Kappa Delta - Gamma Upsilon

Nautilus News Making great things happen at A&M-Commerce

Summer/Fall, 2014

From the President Gamma Upsilon had an amazing 2013-2014 year. I’m truly proud to say that our chapter has come out on top in all aspects of chapter excellence, as you’ll see throughout this newsletter.

Yet I believe our best days are still ahead of us because we’ve learned to work together and to work for the greater good as you did before us.

The women of Gamma Upsilon—including you, our alumnae—are an inspiration, and I’m so proud to be part of this great sisterhood.

AOT, Taelor Duckworth Chapter President

Keep up with Gamma Upsilon through social media. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

What’s Inside

Chapter News

Alumnae Action

In Memoriam

Get the specifics about Gamma Upsilon’s success

in 2013-2014

Hear how alumnae are making great things happen

after college

Remembering sister

Brittney Stevens

Stay Connected

Save the Date Important upcoming dates

Sister Sound off

Why KDs became KDs

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Chapter News

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Recruitment

This past year brought two groups of amazing girls into our chapter. We welcomed 13 new members in the fall and 9 new members this spring. Additionally, Fall 2014 recruitment just wrapped up, resulting in 14 more new members

for Kappa Delta! We are delighted to call each of these amazing women sisters in Kappa Delta.

How KD came out on top in 2014

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Academics

Kappa Delta excelled in many ways this year, but one of the distinctions we’re most proud of is our academic excellence. Our chapter had the highest GPA among Panhellenic sororities for both the Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 semesters.

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Intramurals

We had fun playing flag football, dodge ball, basketball, volleyball, and softball against fellow Greeks in other sororities this year. This past spring semester, we took home the intramural softball championship!

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At Greek Awards this past semester, we proved what hard work and dedication could accomplish.

Julia Gessner (Treasurer) was awarded Outstanding New Member, Courtney Fleming (VP-Standards and Panhellenic President) was awarded Distinguished Sorority Leader, and

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Tracey Wolfe was the NPC Advisor Of The Year.

In addition to individual awards, Gamma Upsilon received several chapter awards including: Outstanding New Member Education, Chapter Program Of The Year, and Chapter Of The Year!

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Greek Awards

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1

Sing Song

One of the best parts about being a

Kappa Delta is opportunity to give

back. Last November, we held our

annual Shamrock event, Sing Song.

As always, this is an event held to

raise awareness and funds for

Prevent Child Abuse America.

This year, we chose the theme

Billboard Top Hits. Many

individuals and organizations came

out and participated to support the

cause and Kappa Delta.

There were over 300 people in

attendance, and we raised over

$4,000 for PCAA!

Midnight Munchies

We held our traditional Midnight

Munchies events during Dead

Week to help raise funds for our

philanthropies. As always, we

provided a variety of treats to help

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students make it through the week

before finals such as tacos, chicken

sandwiches, cheeseburgers,

chicken nuggets, pizza, and

more.

We had over 200 people

attend and raised around $600

this past semester.

Other Partnerships

This spring, Kappa Delta

continued to give back by

partnering with other organizations.

In February, local Girl Scouts

came to the Kappa Delta house to

see what it means to be a true

Kappa Delta. Each of the girls sat

down with a sister to learn about

how we give back to the

community and see how wonderful

the bonds of sisterhood truly are.

We also teamed up with our sister

sorority, Gamma Phi Beta, to help

raise donations for Relay For Life.

Kappa Delta Gives Back

Success didn’t just come in the classroom, on the intramural field, or even among our Greek peers. The issue closest to our hearts

is giving back to others through philanthropy … and 2014 was a banner

year for that as well.

This year, GU raised funds and awareness for

philanthropic causes through Sing Song,

Midnight Munchies, meeting with the Girl Scouts, and partnering with Gamma Phi Beta

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Kappa Deltas are an active part of

the campus community. We have members who are in Order of Omega, Alpha Chi, Sigma Alpha Pi, the Honors College and the Regents Scholars Program, as well as other campus organizations.

Additionally, we have sisters working diligently in offices across campus. Here are a just a few sisters who are making their mark …

Bethany Davidson is TAMU-C’s very own Lucky the Lion! Bethany

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was chosen as the school’s mascot at the beginning of the Fall 2013 semester. She does a great job of getting the crowd pumped up to cheer on the TAMU-C sports teams!

