Chi Omega Spring Break 2019

The members of Chi Omega-Psi Beta had spectacular spring breaks. Sisters from our chapter left Iowa City when classes let out on March 15th. Some set their sights on Disneyland, Phoenix, Punta Cana, and other vacation spots, while others took their break back home to spend time with family and friends. However, a couple of members used their break to continue their charity work. Sara Leiding, Karly Lent, and Katy Garn spent their break embodying giving back to different communities and supporting people from all walks of life. 

Katy Garn, a member of our newest pledge class, traveled to McAllen, Texas with her church, McFarlin Memorial UMC. She has attended this trip for the past three years and spent the last two years as a team leader. During these trips, Katy and her team help the community by building houses, fixing churches, improving the community centers, and running vacation bible studies.

Katy Garn

“It felt so good being able to give such a deserving family a better living situation. I’m so thankful that I was given the opportunity to meet that family and spend my spring break in service because it really helped refocus my priorities and reminded me to be thankful for all that I have,” Sister Garn said. “I still get a warm feeling inside when I think about the impact I was able to make. I couldn't imagine spending my spring break any other way.”

Sara Leiding and Karly Lent, members of the junior pledge class, spent their week off in Belize. The pair took a class, “International Entrepreneurship and Culture,” through the Tippie College of Business which pushes its students to engage with its subject in the real world. So, Sara, Karly, and 17 other students traveled to a small Mayan community in San Pedro Columbia Belize where they helped local entrepreneurs develop their businesses by sharing marketing tools, ideas for expansion, financial organization tips, and overall helpful facts.

Sara Leiding

“Karly is the one that convinced to go on the trip and for that, I’m forever grateful. I discovered a new part of me that loves to serve others and volunteer abroad,” Sister Leiding said. “Karly has challenged me to do new things throughout our friendship and every single time it pays off.”

These sisters demonstrate the strength that Chi Omega can bring, not only to our sisters but also to those that we are able to help.

Dance Marathon 25

Dance Marathon 25 was one to remember. As we celebrated the silver anniversary, we didn’t sit; we didn’t sleep; we didn’t drink caffeine. We danced. Each hour we were inspired by a new story, and we kept dancing. Dance Marathon 25 successfully raised $2,960,403.25. Everyone left the IMU proud of all the money raised. As for Chi Omega, we contributed $109,653.94, and for the fourth consecutive year, we received the Mary Peterson Award for being the highest Greek fundraising chapter on campus. Not to forget the 18 brave sisters who ran the Chicago Marathon just months ago. All For The Kids.

“Dance Marathon was one of the most life changing experiences for me. I truly did not know what to expect when I first joined this year, but I think I got my first glimmer of how much it would impact me on Day to DM. This day, I saw how every came together for such a good cause and I was absolutely amazed what a college organization could do in just 24 hours!! I can’t wait to do it again and keep impacting the strongest kiddos in the entire world!!”

- Rachel Tandy

We are so proud of all of our sisters that decided to donate their hair to create wigs for the kids!

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“I originally began doing Dance Marathon for and with my best friend Kara, who was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma our senior year in high school. During that time she lost her hair due to her course of treatment. She was forced to transition into our college lives choosing between wearing wigs that itched or going without hair at all. I admired her strength and resilience and the way she embraced how beautiful she truly was. She was the reason behind me donating my hair for the first time. A woman’s hair is like a blanket, as well as a piece of your identity. Maybe you can imagine that without it, you’d feel bare and lost, and the fact that I was able to give a child or teenage girl a renewed sense of identity was beyond me. For a similar reason, I donated my hair for a second time at Dance Marathon 25. To have the ability to make a little girl or young woman feel beautiful again was an opportunity I did not think twice about and is hopefully one more way I can change another life next year”

-Courtney Sadler

Macy Meredith

“My experience as the Fundraising Chair for DM25 was one of the most life-changing times of my life. After being on the business committee for the past two years of Dance Marathon, it’s been cool to get to see the behind-the-scenes of how the organization works and to get to experience all of the events throughout the year when we sell merchandise, tickets, and take donations. Spending 24 hours celebrating all of the work that is put in throughout the entire year by getting to see the smiles on the kiddos faces is the most amazing feeling!! And getting to do it with one of my best friends by my side on the Business Committee with me has been the coolest I can’t wait for DM26!!”

