Semi Formal!

Delta Gamma's semi formal was hosted at Blue Nile Restaurant on December 2nd. Getting dressed up with our dates and dancing the night away with sisters was a blast!

30th Anniversary Gala

Delta Gamma's Epsilon Nu chapter hosted a gala on October 29th where we celebrate 30 years on campus at JMU! Over 300 Alumnae from various chapters attended. It was so great to get to know all our sisters and share our experiences with one another. Thanks for a wonderful event!

Kaitlyn Shields, Tina Ritter, and Stephanie McGowan

 

Adrienne Sime and Lexie Coulson

Greek Switch

Congrats go out to everyone that participated in this fall's Greek Switch, a fall equivilant to Greek Sing where all the sororities come out performing step dance routines and compete. This year Delta Gamma took home 2nd Place! You all looked great out  there!

Big/Little Reveal!

It’s another new year and we welcomed a wonderful group of women to Epsilon Nu chapter. This past week we had Big/Little Week where all the Big sisters got the chance to spoil their Littles. On Thursday, October 13, we had our Big/Little reveal! Keeping the secret all week is hard to do but it’s a lot of fun for all our members. Congratulations to all the new members!

Madison Project performs for our new members

Big/Littles Reveal!

Bigs and their Littles in matching letters

Spring Formal 2011

We completed our crazy Greek Week with everyone's favorite event... formal! This year we had our formal at Spotswood Country Club! It was classy, spacious and fun. We all danced the night away. It was a perfect way to spend one of the last weekends of the semester.

Sisters and their dates take the traditional pre-dance photos.

DG seniors salute!

Gillian and Valerie pose for the camera!

The Royal Family lineage :)

Kylie and Fiona throw their version of the Delta Gamma!

Delta Gamma in Vegas -- Greek Sing!

Thursday April 7 we performed our Greek Sing routine for the JMU community! Check out our video here on YouTube and some still shots below!

Two of our dancers, Tina and Kaitlyn, strike a pose before the show!

Our three senior dancers, Katie, Liz and Mary-Scott, reminise on their last Greek Sing! 

Kaitlin, Briton and Kaitlyn prep for the big event!

Greek Week Events

             Here are photos from the X-Factor Fruit Punch Scavenger Hunt during Greek Week!


Our team with the "Big" James Madison!

Our team with a campus tour!

X-Factor Fruit Punch making a pyramid on the quad!

Team members inside the Burrus fountain!

Team X-Factor Fruit Punch making Phi Mu's quatrafoil!

Sister Spotlight: Alexandra Smith!

      

      Name: Alexandra Smith

             Year: Sophomore

             Initiated: Today!







Major: IDLS with a concentration in Special Education

Dream Job: After I teach for a few years, I really want to be either a elementary or middle school guidance coulselor

Other organizations: Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and Habitat for Humanity

Favorite thing about JMU: I love how nice and friendly everyone is here! I love that no matter where on campus you go, you can almost expect someone to hold doors open for you and to just be friendly and smile at you when you pass by. It's such a nice feeling to be in such a welcoming environment and it is definitely one of the main things that made me want to come to school at JMU in the first place.

Favorite thing about DG so far: My favorite thing about DG so far are all of the amazing women in DG! I think that everyone are such nice and amazing people and I feel so lucky to be able to be a part of that and to just be able to have the privellage know everyone. :)
Looking forward to most: I'm looking foward to being initiated and becoming a sister the most! DG has such a great sisterhood and I'm so excited to officially become apart of it!

Fun fact about me: I have lived in 6 different states, 2 different countries, and have moved 7 times.

Alexandra and her DG family!

Amazing picture -- Dani, Lexie and Alex team up for Greek Week!



Senior Spotlight: Katie Cole!

Katie Cole right after Tommy proposed!

Major: Business Management
Dream Job: College Professor (Preferably at JMU)

Past DG Involvement: I was a Greek Sing dancer for the past two years! I joined DG my Junior year, so I don't have any formal leadership, but I love participating in all the events Delta Gamma puts on like sisterhood events, socials, and community service.

Other organizations/activites:

I have been an RA in both freshman and upperclassmen dorms. It's been very challenging, but it has helped me grow in my patience and responsibility.

I have participated in SGA since my sophomore year, and this year I am the Contingency Liaison. I helped organizations apply for contingency money to put on bigger and better programs. This year I was in charge of over $56,000.

I am also a member of the College of Business's Student Advisory Council. We meet with the Dean of the CoB every other week and participate in major changes within the school. This year we were able to put in the new market inside Showker.

