Knight ('72)

Christine Merritt Lauber ('82)

Jessica Mueller ('96)

Teri Osbon ('78)

Cynthia Sims Pille ('76)

Bonita Buckhammer Robinson ('63)

Beth Reier Shriver ('83)

Shari Watson Stonacek ('84)

Wilma Kennedy Stutheit ('71) *

Suzan Wilson ('76)

New Hampshire (Eta Alpha)

Rae Hoyt Chrane ('86) *

North Dakota (Pi)

Sandra Nelson McCabe ('59)

North Texas (Gamma Eta)

Virginia Young Anderson ('57)

Martha Fuller Turner ('60)

Nancy Stegall Williams ('62)

“This is goodnight, but not goodbye.” — “Linger”

Northern Colorado (Delta Gamma)

Judith Jones Buell ('64)

Northwestern (Beta)

Susan Anderson ('78)

Jane Henderson ('39)

Helen Wieder Hutchison ('43; also Beta Beta–Michigan State)

Margaret Riecker Thompson ('78)

Ohio State (Rho)

Carol Weber Deshler ('57)

Isabelle Sondles Gordon ('53)

Saundra Zehner Lawrence ('56)

Mary Kraft Meyer ('57)

Donna Ables Moore ('59)

Linda Lewis Price ('66)

Jeanne Adlard Slack ('69)

Mary Fox Thomas ('51)

Oklahoma (Phi)

Cora Huser Carter ('51)

Susan Carter ('77)

Oklahoma City (Delta Delta)

Mary Keefe Conwell ('69)

Ole Miss (Iota Omega)

Caroline Roth ('19)

Oregon (Tau)

Betty Derrah Couch ('50)

Oregon State (Beta Upsilon)

Anna McCall Neer ('53)

Puget Sound (Gamma Zeta)

Judith Johnson Kane ('66)

Roanoke (Delta Iota)

Jacqueline Pettit Burd ('63)

Sacramento State (Epsilon Gamma)

Jammie Shreive Shreve Antonini ('92)

San Jose State (Beta Psi)

Josephine Stapler Norton ('49)

Seton Hall (Eta Eta)

Steph Santora ('14)

South Dakota (Psi)

Kristin Anderson ('73)

Virginia Perman Bennett ('49)

Karen Schempp Harmelink ('57)

Gloria Duffy Raesly ('56)

Maxine Gordon Reed ('50)

Syracuse (Alpha)

Suzanne Bachman ('55)

Mary Latham Banzoff ('46)

Margaret Locker Poole ('72)

Texas (Omega)

Lillian Kopecky Curry ('44)

Christine Keene Farrell ('99)

Helen Barnett Green ('45)

Katherine Morgan Griffith ('47)

Mary Wilson Leach ('50)

Elaine Cundiff Phillips ('55)

Katherine Hughes Quigley ('51)

Lenora Going Rentfro ('43)

Janice Brown Reynolds ('58)

Bonnie Cron Ruble ('49)

Mary Woodruff Sheridan ('55)

Texas Tech (Gamma Iota)

Lisabeth Rabun Belinoski ('84)

Marni Knight Benson ('75)

Diana Smith Stafford ('56)

Dixie Acuff Taylor ('55)

UC Berkeley (Lambda)

Constance Herman Brooding ('47)

Elizabeth McGee Cookson ('41)

Mary Fadhl ('76)

UC Santa Barbara (Gamma Beta)

Faith Jackson Geoghegan ('56)

Karen Jensen Halualani ('72)

Elaine Strobel Linhoff ('50)

Geraldine Gray Turner ('50) *

UCLA (Beta Delta)

Phyllis Webster Dickson ('45; also Tau– Oregon)

Elizabeth Driver ('50)

Jeanette Bennett Phelps ('47)

USC (Beta Pi)

Claudia McGregor Bullock ('53)

Lynn Hansen Farmer ('75)

