Scholarship

Scholarship and academics is something that is held very high in our Greek community.  Greeks across the board work hard in the classroom, as well as encourage their brothers and sisters to do the same.  Because of these high standards, our Greek community always has a higher GPA then the overall undergraduate GPA at Wichita State.  The numbers don’t lie – the Spring 2013 grade report recorded the All Greek GPA at a 3.109, while the All Undergraduate GPA was only a 2.962.  Furthermore, the Women’s Panhellenic Community (the five sororities only, no boys!) was reported at a 3.210! 

Each chapter holds a Scholarship dinner or special event to recognize their members who did exceptionally well in their previous semester or year.  Also, WPA as a whole holds an annual Scholarship Dinner where all five of the chapters come together to celebrate our academic successes.  We bring in special guest speakers that help inspire us and who share their wisdom with us as we enjoy a nice meal and each other’s company.

Academic support is a huge part of Greek life – we are always eager to applaud those who have done well, but we also help those members who may struggle.  Each chapter has study sessions or hours – these are specific times set aside for members to come together and study.  Additionally, it is not uncommon to find study groups form each semester between women who have the same classes.  Sometimes those study groups even include members from different sororities and fraternities!  Our Greek community is very diverse, and many majors and classes on campus will include at least one or two Greek members.  Similar class schedules are a common occurrence among sisters and other Greeks.

School is one of our top priorities as Greek women.  We pride ourselves in having scholastic success, as well as support each other when we have a tough class or semester.  College can be a challenge sometimes, but with the support and encouragement from fellow sisters and Greeks, anything can be accomplished!

Amber Hopkins | President

Hey there! My name is Amber Hopkins and I am originally from Marquette, KS. I graduated from Smoky Valley High School and I am now a senior at Wichita State majoring in Criminal Justice and Psychology. Right now, I am an intern with the Wichita Police Department and I work for Communities in School at Jardine Middle Magnet. 

I went through Formal Recruitment my freshman year in the fall of 2010. Going Greek has truly transformed my college years and I cannot imagine what my life would be like had I not made this choice. I have found my truest friends, my roommate, and every job that I have had while at Wichita State all because of Greek Life. 

The Formal Recruitment process started for me when I was contacted by the Recruitment Coordinator at the time. I was nervous about going to a college where I didn’t know anyone but she convinced me that going Greek was the best way to make life long friendships. I first met my Rho Gamma when I moved into Fairmount Towers; all of the Greeks at move-in were so helpful and I knew I wanted to invest my time in an organization that was so willing to invest their time in me. While in the dorms, I convinced one of our current Rho Gammas to go through recruitment with me because I knew that I never wanted to lose touch with her and from what I had heard this was one of the best ways to build the relationships I was looking for. Throughout the process she was my emotional perceiver and I was her logical thinker; for me, Greek life without her would be missing its heartbeat and funny bone. That week of recruitment goes by so fast and my best advice is start making those friendships early and bond with the women who you will soon call sisters because the women standing next to you now will soon be the women you call when life happens, good or bad. 

This is my third year serving on Women’s Panhellenic Association (WPA) and it is truly my favorite part of the year. My first year of recruitment I served as WPA Treasurer and for the past two years I have served as WPA President. Rho Gamma’s are the foundation of recruitment and I recommend you ask them as many questions as possible. They are your “in” to what chapter life is like; all of these women are highly successful chapter members and it is their goal to see you grow in whatever house you choose. Talk to your Rho Gamma and find a chapter of women that exemplify the values you seek to cultivate for yourself in the future; the best fit for you.


With Love,
Amber Hopkins
WPA President
Wichita State University

Kylee Kirchoff | Rho Gamma

Hello, my name is Kylee Kirchoff and this is my second year being a Rho Gamma. I am a senior marketing major at Wichita State. I went to Buhler High School in Buhler, KS. I am so excited to get to help PNMs find their new homes!
 
I went through recruitment in the fall of 2010. I decided to go through this process in order to meet new people. I am not originally from Wichita so I did not know many people when I first arrived. I was really involved in high school and I knew that I wanted to continue to be involved in college. I was not really sure that Greek life was going to be for me. People from my hometown were really surprised to learn that I had gone Greek. There was one other girl from my high school going through recruitment with me, so that made me feel more at ease.
 