Renee Cafun

“Being a lime captain was an amazing experience! From seeing dancers fall more and more in love with DM as the year went on and seeing how excited they were to finally make it to he Big Event was so rewarding!! As lime captain, the Big Event looked a lot different than my year as a dancer, but my favorite part was and always will be the kiddo graduation and watching all of those amazingly strong individuals walk across that stage having beat cancer.”

“I chose to participate in DM this year because I had so much fun with my sisters last year and was inspired by one of my professors. The first day of class this winter he told us about how impactful DM was to his family when his son was in the NICU. I then pledged to dance and was so glad I did! After fundraising for three weeks, I made it to the Big Event! My favorite moment this year was during the Kids Talent Show when a DM kid named Aubrey sang Taylor Swift and the whole ballroom was going crazy for her like a real concert venue. Seeing her eyes light up and living out her dream in stage was such a surreal moment for me as a dancer.“

- Ciara McCune

“My dance marathon experience was definitely unlike anything I have ever experienced before. Hearing the family speakers made all the tiredness and pain worth it because they are such an inspiration. I honestly wasn’t sure I could go 24 hours without sleeping or caffeine, but the children inspired me to keep going.”

- Sydney Aitchison

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We dance for the kids. The tiredness and pain doesn’t compare to what the kiddos go through. We fight for the kids who don’t have the strength to. We stand in honor of the kids that are dancing in our hearts. Each year we remind ourselves why we do it all - #FTK

Initiation 2019

With 2019 bringing fresh, new starts to the 804, our sisterhood also brought in 53 new official sisters. We held “Invite to Initiation” on Thursday, January 24th. Our new members came to the house in their white dresses, still presenting the pledge pin, and prepared to take their next steps toward becoming an official Chi Omega.

Kate Vittore, the GM leading PC ‘18 toward initiation, led the ceremony with the help of Sara Fisher, our 2017 president, and Mary Grace Henderson, our 2019 president. The girls received their invites as well as inspiring words from their big sisters that only served to strengthen their bond.

Our new members came to the 804 at various times over the course of Saturday, January 26th and Sunday, January 27th to become official Chi Omegas. Decked out in their best white dresses, our girls turned from new members into sisters.

The entire chapter got together to celebrate the new sisters and the model initiate on Sunday, Hannah Albertson. Hannah embodies everything it means to be a Chi Omega and it is clear in her smile and kindness that she deserved the honor.

We are so happy to welcome all the charismatic, intelligent, and beautiful girls from PC ‘18. We are so glad that all of them chose Chi Omega to be their new home. Welcome to the sisterhood!

2018: A Recap of our Year

2018 was a year to remember. Each year we set our goals high, and each year we look back on all the amazing things each sister has done. We excelled in our academics, gave back to our community, and enjoyed each and every moment of being a Chi Omega in 2018. Take a look at some our favorite accomplishments from last year.

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January

In January, we initiated 58 new members into our sisterhood. Initiation is a special time for our chapter because it reminds everyone of why we chose to join Chi Omega.

“Chi Omega has shown me how you can make so many opportunities for yourself, through not only school work but through my community as well. I have never worked as hard, studied as hard, or had as much fun in my whole life as I have this past Year, and it’s all thanks to Chi O! This sisterhood has already helped me grow as a person and I can’t wait to experience the rest of college with my kind spirited, light hearted, beautiful sisters. I am honored to be a Chi Omega.” - Rory Laubengayer

February

Dance Marathon 24 was a record breaking year for Dance Marathon, but also for Chi Omega. We danced for 24 hours without sitting or any caffeine to celebrated an incredible year with the rest of Dance Marathon. As a chapter, Chi Omega raised over $100,000 FTK and won the Mary Petersen Award, which is awarded to the highest Greek fundraising chapter on campus. Overall, Dance Marathon 24 raised over $3,000,000 FTK!

March

Spring Break was a great way for Chi Omega to relax for a week after putting in lots of hard work throughout the semester. Some sisters went south to escape the Iowa weather, but one sister, Bella, decided to spend her week serving others in Mississippi. You can read more about it here!!

April

Chi Omega welcomed our moms to Iowa City for a weekend to celebrate everything they’ve done for us! We shared a meal while listening to Intersection, an a capella group on campus. In addition, we had a silent auction with all profits going to Make-A-Wish! In addition to Mom’s Day, Greek life also held the first ever FSL Weekend, or Fraternity Sorority Life Weekend. There was a handful of events throughout the few days including Greek Olympics and Follies. We were paired with Phi Gamma Delta and Pi Alpha Phi and after all our hard work, we came out as champions! To top this month off, we won Chapter of the Year!

