Steadfast Alumna Citation

This award is presented annually to one alumna in recognition of steadfast loyalty and love through 25 years or more of service as an alumna. This service may be exclusively on the local level or as a national volunteer or both.

Bobbi Walker Smith, Alpha Epsilon, Denver

Initially presented at the 1962 convention, the Steadfast Alumna citation honors an alumna whose exemplary loyalty and commitment to the sorority, for so many years, merits special recognition. Her nominator writes, “Bobbi has been a Steadfast Tri Sigma since her initiation and continues to be the woman of character all of us try to emulate. As a young alumna Bobbi resided in many parts of the country, eager to pass on the Tri Sigma values she lived every day by reaching out to members, connecting with them, perpetuating friendship and making her community stronger. She continues to share her passion by working with the collegians of Eta Pi, inspiring the young women by example to pass on the vision by developing rapport and become empowered by taking risks. She gives of herself entirely in every endeavor but remains humble in her accomplishments, consistently doing more than expected.”

In celebration of Pi Chapter’s 100th anniversary, our official jeweler, Herff Jones, created a limited edition Pi Chapter charm. This charm was given as a gift to the collegiate women at the anniversary celebration and is available for purchase here. Limited quantities are available so purchase this keepsake before supplies run out.

Chi Chapter members at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, hosted a “Stop the Tic” 5K and raised over $700 to find a cure for Tourette Syndrome in March.

Members Rachel Reeder and Mallory Bridwell planned and executed the event after being affected by Tourette Syndrome. The chapter plans to host the 5K in the future to bring awareness and raise money for Tourette Syndrome research.

The university’s student newspaper highlighted the chapter’s effort, and the Tourette Association of America highlighted the chapter’s effort on its national Facebook page. Read more about the chapter’s 5K success here.

As the spring semester comes to a close, Tri Sigma seniors across the country are preparing to graduate and move into alumnae life. Chapters have different ways of saying goodbye to these seniors. Read on to learn more about the senior traditions chapters cherish.

Eta Tau: The chapter hosts a Senior Send-On where seniors typically get gifts from their little sister or other members of their “family.” Seniors share their final “Three Pearls of Wisdom” with active members of the chapter, and the chapter shows a slideshow that captures the seniors’ time in the chapter, beginning with photos from their time as new members. Last year, Eta Tau decorated foldable chairs for all of the seniors, personalized by sisters closest to each senior.

Eta Tau Seniors display chairs they received that had been decorated for them by other active sisters during Senior Send-On in 2016

Gamma Pi: Gamma Pi uses the last meeting of the semester before graduation to host a Senior Send-On celebration. The chapter uses a Senior Programming Chair to coordinate the event. She creates a slideshow that features each graduating senior, highlighting different memories from their years in Tri Sigma. Depending on the chair and how they wish to do it, some videos will include quotes from chapter members detailing how the seniors have influenced their time in Tri Sigma, or describing a memory the two sisters share together. Sometimes instead of using quotes from members in the video, the Senior Programming Chair will make bags with the seniors’ names on them, and allow chapter members to write down memories and place those letters inside the seniors’ bags.

Following this last chapter meeting, the chapter typically hosts Circle Degree for the graduating seniors. The chapter said this is a great last memory for Gamma Pi’s seniors, and a tradition the chapter truly treasures.

Theta Beta: Theta Beta Chapter recognizes their seniors in a few different ways. The members all write letters to the seniors describing their contributions to the chapter, what they hope for them in the future, and express how much the seniors will be missed. In a ceremony, members pass around a candle and each sister says a few words about all the graduating seniors. The seniors then say a few words to the chapter and how they feel about leaving. The members gift their seniors with a alumnae letter shirt and a few other small gifts.

Alpha Theta: Alpha Theta sends their seniors off by writing each of them letters, and this year they plan to gift each senior a necklace with a single pearl to wear after graduation so they still have a piece of Tri Sigma with them.

Zeta Kappa: For Zeta Kappa’s seniors, the chapter hosts a Senior Send-On event usually at the very end of the semester. They cater the event, and little sisters present their graduating big sisters with gift baskets and play videos created for the seniors. After the videos and picture slideshow of the seniors, the seniors each select a sister to live out their Zeta Kappa legacy. The girl chosen is called a “Send On,” and the seniors read a speech about why they chose this member and how they represent Tri Sigma and its values. At the end of the speech, the seniors announce who their “Send On” is.

