Allison Gettings | Rho Gamma

Hello! My name is Allison Gettings, and I am a senior majoring in Integrated Marketing Communications at Wichita State University. I also serve as the Public Relations Chair on Women’s Panhellenic Association. I’m very excited and honored to be a Rho Gamma this year to help potential new members (PNMs) find their letters.

I was very involved when I was in high school with Student Council, National Honors Society and keeping up with my studies. I was always on the go. My freshman year of college I decided to take a break from the madness and not join any organizations. Big mistake. Going from class to work to home grew boring and repetitive after a while (not to mention lonely!). My friend Nicole was the one who encouraged me to go Greek. She sat me down and said, “Allison, you need to go through recruitment. Trust me. You won’t regret it.” Boy, was I glad I took her advice even though I was almost too nervous to sign up.

I went through formal recruitment in fall 2011. The week was filled with so many emotions and memories, and it was one of the best times of my life. There were many times I had to sit down with my Rho Gamma – now one of my best friends – and talk about my experiences during the recruitment process. I had conversations with so many unique women, shared my story and joined the chapter I am proud to be a part of today. My sisters are always there for me and accept me for who I am; I wouldn’t have it any other way.

There are many events the Greek community puts on every year, but philanthropy events are by far my favorite. Watching people from all walks of life come together to support a cause is a really great thing to witness. From cancer charities to charities for the visually impaired, Wichita State University’s Greek community supports a variety of organizations.

My life has changed for the better since I went Greek. I’ve met so many interesting people, given back to the community and grown as an individual. Every year is a new journey, but I know I’ve always got my sisters behind me along the way. Being Greek gives me a sense of purpose in college; being a part of something bigger than myself is a very humbling experience.

Allison Gettings

Roni Tamir | Rho Gamma

Hey there! My name is Roni and I am a senior here at WSU. I am a sociology major and French minor. I graduated from Andover High School in May 2010. I am so excited to be a rho gamma AGAIN this year. Being a part of the recruitment team was such a great experience for me last year that I just had to do it again.

Wichita State University was my one and only choice for a college. I am very much a “mommy’s girl”, so I wanted to stay close to my parents. Going through formal recruitment in WSU was the best decision I’ve ever made, but it wasn’t an easy one. I was one of those girls that joined at the very last minute. It took a lot of convincing from one of my friends. I was very hesitant at first. I just did not see myself as a “sorority girl”. But then I decided to give it a try because of a few reasons: I was a freshman who still lived with her parents in Andover so I didn’t get to meet people from the dorms, most of my friends from high school went to different schools and I wanted to meet new people, and I wanted to get more involved on campus. Going Greek provided me with all those and way more. The friendships, memories, opportunities, and experiences that it provided is something that is truly special to me. 

I can’t wait for this formal recruitment in the fall. I can’t wait to meet the great ladies and help them find their home away from home.

Good Luck!

Love,
Roni Tamir

Kaitie Foley | Rho Gamma

Hi ladies! My name is Kaitie Foley. I am currently entering into my first senior year in college, which means I’ll be a super senior, hip hip hurray! I’ve loved every second of my college experience all thanks to Sorority Life at Wichita State University. I am honored to have been selected as a Rho Gamma for this Fall Recruitment and cannot wait to help some wonderful women find their letters!

I signed up for Formal Recruitment the summer before my Freshman year began at WSU, knowing from the very beginning that I wanted to find a home within the Greek system. As a double legacy (a legacy is a women who’s sister, mother, grandmother, etc... had been members of a sorority chapter), I had hoped my whole life to share the same bonds my mother and grandmother had developed in their collegiate years. But when the first day of Formal Recruitment came around, I was nervous beyond belief and thought for a split second that maybe I wasn’t cut out to join a chapter. Any reservation I had, however, vanished once I began conversing with the sorority women as WSU. I knew that I wanted to be one of them and gain a chapter full of sisters, something I never had, but always dreamed of as an only child. A few days later, I excitedly ripped open the envelope that held my bid card and the name of my new home. 

However, the journey to finding my home was not as easy as I had anticipated. On Preference Night, the final night of Formal Recruitment, I found myself torn between two chapters. One that I had fallen in love with on House Tours night, the other, I fell head over heels for on Pref Night. I walked back to the Rhatigan Student Center full of emotions: scared that I might choose the wrong chapter, nervous that I wouldn’t receive my top chapter, ecstatic that I was so close to finding my new home, and so many other feelings that it’s difficult to remember. 

