Cornell Kappa Alpha Theta Newsletter 2013
Cornell Kappa Alpha Theta Newsletter 2013
Cornell Kappa Alpha Theta Newsletter 2013
A Message from Dana Lerner 14 [ Alumni and Foundation Liaison ] & Kristen Powers 14 [ President (CEO) ]
Dear Alumnae and Parents, The sisters of Kappa Alpha Theta had a very busy spring semester! We started off January with a very successful formal recruitment period. We welcomed 57 New Members into the Iota Chapter and completed a 6-week New Member period. During this time, our chapter facilitated numerous sisterhood events as well as events with other Greek chapters. On a beautiful spring day in Ithaca, Kappa Alpha Theta and the men of Chi Psi Fraternity hosted our signature philanthropy event, this year a volleyball tournament, to benefit Court Appointed Special Advocates. We had a great turn out, hours of fun, and ended up raising over $600 for our local CASA. At the Fraternity and Sorority Awards Ceremony this year, we won four awards! We received the following: Outstanding Facilities Management, Outstanding Service to the Community, Outstanding Social Responsibility, and finally, the Outstanding Chapter Award. I would like to thank and congratulate everybody that played a part in our successes this year. Loyally in Theta, Dana Lerner and Kristen Powers
Dana Lerner
@Cornell Thetas
Kristen Powers
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From left: Kat Juraschek 14, Katherine Olsavsky 14, Kristen Powers 14, Kristina Johnson, 14
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Congratulations, Seniors!
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Thetas Abroad
Alexandra Skinnion 14
I just got back from a semester abroad in Southern France in the city Aix-enProvence. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to go, and I learned so much, even apart from the language! For starters, I lived with a French host family who was very traditionally French - very Catholic, and very conservative. My host dad told me the French Revolution was a bad thing because it promoted the equality of everyone's ideas regardless of their wealth, social status, or education. As an American, this really shocked me! Even though I suffered from my host family on nearly every political issue, I still learned that I could come to care about them a lot! We were still able to have intellectual conversations and live in harmony. I also gained a new appreciation for Cornell. I will never complain again about having too much reading, because at least I'll know what to read! At my French university, I got no syllabi or reading lists! We didn't have to study until midterms & finals. While this may sound easy, it was really hard because I felt like I wasn't retaining any information. Each class ran only once a week, but for three hours! It was so hard to stay focused. Aside from the academic challenge and the adjustment to my new home life, I took advantage of the French culture by trying as many new foods as I could and getting involved with locals. I tutored English to some neighbors' children, which was an incredible experience. I had always wanted to teach English to French kids! I also loved having the opportunity to travel Europe. I went to: London, Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Dublin, and Venice, as well as many other areas in France. Traveling Europe gave me a new form of appreciation for the US There is really no place like home!
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Alumna Spotlight:
Esteemed Alumna Mari Rossi 11 shares her story of keeping in touch and giving back
After graduation, the class of 2011 dispersed to a bunch of different places. When Christmas was approaching, we decided that a great way to stay in touch was to donate a small amount of our newly earned "working adult" money to build a well in Cambodia. These wells help a family, as well as an entire village, have clean water to drink... which in turn, saves lives. Once the money was collected, we sent it to the group that organizes the well building. They can only afford to send the money once a year in January, and since we missed the cut off in 2012, our money was sent this January. Below, I have attached the pictures of the Kappa Alpha Theta well that was successfully built in Cambodia!! I just wanted to pass the story on as the class of 2013 graduates, because even though your friends may be spread out across the world, there are still so many great ways to stay in touch! It has been two full years since graduating from Cornell, and I still feel like I have a freaking awesome pledge class ('08).
Water well donated by Kappa Alpha Theta Pledge Class (USA) March 2013
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Announcements
Reunion 2013
th If you will be Stewart here forAve your Cornell reunion this summer, please join us for a gathering at the Theta house at 519 from pm on Saturday, June 8 . Hope to 4-6 see you there!
To Our Alumnae
On behalf of every member of Iota, I would like to offer our deepest gratitude to our alumnae. We truly appreciate getting to know each and every one of you through your emails, letters, and various events such as the Alumnae Homecoming brunch and the Reunion Weekend held in June. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] or Diane Miller 88, Advisory Board Chairman at [email protected] Loyally, Dana Lerner, Alumnae and Foundation Liaison Do you know a woman attending Cornell and potentially participating in Panhellenic recruitment? If you would like to recommend her as a Potential New Member, you may complete an on-line Letter of Reference form at www.kappaalphatheta.org, or you can print the form and send the letter to: Kappa Alpha Theta c/o Beth LeBow, Recruitment Director 519 Stewart Ave. Ithaca, NY 14850 While Letters of Reference are no longer required for membership in Kappa Alpha Theta, they are extremely helpful in allowing us to get to know a PNM before she walks into our house during recruitment.
As always, we sincerely appreciate your support of the Iota Chapter and value your membership and contribution. If you would like to become more involved with the Iota Chapter, we urge you to send us your pictures, memoires, advice, favorite Theta traditions and any general feedback or questions. Please visit our newly revamped website at https://www.kappaalphatheta.org/chapters/iota/page/home Like us on Facebook at Cornell Kappa Alpha Theta Follow Us on Twitter @CornellThetas