Delta Omicron: In addition to many of the seniors choosing to go through Circle Degree, Delta Omicron has a few different traditions for seniors hosted during the last few weeks of school. The chapter awards senior superlatives at the spring formal, which include anything from ‘Most Likely to Win a Nobel Peace Prize’ to ‘Dynamic Duo’. Additionally, the ‘little sisters’ for the graduating sisters will paint a wooden sail boat in their honor, which are then gifted to the seniors before they leave. The sailboats are a chance for the littles to express some of the seniors’ favorite things and best qualities; for example, I painted a version of the Starry Night painting on my big’s sailboat because her name was Estelle and she was interested in museum curating. These are just a few of the things we do for our seniors send-off traditions!

Tri Sigma’s Day of Service was held the second Saturday of March, bringing together collegiate and alumnae sisters across the miles in service to actively demonstrate our commitment to citizenship and giving back to our communities.

Day of Service is about taking time out of our busy lives one day a year to purposefully spread compassion and good to our communities. It’s the power of one multiplied by 100,000 (the number of living initiated members). See how different chapters served their communities below.

Epsilon Alpha, California State University East Bay: Members cleaned up around community for Day of Service.

Eta Phi, Pratt Institute: Tri Sigma sisters provided smiles around campus by giving out flowers for Day of Service. 

Alpha Rho, Lock Haven University: Some of the Alpha Rho Chapter sisters spent the day in Harrisburg volunteering at the PA Vent Camp Gala for Day of Service. Members had fun while supporting their local philanthropy.

Alpha Gamma, Fort Hays State University: Tri Sigma Consultant Stephanie Blair spent the Day of Service volunteering at a Habitat House in Ellis, Kansas, with the Alpha Gamma chapter.

Alpha Alpha, Concord University: The Alpha Alpha chapter observed Day of Service early, making March of Dimes Mission Kits, information packets with statistics about premature babies.

Nu, University of Central Missouri: Nu Chapter sisters spent the Day of Service volunteering at the Warrensburg Food Center. Members organized soaps and put them into containers, as well as separated toothbrushes. Chapter members said they enjoyed giving back to their community and liked that Tri Sigma dedicates a whole day to doing so.

Alpha Omicron, University of Central Arkansas: Alpha Omicron members proudly served the Conway community with UCA’s The Big Event for Tri Sigma’s Day of Service. The Big Event supports the campus, as well as the surrounding community, by expressing gratitude through philanthropy and service. Members also cleaned the yard up at Haven House, a nonprofit girl’s shelter in Conway. They raked, moved the leaves to the backyard, gathered sticks and branches from storm damage and piled them, picked up trash, swept the porch and driveway, cleaned up the girls’ outdoor toys, and also donated supplies that the shelter desperately needed.

Join us in congratulating the 2017 Labyrinth Leadership Experience Participants!

Alumnae

Amber Brenton, Pi and Kansas City Alumnae Chapter

Jodi Brown, Alpha Psi

Camille Chasteen, Zeta Rho and Twin Cities Alumnae Chapter

Linsey Cozzie, Zeta Lambda

Lindsey Janikowski, Beta Pi

Amanda Marchegiani, Beta Xi

Kailea Marshall, Zeta Gamma

Abby Phillips, Epsilon Rho

Lesley Shamblin, Psi

Kristen Wissbaum, Epsilon Phi

Collegiate

Phoebe Castro, Gamma Mu

Taylor Christopher, Beta Beta

Bryanna Coulter, Zeta Theta

Bailey Greenaberg, Epsilon Omicron

Kelsey Henry, Lambda

Jaycie Jaskolka, Alpha Delta

Taylor Jeansonne, Alpha Mu

Zoe Karavolis, Epsilon Chi

Kaitlynn May, Gamma Psi

Sara Nansel, Alpha Gamma

April is Sexual Assault Awareness month and we are taking the pledge to help keep women and men safe from sexual assault. It can be more than taking a pledge. If you are ready to join the movement, use the resources below to host events and join in on the conversation during the month of April.

• Take the pledge
• It’s On Us Toolkit
• Facebook profile photo