Oklahoma Beta Celebrates Centennial

There’s nothing better than reuniting with friends known for so many years in the place where it all began. This year, Oklahoma Betas celebrated 100 years with more than 1,000 alumnae and collegians, ranging in age from 18 to 94. The celebratory event occurred March 29–30 on the Oklahoma State University (OSU) campus in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Sisters of the San Juan, Colorado, Alumnae Club — and the Oklahoma Beta pledge class of 1981 — pose at the brunch with Oklahoma State University’s mascot, Pistol Pete.

Alumnae gathered by New Member classes and reminisced about the friendships, skits, songs and good times of their collegiate days. The event took more than two years to plan and was coordinated by Oklahoma Beta COLETTE DENNEY BUXTON. “This centennial event is something we’ve been looking forward to for a very long time,” Colette said. “It’s an event that you only get to experience once in a lifetime, and everyone who came got to be a part of history for our chapter.”

Stillwater was filled with Oklahoma Betas from eight different decades, some reuniting with sisters they hadn’t seen since graduation. There were New Member Class reunions on Friday night and a brunch on Saturday, followed by a tour of the chapter house and the campus. Later that day, alumnae and collegians gathered for Ring Ching Retrospect: 100 Years of Oklahoma Beta, a history walk featuring hundreds of memorabilia items dating back to 1912 that were displayed by decade.

Memorabilia at the Ring Ching Retrospect: 100 Years of Oklahoma Beta exhibit.

The evening was capped off with a banquet showcasing a centennial choir, Golden Arrow Ceremony and remarks from Oklahoma Beta Chapter President EMMA MARITZ, Grand President PAULA PACE SHEPHERD, Texas Epsilon, Foundation Executive Director HALLEE WINNIE, Michigan Gamma, and Past Grand President MARY LOY TATUM, Oklahoma Beta. The banquet room was filled with wine carnations, Pi Phi decorations and arrow cookies.

Throughout the weekend, Pi Phi chants and songs could be heard up and down the campus streets, many stories were shared and fun was had by all. It was a wonderful and exciting weekend for Oklahoma Betas that will never be forgotten.