Dorothy Viner Hinton ('50)

Stacey Pawlowski ('89)

Amanda Reader ('21)

Utah (Beta Sigma)

Kathleen Boggs Boggs, PhD ('61)

Kay Nagel Shaffer ('58)

Washburn (Upsilon)

Betty Skoog Bomar ('47)

Sara Senne Hischke ('63)

Ann Woodbury Lusk ('46)

Patricia Patterson

Mahoney ('57)

Virginia Brobst Mason ('56)

Abigail Stiner ('16)

Shirley Wooten Weaver ('55)

Washington (Sigma)

Tracie Gallaher Denkers ('85)

Margaret Whyte Lynch ('52)

Jean Staley Morton ('53)

Valerie Henning Olson ('55)

Susan Reading Pozzi ('62)

Washington State (Beta Rho)

Glenice Lyon Jones ('50)

Bette Broomfield Phillips ('51)

West Virginia (Beta Iota)

Jill Stevens Brown ('62)

Susan Foulk Graves ('63)

Western University (Theta Eta)

Megan Wu ('17)

Wichita State (Gamma Xi)

Emelia Wolcott Gingrich ('59)

Wisconsin (Iota)

Eleanor Allan Ball ('54)

Joan McBain Bennett ('59; also Gamma–DePauw)

Bernice Mackin Burris ('51)

Rita DeHut Carver ('58)

Martha Murray McDonald ('60)

Wisconsin Stout (Gamma Sigma)

Marilyn Rassbach Lamers ('68)

Mary Tickler Nelson ('58)

* A lpha Lambda alumna initiate affiliated with the chapter listed.

Silent chapter notes may be submitted via alphaphi.org (keyword: silent chapter) or to quarterly@alphaphi.org. Please note the year of initiation is in parenthesis.

Let’s get gardening!

IF YOU’VE BEEN READING THE QUARTERLY

for a while, then you may remember Alpha Phi’s very own self-proclaimed Lorax, Holly Chichester-Morby (Eta Lambda-George Mason; at right). With quotes from the Dr. Seuss book on her LinkedIn page and an email address like “vtlorax” (the “vt” for Virginia Tech), there’s no denying that Holly believes in the power of plants and the importance of protecting them. Her resume is packed with experience in sustainability, landscape management, and horticulture, with her most recent position being the director of landscape and grounds at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Her passion for gardening and the outdoors is rooted in her childhood with days spent playing in the dirt and getting her hands dirty as a self-described “rough and tumble” kid. As she grew older and life became busier, she played in the dirt less and less, but never lost that passion. After graduating from George Mason University and dipping her toes in several career and hobby pools including magazine publishing, gun dog retriever training, waiting tables and automotive insurance claims, she reignited her passion for horticulture by enrolling in a Master Gardener course offered through the Virginia Cooperative Extension. From there, she went back to school to earn a certificate in landscape design from George Washington University. After earning this certificate, she went back to school full time to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture at Virginia Tech, where she as also a member of Pi Alpha Psi (aka the Horticulture Honor Society) and the vice president of the Horticulture Club. This was the foundation for what would become a career rich in horticulture and landscape design, eventually landing her at the University of Mary Washington as the director of landscape and grounds.

Outside of her professional life, Holly enjoys horticulture and gardening in her down time, as well. This being the winter issue and with spring right around the corner, we asked Holly some questions to better acquaint her with all of you and that we hope you find valuable in your own gardening endeavors, including how to prepare for springtime planting and yield a bountiful harvest.

What does a typical day look like in your life as a university landscape director?

The days of playing in the dirt daily are over! I cruise or walk the campus to check on a current project with the grounds crew or a subcontractor, chat with my facilities director or the grounds manager about tasks and issues, authorize payment of invoices or meet with our sustainability coordinator. Sometimes, I work with student clubs in the pollinator garden; but when I get a hankering, I still have the option of breaking away from the computer, grabbing a shovel or pruning saw and heading outside.