Amidst my crisis of choosing my life long home, I did the only thing I could think to do. I spoke to my Rho Gamma. She was the calm in the storm for me. I presented my situation to her, asking for her guidance. She responded with a question of her own, one that has stuck with me ever since, “Where do you feel at home?” It’s a simple enough question, but one that forced me to search for an answer. The answer I found that night appeared on my bid card the next day and became my home.

As a Rho Gamma, I encourage all of the women going through Formal Recruitment to come to us with anything you’re feeling. We’ve been in your shoes before; nervous, excited, and every emotion in between. I want to help you find your home and sisters just as I found mine!

The experience of Formal Recruitment is unlike any other and I encourage every woman attending WSU to at least consider the possibility of joining a sorority. You might just be surprised at what you find!

~ Kaitie Foley

Amy Golay | Rho Gamma

They sure don't lie when they say your senior year will be here before you know it. Three years ago I made a very spur of the moment decision to sign up for Formal Recruitment at Wichita State and I honestly thought I was crazy. All through high school I was against it and have not really been the type to go out of my way to meet new people. I grew up in Garden City, KS and am the baby of three sisters so living 3.5 hours away from my parents for the first time was a bit of a reality check and quite the adjustment. 

After encouraging it all summer long, even though she was not Greek herself, my mother convinced me to at least give it a try. Well I made sure she knew that giving it a "try" was simply all I was going to do but I figured I didn't have my group of friends from high school to be around anymore so I needed to try something new. After the first night of Formal Recruitment I was a bit overwhelmed, I won't lie, and was tempted to walk away but I stuck it out for one more night. The second night we got to finally have conversations with the ladies in the houses and things seemed to go a bit smoother from there on out. They came across as real people, not the gitty sorority girls you see in movies. I found girls I could relate to and really clicked with; girls that reminded me of my friends back home which was a comforting feeling. Bid day came around and I never thought I'd be so anxious to find out what chapter I got into, but I could barely keep my concentration all day! That whole first semester in my new chapter was just a blur. There is a rush of exciting and scary and fun things to do that are thrown at you all at once you won't know what to quite think of it all, but I promise it will all settle down your second semester.

If I could give any piece of advice going through Formal Recruitment it would be to "keep an open mind". You will hear that a LOT when recruitment comes, trust me, but really take it to heart. After doing a little bit of research on the different chapters after attending an informational meeting, I had my mind set on one certain house for all the wrong reasons. Go into all of the houses with a clear, open mind and really listen to what all the ladies have to say. These chapters are homes to each and every one of these fine young women and these chapters hold such a dear place in our hearts for so many different reasons. Give them a chance to explain to you why being a part of that certain chapter means so much to them before you shut them down. It'll be the best thing you'll do that week! Follow your heart and have fun....your new home away from home is awaiting you!! #FindYourLetters #GoGreek #RhoGamLove

Amy Golay

Nicole Daemen | Rho Gamma

Hi! My name is Nicole Daemen.  I’m a senior here at Wichita State studying nursing.  I’m excited to say this is my first year as a rho gamma for formal recruitment!

I went to high school at Maize. I always knew I would end up at Wichita State since I knew they had the nursing program. I also loved that it was close to home.  The only downside to coming to Wichita State at first was that all of my close friends had chosen to go to schools farther away.

I had a friend that was already Greek at Wichita State who talked me into going to some Greek volleyball events the summer before my freshman year.  After meeting some of the women in the Greek system here, I knew I wanted to go through formal recruitment.

All of the women I talked to during formal recruitment broke the mold of the typical sorority.  I had completely fallen in love with Greek life by the end of my first night of recruitment.  I could not believe everything these chapters had to offer me.  There were so many fun activities, friendly women, and amazing philanthropies!

Going Greek at Wichita State is the best decision I have made during my college career.  It has given me countless leadership opportunities.  I currently hold a vice president position in my chapter as well as hold the position of Secretary and Scholarship on Women’s Panhellenic Association. I have tried things I never thought I would try, and I’ve become friends with women that I would not have otherwise met.  No matter who you are or where you come from, being Greek at Wichita State will have something wonderful to offer to you!

Best of luck,

Nicole Daemen

Paige Anderson | Rho Gamma

Hi ladies! My name is Paige Anderson, and I am so lucky to be one of the rho gammas during the Fall 2013 Formal Recruitment! I am a senior at Wichita State, and I am studying social work with a minor in psychology. I am originally from Topeka, Kansas so I didn’t know anyone other than my roommate in the dorms when I moved to Wichita. I was super involved in high school and had a lot of amazing friends, so it was a tough decision to move two hours away from everything I had ever known.

