5 minute read
Game Day Traditions
Game Day Traditions
College game days are full of excitement, fellowship and celebrations. For Pi Phis across North America, these events present an opportunity to showcase school pride while fostering a sense of community within their sisterhood. For so many chapters, it’s not just their enthusiasm for the game, but the unique role their chapter facilities play in hosting unforgettable game day festivities. On game day, chapter facilities transform into epicenters of joy and camaraderie, becoming the heart of alumnae gatherings, Family Weekends and other cherished events. Below, several chapter leaders share how they create memorable experiences to make everyone—from collegians to family and alumnae— feel right at home.
OHIO BETA ANNA LANHAM, DIRECTOR HOUSING
A favorite game day tradition at the Ohio Beta Chapter facility is when everyone in the house gets ready together and plays music in the hallways before football games. It’s such a special bonding experience the way we share clothes and makeup and help do each other’s hair. The night before game days, members gather downstairs before heading to bed early and eagerly awaiting a fun day ahead of us!
Parents Weekend typically falls on a game day weekend, allowing members to invite their parents, caregivers and alumnae to the house to receive a tour, enjoy brunch and take pictures. To make the chapter home warm and inviting, the banner committee designs a banner to hang by the porch and welcome guests inside. Showing families and alumnae how much pride is taken in cheering on The Ohio State University is an amazing feeling.
ALABAMA BETA BROOKE MAYOR, CHAPTER PRESIDENT
A cherished tradition for Alabama Beta is opening our home to guests during game day weekends. For every football game, we extend an invitation to alumnae via our chapter's Facebook page, and upon arrival, they can visit the "Alum-Table" to receive game day pins and Alabama shakers. One standout event we host is Breakfast for Champions, which consistently draws a large turnout of friends, family, alumnae, staff and students. In Fall 2023, we proudly raised more than $90,000 for the Literacy Fund, enabling us to fund two local impact grants in our community.
By hosting these game day events and welcoming all who wish to attend, we strengthen the connection between Pi Phi and the broader community. Breakfast for Champions is especially meaningful as it showcases our dedication to literacy and our commitment to making a local impact. This event not only strengthens our bond with the community but also emphasizes the values that drive our sisterhood.
MISSISSIPPI GAMMA JULIA WEEDEN, VICE PRESIDENT MEMBER EXPERIENCE
At Mississippi Gamma, our favorite game day tradition is our annual Family Weekend. The joy of welcoming and meeting each other’s families is such a sweet, full-circle moment. Having an event where the house is open to our families is so special because they can see the place that has shaped and molded us.
In Spring 2024, our Family Weekend spanned two days instead of one and included lots of fun new ideas to welcome our visitors. All weekend long, we had a raffle for Mississippi State University’s Super Bulldog Weekend tickets and the money directly benefited Read > Lead > Achieve®. That Saturday morning, we hosted a lunch buffet at the chapter facility before attending the baseball series in the afternoon, and later that night we had a basketball watch party with ice cream!
INDIANA GAMMA CASEY HOFMANN, VICE PRESIDENT COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Members of Indiana Gamma like to offer house tours to Pi Phi alumnae every fall on the day of our homecoming football game. Many Butler University graduates are on campus at this time, and we love welcoming alumnae to revisit the facility, especially with the new addition that was finished in 2021.
Our house is more than just a building—it connects us and holds important memories we've made during our collegiate years. We're proud of the place we call home and hope to remind alumnae of the pride they felt when they lived here.
WISCONSIN DELTA ISABELLE FELBER, VICE PRESIDENT COMMUNITY RELATIONS
One of the many special game day traditions for students at Marquette University (MU) is National Marquette Day. This is a campus tradition originally known as “Spirit Day,” which dates back to the 1960s, but officially became National Marquette Day in 1992. The celebration takes place during basketball season in February and brings the community together by honoring university values and spirit. Milwaukee is filled with alumni and members of the MU community as they celebrate their values of excellence, leadership, faith and service.
Wisconsin Delta sisters gather at our chapter facility to share food before the game and get ready together. I love MU basketball because it’s a fun way for our students to come together and have school spirit, and being with my sisters on gamedays brings us that much closer together!