What advice would you give to home gardeners who are looking to convert their winter gardens to spring gardens?

Weather permitting, early spring is the most productive time to be in your garden. Winter is spent enjoying family and holidays, but it’s also the perfect time to plan your landscape and veggie garden.

Late winter and early spring give you the opportunity to finally stretch and expend all of that pent-up green thumb energy you’ve stored up over winter. If it’s still cold and snowy out, spend some time quietly wandering your property and making notes (mental or on paper) of things you need or want to do this spring. Do you want to try a raised bed, or do you want to add a few more? Do you want to till a plot and plant directly in the ground? Maybe it’s time to add some shade or flowering trees to your landscape? How about adding a collection of pollinator plants or a fun mailbox garden?

Once it warms up a little, grab your gloves and clean out and prepare your garden beds, but don’t be too thorough…being mindful that some beneficial insects left egg casings behind full of a new generation of free bad-bug control! (We can talk more about that later). It’s also an ideal time to repair hardscaping (patio pavers, fencing and teak benches, etc.), do a little tree pruning and plant moving and other “landskeeping” to start the growing season off right.

What should home gardeners do if they want to ensure optimal growth and yield?

Clean your tools! Most folks at least knock off the dirt when they put them away, but a good cleaning and sterilizing with rubbing alcohol will get off to a healthy start. Why? Because it will remove any remaining plant sap or dirt and debris that can hold bacteria or fungal spores — the sad, silent downfall of many a garden.

What are the best plants for a bountiful spring harvest?

While I’m predominantly an ornamental landscape horticulturist, I’m a “basic veggie” warrior! Tomatoes, peppers, most herbs … generally anything with which you can craft a rock star salsa. I try something new every year. This year it was sweet potatoes (E.g., Beauregard), a different variety heirloom tomato (E.g., Cherokee Chocolate) and hot pepper (E.g., Scotch Bonnet).

Should gardeners plant a variety of pollinator plants in addition to plants with edible yields?

Yes! When combined, certain species of plants protect each other by repelling pests, attracting pollinators and increasing plant productivity. There are some great companion plants that act as ‘bad bug repellers.’ Planting vegetables doesn’t always mean straight rows in a rectangular plot. Mix it up! Lavender, mint, bee balm, dill, geranium and marigolds are examples of classic and attractive plant choices to

naturally repel damaging insects.

Last year, I specifically planted sporadic basil plants in with my sweet potatoes and allowed them to go to flower, attracting a zillion different kinds of bees. I keep my actual kitchen garden separate because you typically pinch flowers to let the plant enhance herb flavor and keep them from getting bitter. However, when you are using them as a repellent and to attract pollinators, you must let them go to flower, and forsake them as a culinary herb.

For tomatoes, it’s about repelling insects (tomatoes are self-pollinating), and the classic companion plant is the marigold. I plant all different varieties and colors to brighten up the border of the raised tomato bed.

“For tomatoes, it’s about repelling insects (tomatoes are self-pollinating), and the classic companion plant is the marigold.”

What are your favorite plants, fruiting or otherwise, that you grow on your own property that you enjoy cultivating?

Having returned to Virginia, I live in Plant Hardiness Zone 7b now (https://planthardiness. ars.usda.gov). I miss my topicals from when I lived in Southeast Florida and can grow some of them seasonally, like elephant ears. My summer back yard is full of them! But now, I

faithfully dig them up and overwinter them in my basement. My sunroom is full of zone-defying plants in colder months.

Here in Virginia, I pepper my home landscape with interesting tree cultivars and pollinator-friendly perennials. On the UMW campus, we focus mostly on the health and canopy of our trees (including a 500+ year old white oak “Witness Tree,” the Brompton Oak). I respect and appreciate this stately sentinel — oh, the things it’s seen! Some of my all-time favorites include: cercis canadensis (aka the Flame Thrower’ redbud), asclepias tuberosa (aka butterfly weed), echinacea purpurea … really any cultivar! They are pollinator staples and provide long-lasting color in your landscape.