The first few weeks after I moved into the dorms were hard, I was really homesick and missing my family and all of my friends. One night, I was talking to the girl who lived across the hall from me and she mentioned that she had signed up to go through Formal Recruitment. I had never even thought about joining a sorority, but I knew that I had nothing to lose and everything to gain! That night, I went online and looked at all of the chapters local websites. This was something that I am VERY glad that I did, it really showed me a little bit about what the chapter members were up to before recruitment had even started!

I was super nervous on the first night of recruitment, I was afraid that I would say something wrong and none of the women would like me. After the first night of talking to all of the chapters, all of my nerves had gone away! I just had to remember that these girls were fun college students, just like myself! I was also very blessed to have such a supportive Rho Gamma! She told us that we could always come to her with anything, and she would be there to help us. She really made an effort to get to know the girls in our group, and that made it easier for us to confide in her. She also told our group something that is very important, and that is to keep an open mind when going through all of the chapters! Maybe you have heard something about one chapter, or maybe something about their “reputation”, but that doesn’t make it true at all. You are a smart woman, and you can make decisions for yourself! Give all of these women a chance, and listen to their stories. They have all been where you are sitting, and they have all made those same hard decisions!

I knew what chapter I belonged in on Philanthropy night. We were watching a video about the chapter’s philanthropy, and it was just so heartwarming that I started crying! When I looked over to the woman who was recruiting me (just to make sure she didn’t think I was crazy), she was crying too! I apologized for crying, but she just smiled and said “You should never have to apologize for being passionate about someone or something”. Those were the words that sealed my fate into that chapter, and it was in that moment that I knew I was home! The women that I had the privilege of speaking with those few nights, were the women that I aspired to be when I left this chapter and my college years behind me. As a senior, I can without a doubt say that by being a woman in my sorority I am a better person today.

Being Greek is so much more than I ever thought it could be. The women in my chapter have become my family, my life, and my best friends. They have shared with me in laughter, and in tears. I have had such a full life here in Wichita for the past 3 years, and it is all because I decided to sign up for Formal Recruitment in the Fall of 2010!

I am so happy to have been given the opportunity to help all of you beautiful women find your letters! My Rho Gamma had given me the most amazing gift, and it was the constant support and strength to find my home away from home. I’m super excited to meet all of you ladies! This is an amazing experience, and I am so glad that you are all here! Enjoy the rest of your summer, and I will see you all very soon!

Rho Gamma love,

Paige :)

Megan Davis | Rho Gamma

Hello Potential New Members!

My name is Megan Davis and I am currently a senior here at Wichita State. I am studying Chemistry for Pre-Medicine and I hope to become a plastic surgeon. This will be my first year as a recruitment counselor and I am so excited to meet you wonderful ladies! I can honestly say that going Greek has changed my life for the better. 

I decided to go Greek during the summer before my freshmen year because I wanted to meet new people. My decisions during recruitment week were for the most part pretty easy except the last night (Preference night). I was torn between two chapters and with the help of my rho gamma and another rho gamma in my color group, I ended up in the right place on bid day. My advice for you girls: Trust your rho gamma and other rho gammas in your color group, they will not steer you in the wrong direction. I believe that in the end, each woman will end up in the right chapters. 

Picking my chapter was the best decision of my life. I have made lifelong sisters and friends in the Greek community. My chapter has given me incredible leadership positions and I could not be happier. I am a strong believer in Greek unity and Wichita State has just that. 

My rho gamma was awesome and she really helped me along the way and that is how I want to be with my PNMs. The first night will be the most nerve racking because you will not know what to expect, but REMAIN CALM. Trust me, the women in every chapter are just as nervous as you! Follow your heart, pick the chapter that you feel the most comfortable with. An alumna of my chapter always said "Do not choose a chapter based on the woman you are today, choose a chapter based on the woman you want to become". 

Good luck Ladies!

Megan Davis

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 

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

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

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

Maddie Starns | Rho Gamma

Hello! My name is Madison Starns, and I am going to be a SUPER senior (unfortunately) this fall at Wichita State. I am a Spanish and Elementary Education Major, so that is my excuse for not graduating yet! This will still only be my fourth year at WSU, though, and my first time as a Rho Gamma, which I am very excited about!