May

We watched our seniors walk across the stage at graduation to receive their diplomas! We are so proud of their accomplishments and contributions to Chi Omega. Class of 2018, we love you and we are forever grateful for the mark you left on this chapter!

August

August brings many beginnings for Chi Omega. Our newest members moved into the 804. Additionally, recruitment started and we were able to meet a thousand potential new members over two weekends. Recruitment may be tiring, but it’s truly once in a lifetime experience. It’s all worth it in the end when our new members run home to us on Bid Day!

September

We welcomed home 55 new members to the 804!! Our new member educator, Kate Vittore, did an incredible job at organizing a dream-filled Bid Day for our hooties. The theme was “Bringing Home Star Girls Since 1895”, and we kept that tradition alive. PC 18’, you are a dream come true and we love you so much! We are so excited to see you leave your impact on our sisterhood in the years to come.

October

18 sisters strong, Chi Omega took on the challenge of running the Chicago Marathon for the Dance Marathon kiddos in Iowa City. Many ran each mile in honor of a select group of 26 kids from 11th floor of Stead Family Children’s Hospital. The Chi Omega’s returned from Chicago to share their experiences with their Dance Marathon teams.

Chi Omega paired with Gamma Rho Lambda for Homecoming week and brought home a victory! We won Canstruction where members from Chi Omega and Gamma Rho Lambda came together to build a tower out of donated canned goods. We also dominated in Dodge Ball during Ruckus at the Rec & Iowa Shout, and proved to be worthy competitors in the float competition, Cornhole tournament, and the annual blood drive! Along with all the festivities, our very own Katie Cabel was nominated for Homecoming Court.

December

As the year came to an end, Chi Omegas came together for our annual Holiday Cozy followed by some fun in the snow! As the semester wrapped up, we got to celebrate each other and all our accomplishments big and small over the past year. 804 can’t wait for what is to come in 2019.

XOXO,

Psi Beta

Ask Us Who We Run For

The University of Iowa Dance Marathon (UIDM) is an organization that many of our sisters hold close to their hearts. On October 7th, 2018, 18 of our sisters took on the streets of Chicago as charity runners for UIDM. Each participant running the Chicago Marathon for UIDM had to raise $750 to run the marathon and will have to raise a total of $1,000 to participate in the big event in February of 2019. For some of our sisters, this was their first ever marathon, but many of our sisters ran the Chicago Marathon for a second or even a third time for UIDM! Read below to hear each runner’s story on why they chose to run 26.2 miles. 

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“If those kids up on the 11th floor can endure months of treatment, needles, spinal taps, bone marrow transplants, and surgeries, surely I could run 26 miles in honor of their strength, bravery, and unwavering optimism!!! I wanted the kids to know we’re fighting for them, during the first quarter wave, at the Big Event, and out on the streets of Chicago! ”

— Renee Cafun

“I loved running the marathon surrounded by a team that continues to be inspired by some amazing kids, and inspires others in return.”

— Bella Swan

“I ran for what I believe in: faith, charity, love, perseverance, and passion.”

— Haleigh Houston

“I have come to recognize over the years that I would do absolutely anything to support the kiddos and families being treated for pediatric cancer at the Stead Family Children’s Hospital... so with the Chicago Marathon being another way to show our support and honor their battle, there was no doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t be able to run 26.2 miles for them. ”

— Annie Korff

“Running the marathon was the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life. I thought about quitting more than once, I was exhausted from being up at 4 AM, and every part of my body ached. But then I looked down at my arm at the mile motivators and remembered why I was running. For the kids who are too sick to go outside and run around and just be a kid, for the kids dancing in our hearts who lost their battle to cancer and would never be able to do this, and for the kids who did triumph over their battle with cancer and we celebrate. Dance Marathon will always hold a special place in my heart and I will forever cherish this experience!”

— Skyler Lawson

“If the kiddos can fight cancer, I can run 26.2 miles.”