I’m also a sucker for hydrangeas and sasanqua camellias.

I’ve just begun my camellia collection at home, procuring seedlings from my dad’s hardy, mature

specimens. Eventually, I will work to bring them onto the UMW campus landscape, as well. Last year, I fell in love with hummingbirds and had several regular humming visitors to my feeder. This spring, I’ll plant some cuphea, aka ‘Hummingbird’s Lunch,’ to bring them all!

Some of my other favorite houseplants include: a Majesty palm, some dracaenas, a fiddlehead Fig and a few small red grapefruit tree experiments grown from seeds.

What plants would you recommend a first-time gardener start with?

That’s almost an impossible question to answer. A lot would depend on individual factors—what kind of landscape they already have, what kind of lifestyle they lead, if they have children or pets, or if they just wanted house plants! But I’d say that just having the desire to know a little bit more about the environment and exploring your green thumb is something you won’t regret. And sometimes it leads to a career and a lifelong passion.

What other hobbies do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I do love bees— it’s a natural extension of being involved in landscaping, the responsible stewardship of bees, and other pollinators. I dabble in beekeeping, I’ve helped rescue and regime a few bee hives, but it’s more of a commitment than I can take on personally. Hives are a significant responsibility, and I won’t do anything halfway.

I’m also an avid shotgunner, and I’m

a member of the Fredericksburg Rod and Gun Club. I shot competitively in college, and now my husband and I shoot in a seasonal Trap League. We also love boating, hiking with our dog (Julep) and downhill skiing.

What advice would you give to someone who is nervous to take up gardening?

Theres a well-known riddle, “What’s the difference between a master gardener and a rookie gardener? The master gardener has killed way more plants.” This couldn’t be more true. Mistakes are opportunities to learn and are usually easy to fix … or just start over! You will kill plants. No risk, no reward.

What are some of your favorite home gardening tools and products?

I’m particular about my pruning equipment. Clean cuts are critical! My Felco 2 bypass hand pruners are a staple, as are my Felco loppers. My Silky Zubat hand saw cuts through tree limbs up to 3” like butter. Don’t skimp on pruning tools! That said, you don’t necessarily need professional-sized tools, but buying quality is key.

“I do love bees — it’s a natural extension of being involved in landscaping, the responsible stewardship of bees, and other pollinators.”

Omicron Unveils Remodeled Chapter House at the University of Missouri

ESTABLISHED IN 1910 AND HAVING INHABITED its previous structure since 1922, OmicronMissouri has long been ready for a new residence. As of August 2022 — 100 years since the previous building first broke ground — residents now have a completely new chapter house to call home.

According to Liz Underwood Drouin (Omicron-Missouri, ’99), HCB VP of Development, the chapter had simply outgrown its old house and annex. Between these two previous properties, Omicron could house close to the number women needed, but there was no gathering space in the house to comfortably bring together all in-house women, let alone the full chapter, whose membership now hovers around 275.

“Without this ability, the sorority experience had evolved to be fundamentally different than that of previous generations,” Drouin said. “Chapter meetings, sisterhood events, moms and dads weekend events and even initiation had to happen in rented, much more public spaces in on and off-campus buildings.”