I transferred to WSU after a semester of attending Barton County Community College, and realized soon that I was not having a great college experience that I heard everyone telling me that they were having. My mom was actually the person that encouraged me to go Greek. I could not picture myself in a sorority, and hated the idea, but, I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. I decided that being disconnected from the university and feeling lost/alone on campus needed to end. So, I went through formal recruitment and realized that I was very naïve about Greek life here at WSU. Each chapter was giving me so much information about what all they did! I had no idea it was so much more than just hanging out together or having rules. I was very nervous throughout the whole process and had a hard time staying motivated to return, but when it was over, I realized that it was the best decision that I could have possibly made. The women in the chapter that I chose truly cared about me and making me feel at home.

Now that I am Greek here, I can be proud of myself for helping the community in many different ways, participating in campus activities like hippodrome and songfest, holding an excellent GPA, and creating relationships that are sure to last through my lifetime. I am a more confident, independent, creative, responsible, and involved woman since joining my chapter. People that knew me before going Greek might also argue that I am also more pleasing to be around these days!

Going through formal recruitment, my Rho Gamma made sure that I always knew where I was supposed to be, and kept me on track visiting the chapters. During my recruitment, I was also going through cheerleading tryouts, so I was always late. Hanna Shell (my Rho Gamma) ensured that everything would work out, and kept me calm, cool, and collected :). She made sure that I would have a good experience, and represented Greek life very well for WSU. I cannot wait to help my PNMs enjoy their recruitment experience and find their own chapter to call their home away from home! I look forward to meeting you all and am ready to have a good time!!

Maddie Starns

Susan Lickteig | Rho Gamma

Hello Potential New Members!

My name is Susan Lickteig and I am a recruitment counselor for the red team during this year’s Formal Recruitment process. I am a sophomore here at Wichita State and I am majoring in Secondary Education Mathematics. I have spent my entire life in Wichita. I attended Wichita High School East and when it came down to choosing a university, I could not think of leaving Wichita.

I was raised a Shocker and knew that I would be a Shocker for life. Both of my parents went to Wichita State so Shocker pride was very high in my family. Not only did they both go to WSU, but they were both involved in the Greek community as well. Because I was a legacy, I was introduced to sororities at a young age. My mother took me to various events that her sorority held over the years. Had my mother not introduced me to Greek life, I never would have thought about going Greek. I am very grateful for my mother because joining a sorority has been one of the best decisions of my life so far.

After finding my letters, campus life became so much better for me. I live off campus so getting involved on campus was very difficult. Once I joined a sorority, I met so many girls that had the same interests and wanted to get involved just like I did. I became much more active by holding a position within the chapter, joining clubs, volunteering, and meeting others throughout the Greek community. Each sorority is very diverse.

Within each chapter, there are many different personalities and majors. Having such diversity is great because you will have a sister in a majority of your classes. I almost always have sisters that also act as study buddies. In each sorority, scholarship is very important. Some people believe that if they join a sorority they will not have time for their homework but this is far from the truth. The chapters do everything they can to help you succeed. Most chapters provide resources like computers, copiers, printers, old study guides, and some office supplies to help us improve. You should not have to worry about not having time for anything. You can choose how much time you want to put into your chapter. But once you see how great Greek life is, I am confident that you will want to get involved in your chapter’s leadership roles, philanthropy, sisterhood events, formals, and mixers.

When I went through the recruitment process last year as a freshman I had my heart set on one sorority, my mother’s. However, on the first night I realized that I was interested in all of the chapters. I was opened up to all of the values and philanthropies and it made my decision so much more difficult. Luckily, I had a great recruitment counselor to help me along the way. She was very encouraging and told me to pick the chapter that I connected with the most. I hope to be just as supportive as she was and I cannot wait to help you find your letters and your sisters that you will have for life!



Have a great summer!
Susan Lickteig

Melissa Heinitz | Rho Gamma

Hey everyone, my name is Melissa Heinitz and I am a Senior at Wichita State.  I am originally from Emporia, Kansas and I graduated from Emporia High School in May 2010.  My major is Exercise Science and Pre-Physical Therapy, and I currently work as a Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor for WSU Campus Recreation! 