After the first night of recruitment I was easily able to narrow down my choices to my top three chapters. The second night I was asked back to two of those chapters. After learning about each chapter’s philanthropy, I knew which chapter I wanted to be a part of. On the last night of recruitment, I only had to go back to my favorite chapter. After the preference party I knew 100% that this chapter was the one for me. I could tell that these girls genuinely cared about each other and were not just putting on a show for recruitment. We also shared the same values, which was very important to me. After joining my chapter I learned that recruitment was not that easy for most women and I am so very thankful that it was for me.
 
I did not know ANYONE who had been in a fraternity or sorority, so I did not know what to expect. All I knew about Greek life I had learned from movies and TV shows. Now I know that this is a horribly inaccurate depiction of what it is like to be a part of a sorority. I always thought sororities wanted cookie cutter perfect girls and now I know that they want strong, unique women. I thought there would be hazing and now I know that being a part of a sisterhood is about building each other up not tearing each other down. I never thought being a part of a sorority would change my life the way it has.
 
I hope you are as excited for recruitment as I am!
 
-Kylee Kirchoff

Taylor Peck | Rho Gamma

Hello! My name is Taylor Peck and I am a Junior at Wichita State University and a nursing major. I am so excited that I am a Rho Gamma for Formal recruitment this upcoming September! I cannot wait to help PNM’s find their letters and their fit at WSU.

I went through formal recruitment TWO whole years ago. Before coming to WSU I went to Wellington High School, a small town 45 minutes South of Wichita. During high school I had always been very social, I was involved in many organizations and the thought of going to a school that I couldn’t be involved and wouldn’t know anyone was SCARY. All of my friends had decided on going on different paths, a couple to KU, Butler, Emporia, and more. I was the only one going to Wichita State aside from my best guy friend who had recently joined a fraternity right after graduation. I went to a few of their volleyball events over the summer and got to meet a lot of Greeks! I loved atmosphere! It felt like I had my very own “high school group” up in Wichita my soon to be new home. I had met many girls who were in sororities and they encouraged me to GO GREEK! They told me about the opportunities being Greek had given them and the friendships they gained! I was hooked from there. 

Everything they said about Greek life turned out to be true! I went through formal recruitment and was terrified! I had heard girls say how it was “the best decision of their life” I can definitely say they were right!  During formal recruitment I met so many women that have become some of my closest friends.  Not only do you get a group of sisters in your individual house you gain over a two hundred Panhellenic sisters!

Being Greek has given me job opportunities, friendships to last a life time, has made me a better person, opened up so many experiences and best of all. I encourage everyone to at LEAST go to one night of recruitment! Being Greek is more about the letters you wear. It’s about giving back to your community, creating lifelong connections, gaining experience, and best of all having the time of your life with the best support system a girl could ask for!

Taylor Peck 

43 days!

We are less than a month away from the beginning of the fall semester and approximately 43 days away from recruitment! It's time. It's time to start preparing for the upcoming school year. It's time to decide what you want out of your college experience. It's time to think about giving sorority life at WSU a chance!

Our sorority chapters have already begun preparing for recruitment and we want to encourage you to do the same. There are so many great resources available online. Check them out and make sure to get signed up for recruitment!

www.wichita.edu/wpa

www.wichita.edu/panhellenicrecruitment

www.thesororitylife.com

Check back later this week for our next post about what our sorority chapters are centered around: sisterhood, scholarship and service!

Shelby Johnson | Rho Gamma

Hey! I’m Shelby Johnson, and I am a Rho Gamma for the Pink group! I am so excited that you are looking into going Greek!

If you would have told me when I was in high school that I would join a sorority in college, I would have looked at you like you were insane. All it took though was someone in the Greek system to say “just check it out!” So, I encourage YOU to just check it out! It is one of the most rewarding experiences anyone can have.

Greek life is such a wonderful community, and it helps build strong relationships that will stay with you throughout your life. I love being able to walk around campus and see someone from my Greek community. There is so much support when it comes to Greek life, and it’s not just from whatever house you are from. 