This issue wasn’t unique to Alpha Phi on the Mizzou campus, of course. Other chapters on campus naturally faced these same challenges of space within the chapter houses, and most have either completed full rebuilds

Key Features:

f A t otal of 40,000 square feet, including the basement and 3rd floor balcony. The old house and annex were just 17,000 square feet.

f Total sleeping capacity of 86 (10 more than the previous house and annex). Includes:

f 2 6 Bedrooms that sleep three women each.

f Two executive suites that sleep four women each — including a private bath.

f E levator to all four floors. (The old house did not have an elevator and therefore not ADA complain.

f F ive designated study rooms spread across the main level, second and third floors.

f Ma in floor kitchen and 24/7 cafe, both of which were previously, in the basement.

f M ain floor dining can seat 186 for dinner, and it can accommodate 300+ without tables for chapter meetings and other events.

f L aundry rooms on the 2nd the 3rd floors for easy access from the bedrooms.

f H ouse Director suite.

f S torage closet for all table and chairs.

f D esignated mailroom, merchandise closet and data room.

f T he Grand Hall Staircase featured very heavy, custom metal “Alpha Phi” railings; each piece weighed over 1,000 lbs.

f T he third floor features a balcony and sundeck called “Phi Beach.”

f S tate-of-the-art security with cameras on all points of entry to the house.

f 3 8 parking spaces, including two ADA and six staff spots.

or major expansions and renovations within the last 10 years or so.

“Not only did we need a new building to allow our sisterhood to flourish, but we had to do something to remain competitive at Mizzou,” Drouin said.

Despite supply chain issues and delays due to COVID-19, the entre rebuild was completed within just 14 months.

“We broke ground by tearing down the old house in June 2021, and the new home was given its occupancy permit on August 5, 2022 — one day before the women moved into the house to start Polish Week activities,” Drouin said.

Drouin pointed out that it’s important to note that building the house and getting the women moved into it in time for recruitment this past fall was of utmost importance.

“That was Phase 1 of this enormous project,” Drouin said. “We are now in the thick of Phase 2, which includes continuing to furnish and decorate the house, planning for the basement and figuring out how to operate a home that is nearly three times as large as the old house.”

As an example of Phase 2, Omicron is working with Julie Walberg Riggin, a professional designer based out of Colorado Springs and an '01 Omicron alumna. She is donating her services to further develop the interior design and source furnishings that will continue to bring warmth and a modern touch to our new home.

“We recognized that finishing the basement as part of Phase 2 has a clear silver-lining,” Drouin said. “Not only can we fine tune the plans after

“Not only did we need a new building to allow our sisterhood to flourish, but we had to do something to remain competitive at Mizzou.”

The Basement

This feature of the house remains unfinished, but future plans for this space include the following amenities:

f G uest bedroom and bathroom

f E xecutive Council office

f Stu dy rooms

f Cr aft room

f C offee bar

f E xercise room

f Ch apter meeting room with a stage

f S torage for Ritual equipment

f Gue st bathrooms

“As thrilled as we are about how the house is being used, we are really looking forward to finishing the basement as we have additional, delineated spaces, such as the chapter room, crafts rooms, executive office, and workout room,” Drouin said. “There is no doubt that everyone is looking forward to a coffee and a lounge space down there, as well.”

witnessing how the students use the current space, but we can take their direct input to affect the design and space plan.”

Drouin describes this experience with Omicron’s chapter house rebuild from the ground up as “surreal, yet inevitable.”

“For decades, the volunteer leadership of HCB and the chapter have had this dream of a new or totally remodeled house as our North Star,” Drouin said. “That dream is now a reality.”

This project was funded by three sources — Hawthorn Bank (local Columbia bank), the Alpha Phi and through the generous donations of Omicrons and our friends. And

without the latter, this project simply wasn’t possible, according to Drouin.

“For decades, we have understood the importance of buildi ng relationships with our alumnae, as we knew we’d have to call upon them in a big way one day,” Drouin said. “The day finally came, and boy did they come through! To date, we have raised nearly $1.7 million, surpassing our goal of $1.5 million. And the campaign is not over.”

The event that made the new home possible, though, was the adjacent property to the old house going up for sale. Within 24 hours of the property going on the market, HCB made an offer, and it was accepted, breaking the “land lock” that Omicron was in and making a new, larger home possible.

It’s no secret that alumnae like Drouin are thrilled with the remodel, but how do collegians feel about their new digs? According to Drouin, they love it.