— Morgan Ross

“26.2 miles. A physical and mental fight... but nothing compares to the fight for their lives that the kiddos on 11 and everywhere go through each day battling cancer. I run (and dance) for more smiles, more laughs, and more birthdays. Always For The Kids”

— Nicole Anderson

“Running the Chicago Marathon was such an incredible, yet humbling experience. Each mile, I would look down at the kiddo’s names written on my arm and remind myself why I run. I run for more smiles, more birthdays, and more joy- but above all, I run in hope no other families are affected by pediatric cancer. To the toughest kiddos in the world, thank you for serving as my motivation every step of the way. ”

— Olivia Denkinger

“I ran the Chicago Marathon to push my limits for the kids in another way! This organization has done so much for me in my college years, and I want to give back to it in each way I can. Being able to rep my lime on the streets of Chicago was one of the most special experiences of my entire life, and those kiddos motivated me through each and every mile. The pain my body felt was nothing compared to what those kids go through every single day. Until cancer is cured, I will keep on running, dancing, fundraising, and raising awareness FTK”

— Hayley Stuenkel

“I ran the Chicago Marathon for Dance Marathon this year to do what I can to help the kiddos battling cancer at the children’s hospital. No distance can compare to what they go through and we will continue to fight for them FTK!”

— Megan Theis

““I ran the Chicago Marathon for the kiddos and families who continue fight 364 days a year against an illness that prevents kids from being kids. I ran for more birthdays, less pokes, and for kiddos to be able to run free of being attached to poles. I ran for a cure and I will continue to run and fight along side the strongest people I know until a cure is found.”

— Gianna Fiandaca

“The Chicago Marathon was one of the most incredible experiences I have had the chance of doing in my life. I laughed and I cried, but most importantly, I ran 26.2 miles for the strongest kiddos I know in their fight against pediatric cancer. I am so happy to have completed my first marathon in honor of Dance Marathon. It was so exciting to see how many other dedicated Chi Omegas running for the same great cause and so many of our sisters who came out to Chicago to support us! Every mile was dedicated to a kid who is either actively fighting cancer, in remission, dancing in our hearts or is cancer free. Every time it got hard and I felt tired, I looked down at the tattoo on my arm with all their names and found the motivation to keep going. If they can fight cancer, survive endless pokes/port accesses, withstand chemotherapy, radiation and bone marrow transplants, I could l run 26.2 miles. My finisher medal is dedicated to these fighters, they deserve it so much more for what they do every single day! One day, I hope to say that pediatric cancer is a disease of the past, but until then we will keep fighting, fundraising, dancing, and running all For The Kids!!”

— Ashley Mazzocchi

“I ran this marathon for the kiddos in the hospital that have to fight, and push their bodies to the limit every single day. It wasn’t easy, but it was well worth it.”

— Kelly Lynch

“I ran the marathon for all the kiddos that can not. They are strong enough to fight for their lives everyday - 26.2 is nothing compared to what families and kids have to go through, Always FTK!”

— Rory Laubengayer

“I ran for the needle - sticks, the hospital visits, the wigs purchased, the fear kiddos endure, the sorrow for loved ones lost, for one last end of chemo treatment, and not for just one, but many more birthdays. At the start of the race I ran with a parent who had lost their child to cancer. A song had come on the speaker, one which was his child’s favorite song. At that moment, we both knew that this kiddo was watching over us throughout the entire 26.2 miles. He knew we were running for him, every other child who has lost their battlle, the kiddos still fighting, those who have been officially been cured, and to one day find a cure.”

— Courtney Sadler

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Two of our sisters who ran the Chicago Marathon play a huge role in Dance Marathon as members of the Executive Board: Darby Drenzek and Gillian Fiandaca. 

“My position this year is the Outreach Director. As the Outreach Director, I get the opportunity to engage with populations such as UIDM Alumni, Mini Dance Marathon programs from across the state, faculty, and staff on the University of Iowa Campus, and others around the Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty community. I love this position because I am able to spread the mission of UIDM far across many walks of life.

I have always been amazed at the strength shown by our kiddos battling cancer and undergoing bone marrow transplants. It is such an honor to run 26.2 miles with kiddos’ names written on our arms - and their bravery fueling each step that we take. ”

— Darby Drenzek

“I’m the Hospital Director and through my position have the absolute honor of working alongside pediatric oncology staff to bring as much hope as possible to the kids and families on the 11th floor of the Stead Family Children’s Hospital. I ran for the kids I’ve met on 11, the kids who have graduated five years cancer free, and the kids who are forever dancing in our hearts.”

— Gillian Fiandaca

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We are family!

These past couple weeks have been filled with so much joy as we were able to spend much needed time with our sisters. We had a sisterhood retreat involving many activities, food, and ghost stories!! Seniors told the new members about their experiences in Chi Omega and we were able to learn more about each other, especially the new members, after a long summer away from each other. Read more below to hear about this fun getaway!!