I really hope that you find a home in the Greek community. I know I did! Go Greek!!

Shelby Johnson

Annie Adams | Rho Gamma

Hi! My name is Annie, and I am a senior this year at Wichita State. It's been quite a journey, but I am currently an International Business major. This is my first year as a Rho Gamma and I am really pumped about spending my last recruitment as a collegiate helping you all find your letters that you can wear proudly like I do.

I graduated from Maize Senior High here in town and at the last minute decided to attend Wichita State that fall. I guess I thought it would be easy to make friends at WSU because I went to school in Wichita and already knew a lot of people. Well, I thought wrong, because college freaked me out. My roommate from freshman year still to this day makes fun of how I was scared to go and eat in the cafeteria (which just led to my attachment to my Hello Kitty grilled cheese maker). I had a difficult time adjusting because my best friend from high school went to KU and I missed her like crazy. I would Skype her, and she would tell me all about recruitment, the chapter she joined, and her new best friend she was living with. I did really try not to feel sad and thought maybe I had made the wrong school decision. I kind of thought that formal recruitment, at least the way she had described it, sounded really annoying and exhausting and not fun at all. And yet, somehow, another girl from my high school who was going through Wichita State's recruitment convinced me to join her in this adventure. This woman is a very convincing person.

I agreed to go along with it at the last minute, but I figured I wouldn't join any of the chapters or would drop out quickly after Bid Day because it wasn't "my thing." I have always been a very conservative person and the stereotypical sorority image is something I was not attracted to. Because, let's be real, I don't enjoy going to parties and chatting with boys and talking about dumb things in an annoying voice, which I was almost sure what all sorority girls did 24/7. I went, but I went begrudgingly.

This is now when I would like to give a shout out to my own Rho Gamma from three years ago, because bless her heart, she answered every question I had, and I had a lot. I don't know why I thought I couldn't wear a red dress on Pref Night, but I was pretty stressed out about it at the time.

I went through recruitment and worriedly asked many questions at every house about their values and if they would line up with mine. As we got farther into recruitment, I begin to feel like maybe I would actually fit in with these sorority girls.

And I went Greek. And it blew my mind. So I stuck around. I was amazed how awesome all of these women could be, because they broke every stereotype I had. Greek women are so committed to excelling in school, passionate about their philanthropies, and being a community. Being Greek has brought a lot of challenges my way, but I like that because it pushes me out of my comfort zone. I can be as quirky as I want to be and I love it! It has been so beneficial having both collegians and alumnae help me navigate through my many decisions in college. My favorite thing though has been my family's involvement in the Greek community. It was all foreign to them at first, but I love how me being Greek excites them now.

And of course, I will end with a Harry Potter quote. Because I watched this exact movie yesterday. But the quote is absolutely perfect. In the wise words of Dumbledore, "It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices."

Annie

Shelby Verble | Delta Gamma

Hello! My name is Shelby Verble. I am going to be a sophomore at Wichita State this fall and I am a Pre- Communication Sciences and Disorders major. I am so excited to experience the other side of recruitment for the first time this year!

Before attending freshman orientation the summer before I started at WSU, I compared being in a sorority to being on the cheer team in high school. By the end of my senior year, I lost my love for cheering because of the negative atmosphere that always surrounded the cheer team. So I had no desire to go through recruitment even though two of my very best friends had already signed up. Although they kept trying to convince me, I wouldn’t budge on my impression of Greek life. I didn’t change my mind until I heard an orientation leader talk about her experiences, her love for her chapter, and Greek life in general. She described Greek life at Wichita State as very unique and different than at most universities which was enough for me to immediately go home and sign up for recruitment.

Thanks to that orientation leader, I am proud to say I am now a Greek at WSU. Not only do I love my chapter, but I also loved the recruitment process. I had the chance to form new friendships with the other girls in my recruitment group. I was the only PNM from my group to end up in my chapter which only meant I automatically had friends in every other chapter. Also, I absolutely loved my rho gamma and lucky for me, she ended up being one of my sisters!