I went through Formal Recruitment myself three years ago as a Freshman, and it certainly changed my entire college life.  I have had my best experiences and memories in college because of getting involved and being Greek!  The friendships, opportunities, and experiences are truly special and have made a huge impact on who I am and what I will do with my future.  If you had asked me when I was a Senior in high school if I were to go Greek, I would have looked at you like you were crazy and would have said “no way!”.  Then I came to Wichita and moved into the dorms and found that I was totally lost and homesick.  I needed a new place to call home, and without realizing it I found that very place when I went through Formal Recruitment. 
All of my roommates were going Greek, and they had taken me to an informational meeting to convince me to join them.  It worked and I signed up – at the last second.  If I could go back now, that would be what I would change: sign up as soon as you can so you have plenty of time to get to know your Rho Gamma.  Ask any and all the questions that pop into your head and get prepared for the Recruitment process – really reflect on your values and how you want to show yourself to your potential future sisters.  Being confident and knowing what to expect will make Recruitment much easier and less stressful, though no matter what it almost always becomes a favorite memory looking back!

This is my second year of being a Rho Gamma, and I could not be more excited!  I cannot wait to guide another fantastic group of girls through Recruitment, to really get to know those girls, and to have a little fun along the way.  Trust your Recruitment Counselor and the Recruitment Team – we are there to help!  Also know that you will find exactly what you are looking for in one of our amazing chapters, just make sure to keep a positive, open mind and to listen to what your heart tells you. 

With Rho G Love,
Melissa Heinitz

Christy Levasseur | Rho Gamma

Hey there! My name is Christy Levasseur and I'm so excited to be serving our Greek community as a Rho Gamma this fall for formal sorority recruitment. I'm a junior here at Wichita State studying nursing. I am super excited as this is my first year to be a rho gamma. I just can't wait to meet all the beautiful PNM's and help all of you to find your home here at Wichita State.

I attended Augusta high school in Augusta, KS. This was the biggest small town I have ever known. I decided to attend Wichita State because it was far enough away from there but not too far if I wanted to go home. The bad part was that my first year I was going to be driving back and forth from Augusta to school each day. I knew that not living in the dorms would cause me to have issues making new friends in college. Since a lot of students do this at Wichita state it is pretty important to get involved in order to make those connections. This is where I was lost because there are so many clubs to join that it seemed overwhelming.

I had always thought about going Greek because its something that many campuses have in common so I figured it would be a great idea to be involved in something that is nationally recognized. Although I knew that I wanted to go through formal recruitment, my parents were very skeptical. They thought that I would be a part of the stereotypical Greek community that is often showed in movies and tv shows. I reassured them this would not happen.

Finally, about a month before recruitment I signed up. I was super nervous I would never fit in and that I would not be wanted. As I went thru each night of formal recruitment, I began to realize all that being Greek on our campus could offer. I learned that its more than just making friends, and that it's about being a leader, an active member of helping our communities, and a striver for academic excellence. Being Greek doesn't make us better than others but it allows others to expect more of ourselves. I wanted to be a part of everything this encompassed.

The last night of recruitment I was stuck between the last two chapters. I just couldn't make the choice because I loved both of them and the wonderful women in those chapters. My rho gamma was there for me to help me thru the entire decision process, but on this night I needed her guiding more than anything. She gave me the best advice I ever could have asked for. She told me that I needed to choose the house not where I just fit in, but where I saw the women I would most like to be like. That's when I made the decision that I would never look back and change.

Being Greek has changed me completely. I would not be who I am or where I am at in life without this experience. It's unbelievable that you could meet a group of women who build you up, stand beside you, and believe in you. Being Greek opens up opportunities that you could never have seen before. It's not the easiest choice you will ever make, but I promise you it's the best choice you will ever make. I can't wait to see all the future women leaders of the Greek community that we will have in the new PNMs this year. My rho gamma helped me focus my decision and was there for whatever I needed. I'm super excited to help the Greek community grow and prosper as a rho gamma, but more importantly I'm excited to help some wonderful women find their letters here at Wichita State.

Best of Luck,

Christy Levasseur

Amber Whittaker | Rho Gamma

Hello! 
My name is Amber Whittaker 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 Aerospace Engineering. I was born here in Wichita, Kansas. I went to Wichita Heights High School where I received my high school diploma. I am so glad that I decided to attend WSU and even more grateful that I decided to go through Formal Recruitment and join a sorority. Along with being a Greek woman on campus I am also involved in the Society of Women Engineers. I am very excited about this year’s recruitment and as a Rho Gamma I am looking forward to getting to know everyone and helping women find the chapter that is right for them.