“The big, open, modern spaces, the sun deck, the space to do crafts and gather with their sisters … they love it all,” Drouin said. “The main floor really has become the hub of all chapter activity, and the chapter is using the spaces as we envisioned. The main floor is being used for everything — to study, eat, socialize, have friends over and more.

The second and third floor study rooms are more private and have been widely used for study groups. The Executive team has their meetings in those spaces, as well. Additionally, the chapter no longer has to go out to the library to study or rent space for meetings.

“We built it, and they came to use it just like we thought they would,” Drouin said.

In addition to Drouin, the architects and construction teams, additional key players in this rebuild of the Omicron house include: Amy Jordan Tvrdik (the current HCB President), Valerie Lawlor (Campaign tri-chair and long time — unofficial — alumnae relations strategist), Cherie Stephens Bock (the most recent past HCB President). Nancy Niemann Magee (the Rebuild Project Manager), Mary Jo Williams Hippe and Cathy McCrady Heinsohn (other tri-chairs of the campaign).

Congratulations to everyone involved in this project and the Omicron chapter on this beautiful chapter house remodel!

“For decades, we have understood the importance of building relationships with our alumnae, as we knew we’d have to call upon them in a big way one day.”

Beta Omega Polishes Up on Recruitment Techniques and Welcomes New Members

Kent State University’s Beta Omega chapter hosted our Spirit Week to prepare for Formal Recruitment from August 15th to August 19th. Members practiced recruiting, held chapter bonding activities, had a cupcake truck come to the house, painted tote bags together, had a chapter picnic and made beaded bracelets and necklaces. The chapter is ready to take on fall recruitment and feeling closer and more tightly knit than ever before. Additionally, Beta Omega welcomed 25 new members at its 2022 Bid Day. Themed "Alpha Phi Takes Malibu", the Alpha Phi house was decorated fit for a Malibu Barbie Beach Party. Complete with palm trees, daisies, kiddie pools, inflatables, a DJ and a snow cone truck, our new members were celebrated all day! They were so happy to be home and we can't wait to see how they grow in our chapter.

Iota Psi Celebrates Successful Recruitment

The 2022 fall recruitment season was a success for Iota Psi. Although the University of North Florida's Panhellenic changed the recruitment process from a 4-day process to a 3-day one, they were able to increase its priority by four percent and meet quota. The chapter was thrilled to welcome so many amazing new members into the Alpha Phi sisterhood.

In the spirit of strengthening sisterhood, Iota Psi has also planned several fun events for their chapter, including a pickle-making event where girls learned how to make pickles from scratch. We had a great turnout and the girls had so much fun,” recalled Marla Saikali. “They were even sharing their recipes and taking pictures to show off their homemade pickles.”

BETA OMEGA-KENT STATE

IOTA PSI-NORTH FLORIDA

Beta Omega Member Wins Student Government Election

Juliana Buonaiuto (Beta Omega-Kent State), new member class 2020, recently won a threeway student government election. Juliana is a junior marketing major and the Vice President of Marketing for the Beta Omega Chapter. Outside of her work in Alpha Phi, she was elected as the Senator for the Ambassador Crawford College of Business & Entrepreneurship her first year at Kent State University and served as an Orientation Leader during the summer of 2022. In spring 2022, she participated in the Undergraduate Student Government elections once again, running to be elected as the Director of Communication and Marketing. With two opponents in her race, she worked incredibly hard to campaign and with the support of her chapter and the Panhellenic Community at Kent State, she won by 180 votes.

Theta Eta Makes Movie Debut

Marlowe Zimmerman (Theta EtaWestern University; @marlowe.zim) has made her debut onto television screens everywhere in the Lifetime TV film “The Bad Seed Returns” starring Hollywood actress, Mckenna Grace. The film premiered on Lifetime TV on Monday, September 5, 2022.