PAST
Favorite Class at JMU: CoB 487, the capstone for all business majors. I learn so much in this class. We are constantly discussing current events and how they impact industry and business. Hands down my favorite class!

Favorite DG memory: It would be a tie between Recruitment and Greek Sing. Everyone who knows me, knows I love to perform, smile, sing, and dance. This year DG dominated in Recruitment and Greek Sing, and I feel all warm inside knowing I have contributed to DG's success.

Favorite Senior Moment: WHEN TOMMY PROPOSED!!!!!! My favorite senior memory is when my fiance Tommy proposed. He popped the question on the top of Reddish Knob, and he agreed to hold off on telling the world until I was able to do a candle lighting ceremony with my sisters! I can't wait to get married to my soul mate!

FUTURE
This summer I start grad school at West Virginia University in their College of Business's Master of Science in Industrial Relations and Human Resources. I will also be planning my wedding. I would love to come back to JMU DG to help out! I will only be 3 hours away! I would also love to volunteer my services to WVU's chapter of DG. I will definitely be coming back to watch Greek Sing! You know that scene in Mean Girls where Regina's mom does the dance in the audience while filming the talent show? That will be me!

What I love the most about Delta Gamma is the ritual. I joined DG for the values they exhibit and the sisterhood they share. All the t-shirts were just bonuses! I will continue to live the ritual by embodying courage, strength, and peace in everything I do. ITB!

Katie and her recruitment group.

Katie (left) with senior Greek Sing dancers!

Katie, center, with her recruitment group on Philanthropy Day!

X-Factor Fruit Punch Places Third in Shack-a-Thon



Delta Gamma, Phi Mu, Sigma Nu and Kappa Alpha Psi's creation placed third in the Shack-a-Thon competition on Monday April 4.  We decided to do an alliGATOR for Greek Week (and Gatorade's theme) "Is it in you?"

Shack-a-Thon is an event where hundreds of Greek students come together to create a "shack" out of cardboard boxes. There is tons of creativity, color and determination throughout the entire construction process.

Our Delta Gamma sister, Brenna Hovey, came up with the idea of the alligator. Hovey explains that "We were just trying to come up with a shack that fit the Greek Week theme "Is it in you?" and Gatorade was first created for the Florida Gators As we told the judges, that represents teamwork and unity!"

Here are some photos from Shack-a-Thon!

Our team sign!

Sisters smile for the camera!

Greek Week 2011!

This week, April 3-8, is the much anticipated Greek Week!
This year's theme is "Greek Week 2011: Is it in You?" and the symbol is the lightning bolt (similar to the Gatorade bolt).

We'll be busy all week participating in activities with our team. ΔΓ is working with ΦΜ, ΣΝ and ΚΑΨ!

We'll post pictures at the end of the week!
We're also looking forward to Formal on Friday, Madipalooza and the Northern Virginia Delta Gamma Alumnae Chilli Cookoff on Saturday and weekly chapter on Sunday!

JMU Panhellenic's Be Beautiful Campaign Week

The JMU Panhellenic Council hosted its Be Beautiful Campaign week last week. All of the week's events promoted Panhellenic's Be Beautiful Campaign, modeled after Dove's Campign for Real Beauty. 

Panhellenic Council members worked to spread happiness and self-confidence to all JMU students. Lis Palmer, senior Delta Gamma and VP of Rho Gammas for Panhellenic explains that "Panhellenic Exec was on the Commons selling shirts to raise money for their philanthropy First Step, a battered women's shelter in Harrisonburg. In addition to selling shirts, Exec passed out candy with quotes about inner beauty, had a mirror where people could write in lipstick what inner beauty meant to them, and other activities where students on campus could think about and show what inner beauty meant to them."

The main event, the Role Model Fashion Show, took place on Tuesday night. Each sorority nominated multiple women from their chapter to be role models and Panhellenic selected the final two from each chapter. Our two representatives were senior Lis Palmer and sophomore Nyssa Wratschko. Lis gushes about the amazing experience: "It was wonderful to meet and interact with women from the Greek community who are valued as role models and make a difference in their chapter."

Nyssa had the same feeling, she states that "the best part about last night wasn't wearing the beautiful dress or being on stage, it was being backstage with all of the other role models in our community. We had so much fun getting to know each other, helping each other out with last minute dress fixes or shoe changes and trying to figure out what to do on stage that didn't make us look like fools. I met some absolutely fantastic women and loved every minute of last night!"