Through the recruitment process, I found my letters in Delta Gamma! After the initial excitement of meeting my seventy-five new sisters, I decided to get involved with DG’s philanthropy on an individual level. I started volunteering weekly as my love for all of the people I was working with grew week after week! I also decided to pursue my love for recruitment further by applying for an officer position so that I could be involved with the process. Volunteering and fulfilling my role as an officer are some of my most favorite aspects of being a Greek!

During this past spring semester, I lost my mom to a battle with a terrible disease. She had been struggling with the disease since my junior year in high school so spending cherished time with her and my family was a top priority. Immediately upon joining my chapter, I was given the love and support of all of my sisters. Also, I was able to continue to spend time with my mom and my family. After losing my mom in March, I received the support of not only all of my sisters, but also from other Greeks on campus. I was shown the true meaning of Greek unity during this difficult period. Greeks, including men and women I didn’t necessarily have a personal relationship with, reached out to me and my family when we most needed it. It was at this moment that I was extremely thankful that I listened to that orientation leader because going Greek had positively impacted me and my family in a way we would have never expected.

Shelby Verble

Destinee Baucum | Rho Gamma

Hello there! My name is Destinee and I am a junior at WSU, and I am majoring in Nursing. I am very active in everything that I do. I was born in Austin, TX and have lived all over the world. I grew up as a military child (Air Force to be exact) I lived twice overseas; once in England and then on an island (Terceira) in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean owned by Portugal. I moved to Wichita after living on Terceira for my sophomore and junior year of high school. I attended Derby High School for my senior of high school and graduated in 2010. I joined my chapter last fall and serving my first year on the Panhellenic Council, the governing body of the sororities, as treasurer. So if you have any questions or concerns about how to pay your application fee then I would be the girl to talk to. I am so excited to be a Rho Gamma (recruitment counselor) and help you find your letters.

Although, I just joined my chapter last year I can full heartily say that it was the best decision I have made in my life. My chapter has been there for me through a lot this last year and I can not imagine my life without my sisters. I originally decided to go Greek through realizing that I wanted more out of my life. I had been commuting back and forth from work, home and school all on my own and got caught up with all three and barely had any time for myself. In high school I was very active with sports, NHS and school and transitioning into college I focused mainly on school, work and my family and neglected myself. I came to realize that I missed being actively involved in my school that I needed to push myself to find the time in my already busy schedule to give back not only to myself but my college community. 

Last year, I was exactly where you were nervous about going through the whole formal recruitment process and finding my own letters. When it came to actual recruitment week I found myself really comfortable with the whole process and I had a great Rho Gamma who was there for me when I did have questions and was excited with me for my journey into Greek life at WSU. Throughout the last year being in my chapter and involved in Women’s Panhellenic Association (WPA) has developed me into an active member in WSU Greek life and strengthened my passion to make a contribution to Wichita State University and my community. Through giving back to my community and university I have grown a deep understanding of the larger picture than just myself and how one person can make a difference. I hope to see all of you lovely ladies when formal recruitment begins!

Destinee Baucum

Jessica Logue | Delta Delta Delta

Hey ladies! My name is Jessica Logue and I am a super proud member of Delta Delta Delta! I will be a sophomore in the fall so I was just in your position last year. I know what you might be thinking, "Is this really for me?" "What if I don't fit in anywhere?" "Is this going to be like House Bunny?" Those are all things that I questioned before signing up for formal recruitment, but looking back at it now, I am so thankful that I chose to be a Greek at Wichita State!

Throughout high school I was very involved in pretty much everything. I cheered, sang, was a member of Student Council, and plenty more. It was much easier to become involved in high school and that worried me a little about college. Thankfully, there was a teacher at my high school,Wichita West High, that was still actively part of one of the chapters at WSU. She gave me information and flyers about meetings to learn more about Greek Life. I convinced a few friends to attend one with me towards the beginning of summer to just see what it might be like. At that point, I was interested but still could not see myself as a sorority girl.