When I was in high school I was not very involved, I was one hundred percent focused on my studies which was good, but there was a lot I missed out on in high school as a result of this. After I graduated this really hit me, I had no special memories from high school and no close friends. From that moment on, I was determined to not allow this to happen in college. 

One day over the summer, I received a Facebook message telling me that I should consider going through sorority formal recruitment. Honestly, I don’t why, but this facebook message was all that it took for me. This was my solution, I knew that being in a sorority was the perfect way to get involved and make friends. When I first told my parents I was thinking about going through sorority recruitment their jaws dropped. They were so shocked that I would even be interested in being in a sorority and to be honest they were a little worried. But ever since I joined, my parents have known that it was one of the best decisions of my life and they have been so supportive ever since.

The actual week of formal recruitment was one of the best weeks of my life and one of my fondest memories. I loved talking to and getting to know the women in the other chapters and getting to know the other women in my recruitment group (when you sign up for recruitment you will be assigned a rho gamma and have 6-10 women in your recruitment group). I enjoyed learning all of the different values, philanthropies and activities that the chapters partook in. 

When it came to actually selecting the chapter for me this was a very difficult decision. I was torn between two different chapters and this is when I needed my Rho Gamma most. She was very supportive and talked to me and told me to choose the chapter that felt right to me. After taking her advice into consideration the choice was not too difficult and when I left that night I remember the excitement that I felt because I knew I chose the right the chapter for me. When I opened my bid card the next day I was so excited and couldn’t wait to start my life as a member of this chapter.

During my time as a sorority woman I have had many great experiences. I have held several leadership roles in my chapter and have really grown as a leader. I have experienced the benefits of social networking, I am currently employed at Cessna Aircraft and I was able to get my foot in the door thanks to an alumni of my chapter. I have been able to participate in many fun activities like hippodrome and Greek mixers. I have made so many friends and have developed so many amazing memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Another special aspect of being in a sorority is that being in your sorority is not something that lasts for four years, but rather something that you get to be a part of for your whole life. Like I said earlier, joining a sorority was one of the best decisions that I have ever made and I can’t wait for each women going through recruitment to obtain the same wonderful experiences that I have during my time as a sorority woman.

Have fun all!
Amber Whittaker

Ashlyn Funston | Rho Gamma

Hey there! My name is Ashlyn Funston and I'm a sophomore here at WSU. I'm excited to say this is my first year being a Rho Gamma! I'm so glad to have the opportunity to be a part of the recruitment process and to help PNMs find their letters.

I went through recruitment just a year ago, in the fall of 2012. Going Greek was the best decision I've ever made and it has benefited me in numerous ways. Being a legacy (a woman who has a mother, grandmother, aunt, or sister initiated into a chapter), I was eager, nervous, and excited to go through recruitment. My older sister, who was in a chapter, had encouraged me to go Greek. Hearing her perspective of what it meant to be Greek made me realize that it wasn't what most people believed it was. Even I made the mistake of believing all of the stereotypical myths about Greek life. It's about getting involved in an organization, reaching out to the community and making a difference, philanthropies and volunteering, building relationships within the Greek community, representing Greek life positively and proudly wearing your letters, and best of all, bonding with your sisters and making a difference in your own chapter!

Being involved in Greek life has helped me become more outgoing, independent, self-confident, and it has definitely helped me manage my time wisely. It's a change of pace coming to college and learning how to use your time management skills. Many people also think that if you get involved, your grades will suffer. I thought this too, before I became a part of Greek life, but I've learned that it has actually helped me improve in many areas. I'm an Elementary Education major and I've found that there are women in my chapter that share the same major! I've found it to be so helpful to have older members to look up to and give me advice through my journey to become a teacher.

Having an older sister who had three years of experience being a part of Greek life is really what helped me make my decision to go Greek. I felt as if I had nothing to lose by giving it a try, and it was well worth it! I couldn't imagine my life without being Greek. It's such an awesome and humbling experience and it has definitely opened my eyes to help me through my college journey. I've made many wonderful relationships and have found some of my best friends already in just my first year as a sorority woman.

I was full of emotions during the first night of recruitment; excited, nervous, happy, and scared of what the women in each chapter might think of me. Once I had the chance to visit each chapter, my nerves were put to ease because I knew that I just needed to be myself. My Rho Gamma encouraged me to be confident and to choose the chapter that I felt most comfortable with. I had an awesome Rho Gamma who helped me find my letters, so that's what I'm here to do for my PNM's!

Best of luck,
Ashlyn Funston