Omicron Sister Completes Firefighter Training

Brayden Dodds (Omicron-Missouri) recently graduated from the Boone County Fire Protection District’s Recruit Firefighter/ EMT Training Academy. She has been assigned to Station 1, Lake of the Woods. Congratulations, Brayden!

BETA OMEGA-KENT STATE

OMICRON-MISSOURI

THETA ETA-WESTERN UNIVERSITY

Alpha

Phifa Scores

Beta Omega recently hosted its second annual Alpha Phifa soccer tournament and raised over $2,100 for the Alpha Phi Foundation. Both sororities and fraternities were invited to participate. Out of the 12 teams from the Panhellenic and the Interfraternity community who entered the tournament, the winners were Sigma Phi Epsilon in the Fraternity category and Delta Gamma in the Sorority category.

Eta Theta Wins United Greek Council Award

San Francisco State University's Greek Life operates under the United Greek Council. The United Greek Council oversees all Greek Lettered Organizations and Councils. The United Greek Council hosts an annual Greek Banquet to celebrate the achievements of Greek Life for the past school year. United Greek Council gave the Eta Theta an award for Chapter Management Excellence in recognition of the 2021-2022 school year. Pictured here are some of Executive Board. From left to right: Lauren Sabio (VP HWA), Grace Romeu (President) and Bella Martinez-Bernal (VP DEI).

BETA OMEGAKENT STATE

What is your earliest memory of Alpha Phi?

“Sitting in the dorm and being asked if we wanted to start a sorority [when there were] none on campus — Alpha class at Cal Poly […] A roomie’s twin was an Alpha Phi at Long Beach .. and so started [Alpha Phi at] Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo!”

— C hristie Silsbee Poor (Epsilon Chi-Cal Poly)

“When my parents said that I could move to campus because I was joining Alpha Phi! Completely changed my college experience and gave me lifetime friends and sisters.”

— Tricia Lee McNabb-Lanzino (Beta Psi-San Jose State)

“As a high school student at Bishop Grimes [in Syracuse, New York], my friend had joined Alpha Phi and asked me to come visit when I did my school visit at Syracuse. I knew then and there that’s where I wanted to be!”

— M aria Argiro Miller (Alpha-Syracuse)

“Bid Day 1986; me and my first Big Sis, Tonia.”

“My soon-to-be pledge sisters visited me in my dorm room at ECU just days after I’d met my first Phi. Three of them lived in my dorm. After almost 50 years, I still love it when they visit! Alpha phi sisters are forever friends.”

— Patty Hile Yewcic (Delta Alpha-ECU)

“My mother (Jane Bradley Wood) is an Alpha Phi, and I can remember [when I was] a young girl she was active in her alumnae chapter in the NW suburbs of Chicago in the ‘70s. Every year in February, we would help her poke holes in the lids of coffee cans and stuff them with heart suckers that she took to local businesses in town and sold for donations to the American Heart Association. My sister (Alisa Bradley Smith) and I both ended up pledging Alpha Phi years later at Iowa.”

— A nn Bradley Tripp (Delta Epsilon-Iowa)

“Meeting my best friend on Bid Day!”

— K aitlyn Shaughnessy (Zeta Omicron -Johns Hopkins)

Answer our next question by following Alpha Phi on Facebook at @AlphaPhi and Instagram at @alphaphiintl!

— K ris Blasig Grzywa (Delta XiNebraska Kearney) (left)

Dashing Through the Snow

In this vintage photograph taken in 1894, four Beta chapter members (Northwestern University) are bundled up in their finest winter hats, petticoats and fur scarfs while sitting in a horse-drawn carriage for a leisurely sleigh ride down Chicago Avenue, just north of Davis Street, in Chicago, Illinois.

Pictured from left to right (back seat) are Winifred Smith Harries, Ethel Grey Scott, (front seat) Eleanor Reeves Weir and Flay Smith.

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