Courtney Fleming is the new Panhellenic Council President! She was elected this past spring semester, and she is already doing great things for sorority life. She is currently working with Spencer Hudec, the coordinator for fraternity and sorority life, to help

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prepare each sorority for recruitment this fall.

Reagan Reed will be studying abroad in Europe this next semester! She will be going with the Village Program, which is an honors-based study that chooses 40 students from America to take part in the program. She will be gone for the entire fall semester to learn French, study French literature, and participate in a European history lecture.

Kay Dees on Campus

Alumnae Action

Sydni Walker was chosen among hundreds of applicants for a public relations internship at Southwest Airlines. She was chosen based on her “Warrior Spirit, Servant’s Heart, and Fun-Loving Attitude”, which means that Sydni has a great GPA, is involved in extracurricular activities, gives back to others, and is an energetic team player. This internship helped Sydni land a full-time position with Southwest Airlines.

Hannah Black graduated in May

and has accepted a teaching and coaching position at Faubion Middle School in McKinney, TX. She will be teaching 7th grade math and coaching basketball, volleyball, and track.

Linzy McManus Garrett gave birth to twins Makenzie Kay and Parker Cole Garrett on June 11, 2014.

Trysta Horton moved to Richardson, TX, from Texarkana,

TX, last summer, and took a position at the University of Texas-Dallas as an Accountant. She was also recently invited to sing with The Contemporary Chorale, which is a local adult choir that has been around for almost 60 years, for the coming 2014-2015 season.

Jackie Mahan Walters welcomed baby Logan on January 15, 2014.

Aimee Gheen Bartis recently relocated to Sunnyvale, TX.

Emily Glass gave birth to a son, Grant

Wilder Glass, on October 27, 2013. Emily also serves on the Sulphur Springs City Council.

Kayla Price serves as a member of the Sulphur Springs City Council.

Sara Heiss recently started working at

Carrington Title Services in Plano, TX. According to upper management, Sara is already making a difference in the work place.

Amanda Rios got engaged and will be married in October of this year to Christian Webb, an initiate of Kappa Alpha Order at Texas A&M-Commerce.

Christina Steel recently started a new job at Farmers Insurance in San Antonio as a Liability Claims Adjuster. She helps people with their claims after being injured in a car accident.

Jennifer Carroll Holton celebrated her 10th wedding anniversary this year.

Katie Boyd celebrates 5 years of marriage this year, as well as a recent promotion to Marketing Communications Manager at East-West Ministries in Plano.

Stephanie Peebles Fiorisi welcomed daughter Callie Ann Fiorisi on February 17, 2014.

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Remembering Britney Stevens Save the Date Initiation

Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 7PM

All Alumnae are welcome. Be sure to wear the proper attire as we welcome our newest Kappa Delta sisters into our sisterhood.

Homecoming

Saturday, November 1, 2014

All Alumnae are welcome to support the chapter at the Homecoming Parade, Tailgate Party, and Lucky Lion Football game.

Sing Song

Thursday, November 20, 2014

All Alumnae are welcome. Join us to support Prevent Child Abuse America in our Annual Shamrock event.

On January 5, 2014, Kappa Delta lost an amazing sister. Britney Stevens was born on May 10, 1992, and graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business management in December of 2013. Sisters of the Gamma Upsilon chapter remember Britney as an amazing person with a big heart and a smile that would light up a room.

She was beautiful inside and out and a great example of what a Kappa Delta should strive to be. She will forever be loved and missed. Please keep her sisters, friends, and family in your prayers, as they still cope with her passing. Britney was more than a friend, she was a sister, and she will always have a special place in our hearts.

Why I Chose KD

“I joined KD because I wanted to be in an organization committed to building confidence in women.” –Julie Gessner

“I joined Kappa Delta, because I was new to Commerce, and I was looking for a home away from home. I walked into the house during Formal Recruitment, and I felt comfortable around everyone. I didn’t have to impress anyone by being someone I wasn’t. I was accepted for being myself.” –Kaitlyn Jones

“I joined Kappa Delta because I did not have any friends after transferring to Commerce and was looking for a place to fit in. After meeting everyone on that first night, I knew I had to come back, because I felt like I belonged there.” –Katie Marrow

“I joined Kappa Delta because I wanted to be a part of something amazing. My sister was a Kappa Delta and she gained so many lifelong friends and make so many great memories.” –Shelby Vandeventer

“I joined KD because I wanted to find a group of people that could make my college experience memorable.” –Diana Pena

Find us on Facebook or Twitter and tell us why YOU joined KD!