Here are some photos from the events:

Here is a photo of the shirts that were sold all week on the Commons.

Lis and her escort at the Role Model Fashion Show.

Fiona with her Big, Nyssa.

Our two beautiful role models, Nyssa and Lis!

New Member Spotlight: Kaitlin Parm!

Sophomore Kaitlin Parm!

Major: Social work
Dream job: Working with adults and children with intellectual disabilities or starting a counseling practice as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)
Favorite movie: Legally Blonde
Looking forward to the most about DG: I am looking forward to being initiated the most. I can't wait to be able to call all of the wonderful members my sisters and to be able to wear the anchor badge with pride.
Favorite thing about DG so far: My favorite thing about DG so far is friendship. Since the day I became a PNM, every sister has been so welcoming to me and made me feel like I was part of this amazing sisterhood. I have been able to meet so many new women, from different walks of life, who all share the same love for Delta Gamma. Each of them are genuine, remarkable people and I am so lucky to be a part of this incredible sisterhood.
Favorite thing about JMU: My favorite thing about JMU is its location! I am definitely a beach kind of girl but I love enjoying the beautiful view of the mountains as I walk to class every day.
Fun fact about me: My high school cheerleading team won a state championship competition!

Kaitlin's "extended" family!

Nikki (Big), Eryn (Gbig) and Kaitlin (Little) pose after reveal!



A Delta Gamma's Do Good Spring Break

A senior at Epsilon Nu, Gopi Pitcher, led an Alternative Spring Break trip to Jacksonville, FL. She tells us all about her trip below!

What:

I lead an alternative Spring Break trip for spring break 2011. My group went to Jacksonville, FL to work with Pace Center for girls.  Pace Center for girls is a prevention program for at risk youth. The girls  (12-18 year olds) who attend Pace are at least 1 to 3 years behind in school, and attend Pace on a voluntary basis. The regular school system wasn’t working for them, and they are trying to work towards getting back into the system, or towards a GED. These girls haven’t had the best lives, suffering from domestic abuse, drugs, alcohol, and an array of other issues within the home.

The Impact:

Meeting the Pace girls was a once in a lifetime experience. I loved getting to know them for the week we were there. They welcomed us, accepted and received the group far better than ever expected. Our group went down with planned after school activities including; journals, game day, movie day, and final poster project. Though having a tough exterior, the girls were golden at heart. They had a lot of questions about college life and what Virginia was like. Our group was truthful about college life, but also highlighted the positive things about college.  It was an amazing experience!

Being a DG:

Being a leader had its fair share of difficult times. I always remembered, (especially when I would get frustrated) whether I was wearing letters or not, I still represented Delta Gamma. Also, a lot of the girls asked about sorority life. They would ask questions, that most of us in greek life would find stereotypical, however they were earnest and really had no idea. Most of the girls have never been out of Jacksonville. Again, I answered truthfully, but also emphasized all the good DG’s do. I love our sisterhood and was very proud to represent Delta Gamma to the ASB community as well as the Jacksonville community.

Gopi, middle in navy, and her group!



Big/Little Reveal!

Thursday evening concluded a fun Big/Little week! After much anticipation, the bigs got to reveal themsleves to their littles and the littles loved meeting their bigs! We had a hot chocolate night with sisters and then some continued the celebration afterward. Welcome to the chapter, new members :)

Brianna (left middle) poses with her new family!

New member Karrah (left) with her big, Fay!

Emily (left) and her little, Kait, show their pearly whites after reveal!

Kaitlin with her big Nikki and gbig Eryn!

Dani, Kirby, new member Hannah and Dani do the wave together.

The "Fly Fam" continues to celebrate at Kline's Ice Cream (with some Fly Fam alumna!)

DG Full Weekend!

It was a big weekend for the sisters of Delta Gamma! On Saturday, sophomores and our new members drove to Reddish Knob, a nearby mountain with a spectacular view. The girls spent the afternoon bonding while eating lunch! Sunday we had our annual Founders Day with the chapter, alumnae and advisers. We wrapped up the weekend preparing for Greek Sing with hands and dance practice!

View from Reddish Knob for the New member & Sophomore bonding trip!

New members on a retreat to Reddish Knob.

Sisters do the wave at our Founders Day!

VP Programming Nyssa & President Sarah pose for a photo at Founders Day.

Sisters and alumnae pose for a photo at Founders Day.

Happy 138 years, Delta Gamma!
 What was your favorite part of the weekend?