24 days!

Potential New Members:

You are less than a month away from being apart of a new family and beginning a new chapter of your life. Are you ready for the best four years of your life?

If you haven't already, research each chapter's national and local website. This will give you an advantage when going through recruitment. 

Carson, the Rho Gammas and I are so excited to meet you! There are several events coming up that we will be in attendance.

Fairmount Move-In Day- August 17, 8:30 am-12 pm

Back to School Bash- August 17, 7-9 pm

Activity Fair- August 28 11am-2 pm

Walk-a-Mile in Her Shoes- August 27, 6-8 pm

Convocation- August 27, 11-1 pm

We also have several informational sessions about Sorority Life that I encourage everyone to attend! Each session is the same, so come to a session that works best for you!

August 18 @ 8 pm in Fairmount Towers Game Room

August 21 @ 5 pm in Hubbard Hall 231

August 27 @ 4 pm in Hubbard Hall 211

August 29 @ 7 pm in Hubbard Hall 231

Feel free to stop by and talk with us!!!

xoxo,

Bri

Recruitment Coordinator

Service

Another major aspect of Greek Life at Wichita State University is service. Service is a combination of completing community service hours and supporting philanthropic organizations. Greeks love giving back to the community through different volunteer opportunities such as hosting philanthropy events, raising money and getting hands-on experiences with charitable organizations.

The Wichita State Greek community unites whenever a chapter is hosting a philanthropy event. It is not uncommon to see the majority of different chapters participating in another chapter’s event. Additionally, the Greek community hosts an All-Greek Neighborhood Cleanup every spring semester. Together they help paint houses, rake leaves and fulfill other household tasks for the Wichita community.

Every chapter requires a minimum number of community service hours to be completed each semester, but they always encourage women to complete more. However, community service is not limited to the organization associated with a sorority. Many of our women have passions outside of their chapter’s philanthropy such as volunteering for the Kansas Humane Society or Big Brothers Big Sisters. Completing community services hours not only boosts your mood, it boosts the mood of the community as well.

All of our chapters support one or more philanthropic organization or cause. For more information on these great organizations and causes, please visit the chapter websites.

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

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!

Bri Kitchings | Recruitment Coordinator

Dear Potential New Members:

I am so honored to serve as your 2013 Panhellenic Recruitment Coordinator. Ever since I went through recruitment three years ago, sorority recruitment has been
my passion. It is such an exciting part of a woman’s college experience. For me, it is so thrilling to see over a hundred women open a new chapter of their lives. There are so many opportunities waiting for you, and now is the time to start! I joined my chapter in the fall of 2010. It was by far the best decision I have ever made. My chapter has helped me grow into a strong, confident woman. Because of the opportunities that my chapter has given me, I have learned valuable skills such as leadership and organization. My sisters became my family away from home, and they hold me accountable to high standards. I could not have asked for anything better.

In 2011, I was a Rho Gamma (Recruitment Counselor), and last year I served as the Assistant Recruitment Coordinator. Through my years of experience and passion for sorority recruitment, I hope to make this year’s formal recruitment process easy and as smooth as possible for everyone.

This year I have an awesome assistant, Carson Claybrook. She is in charge of training this year’s Rho Gammas and helping me plan recruitment. As a team, we are both excited about recruitment and will spend much of our time planning for recruitment.

When I went through recruitment I didn’t know anyone, and I was so nervous! Here are a few tips I’ve learned over the years:
•Always trust your Rho Gamma. She has experience and even personal stories she can share with you.
•Always smile! Recruitment is a fun experience, and the other woman like when you look excited.
•Lastly, always be you. Do not pretend to be someone you are not; they want to get to know the real you.

I wish you the best during recruitment, and remember to trust your Rho Gamma. Feel free to ask Carson or me questions if you have any!

With love,

Bri Kitchings

Panhellenic Recruitment Coordinator
Wichita State University