When my friend and I decided to live in the dorms together, we thought it would be perfect! We figured we would become close friends with everyone on our floor and always have a group to sit with at meals in the cafeteria. That didn't exactly happen for us. We spent more time in our dorm room than anywhere else. This was the turning point for both us when we decided to go through formal recruitment together! We ended up getting bids from the same chapter and now get to call each other sisters! After joining Delta Delta Delta, we realized that three other sisters lived on our floor and a few others lived in the other tower. I think it's safe to say, we never ate alone again!

I could not picture my life without Delta Delta Delta, nor would I want to. The relationships I've made in this short amount of time are ones that I will cherish forever. When we say sisterhood is forever, it's true. The bond my sisters have when it comes to raising money for our Philanthropies, St. Jude and Victory in the Valley, is incredible. I am so very proud to say that I have the best sisters in the world and will continue to say it!

If you have been thinking about going Greek and are not really sure, just go for it! What do you have to lose? There is a home for you here and any chapter would be lucky to have you! Remember, Greek Life isn't just for four years, it's for LIFE!

Jessica Logue

Mallory Claybrook | Rho Gamma

Hi! My name is Mallory Claybrook, and I am a sophomore this fall at WSU. I am majoring in Finance with a minor in Spanish. I have lived in Wichita my entire life and cannot imagine my life in any other city, or any other school! This is my first year as a Rho Gamma, and I am so excited to have the opportunity to be a part of this side of recruitment and help women find their letters!

In high school, I was always involved in clubs and in band. I was constantly busy and knew that I wanted to be busy in college also. My older sister (who is also a Rho Gamma this year) encouraged me to go Greek. I listened to her experiences of being a sorority woman at WSU and learned that being Greek is a totally different experience than what the media portrays. After talking to my sister I decided that I, too, wanted the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself.  So, I decided to go through formal recruitment. Despite the fact that I was a legacy, my sister encouraged me to decide on the chapter that was best for me and not to pick a chapter just because I had family ties.  I made a promise to myself that I would not even think about my biological sister when I was thinking about the women I would like to have as sorority sisters.

During recruitment, I relied a lot on my Rho Gamma to help me sort through my thoughts! She helped me by calming my nerves, answering all my questions and by helping me make the right decision for me. My Rho Gamma helped me a lot by setting apart my sister from myself. I know that I made a good decision in picking the right chapter for me. I was able to choose the chapter whose values fit mine; not my sister’s. Now it is my turn to help women find their own letters!

Going Greek was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Even though I have only been in my chapter for a year, I know have made a difference in my chapter. I currently hold a leadership position in chapter, I have participated in different events, and I have made some of the closest relationships in my life. To me, being Greek is upholding a higher standard academically; giving back to the community through philanthropy and community service; participating in campus activities; supporting campus groups, teams, and organizations; supporting the Greek community by wearing our letters; and truly living the values of our individual chapters in our everyday lives, for the rest of our lives. Being Greek has given me amazing experiences and has taught me so many life lessons…And I’m sure there’s more to come!

I sincerely encourage every woman to try sorority life at WSU. Being a sorority woman opens up so many opportunities and creates so many personal connections not offered anywhere else.

All the best,

Mallory Claybrook

Courtney Phillips | Rho Gamma

Hello! 

My name is Courtney Phillips and I am a recruitment counselor for the 2013 Sorority Formal Recruitment. I am a senior here at Wichita State University and I am majoring in Biochemistry. I was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. I went to Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic Highschool before joining the amazing family here at WSU. 

My mother was the one who encouraged me to join a sorority on campus, and it was the best decision I have made. Joining a chapter where you are loved by your sisters for being yourself is such a great reward. The sisters I have met will be my friends for a lifetime.

During my recruitment in the fall of 2012, I learned that you should always follow your heart. The chapter you are meant to be with will find you. Don’t let others sway your decisions, they are yours to make! My chapter makes me feel like I am family whenever I am around them. I know you will feel the same once you find your letters!

Formal recruitment is such an amazing time of year. We love to see the eager girls who are searching for their letters! Our job is to help you find your own. From my recruitment experience I’ve learned to always trust your Rho Gamma. She will always be there to listen to any questions or concerns you might have. Remember, anything you tell your Rho Gamma is held confidential! 

Some last words of advice, be yourself and have fun!

Best of luck,

Courtney Phillips