“I absolutely loved having a night with all of my sisters!! I hadn’t gotten a chance to meet all our new members and I was able to have a conversation with every single person that night. My favorite part of the night was having a sleepover with everyone and telling ghost stories before bed!!”

- Peyton Swift

“i love that chi omega has a sisterhood retreat because i was able to meet girls in our house who i had never talked to before! i now know people in every grade and i got to bond with my lovely pledge class.”

- Callie Thomas

“one of the best nights, with the best sisters!”

- Emmerson Fuller

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Not only did Chi Omega have a sisterhood retreat, but our new members received their big sisters!! During the week leading up to the reveal, also known as CHIO Week, bigs shower their littles with gifts and love anonymously. The first day, “C”, is candy where the littles receive their favorite candy and drinks. “H”, or hand-me-downs, are Chi Omega shirts, hats, and other apparel to get them ready for the next four years. “I” stands for insignia and bigs give things with the Greek letters representing Chi Omega. Finally, on the last day owls, or “O”, are gifted because our symbol is the owl. The next day, the bigs were revealed to their littles through matching shirts. Check out the pictures below to see the pure joy and excitement when the new members found their Chi Omega family!!

“becky and i have been friends since before i joined chi omega. she has always been so kind and made herself available whenever needed. becky was one of the reasons i went chi o! since big/little reveal she has been there for me even more, going out of her way to make sure that I’m doing well in school, my relationships, and chi omega. Becky is the sweetest, most free spirited person ever and i look up to her for that. She’s always brightening my day and i’m so thankful that she’s my big!”

- Kirsten Brown

“once i found out kara was my big, I was overwhelmed with excitement. she radiates positivity and always has a smile on her face. i am so happy i was blessed with not only such an amzing big/sister but a role model that will motivate me to be the best i can be.”

-Megan Verzoni

Big/Little reveal was such an exciting time for both our new and active members. The excitement of making and receiving gifts kept all girls on their toes. The range of personalities within each family showed the diverse sisterhood Chi Omega provides. There were joyful smiles and fun memories made during Big/Little reveal 2018. This will truly be a moment our members will remember forever.

Welcome Home, Hooties!

Bid Day was a day full of pure joy and happy tears as we welcomed home our 54 star girls to the 804. Our new member educator Kate Vittore planned a magical bid day, making it so fun bringing home our “star girls”! It was “written in the stars” and Chi Omega couldn't have asked for a better new member class and we are proud to show them off. Read below to learn more about our newest additions!

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Maddy Ackerburg

"She's a spunky ball of energy that always keeps busy and never says no to a new adventure. She is a friend to everyone and always wants everyone to feel welcomed."

Hometown: Clayton, Missouri

Major: Creative Writing

 

 

Sydney Aitchison

"Sydney is an incredible young woman. She brings light into every room with her genuine personality and selfless soul. She is a true role model of poise and generosity. We are so happy to have welcomed her home to Chi Omega."

Hometown: Naperville, Illinois

Major: Nursing

 

Hannah Albertson

"Hannah is such radiant and classy woman and Chi Omega is so lucky to have such a genuine heart like hers!"

Hometown: Pleasant Hill, Iowa

Major: Therapeutic Recreation

 

 

Maddie Berst

“Maddie is a spunky, genuine, and truly captivating young woman. Her vibrance is then paired with her peaceful and calming nature. She is someone everyone needs as a friend.”

Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Major: Pre-Dental

 

 

 

 

Bri Bisgard

"Bri is a well respected and brilliant lady who will bring so much to this chapter. She shines so brightly!"

Hometown: Marion, Iowa

Major: Nursing

Elle Bode

"Elle Bode is an absolute charm to be in Chi O. She is warm hearted, beautiful inside and out, motivated, and her laughter is contagious.”

Hometown: Coralville, Iowa

Major: Nursing

Katelyn Bonnett

"Katelyn is such a bright, beautiful, young lady. She brings positivity in to any situation and she lights up a room just by being there. Chi Omega is unbelievably lucky to have her."

Hometown: Johnston, Iowa

Major: Pre-Law

 

Kameryn Bounds

"Kameryn is such a breath of fresh air. Her humor and positivity light up the room. Chi Omega could not be more honored to have her."

Hometown: West Des Moines

Major: Communications

 

Taylor Boyd

“Taylor's radiant and sincere personality can brighten the mood of any room that she is in. She is so authentic, considerate, kind-hearted, and beautiful inside and out. Chi Omega is beyond lucky to have such an incredible women in our chapter.”

Hometown: Iowa City, Iowa

Major: Psychology

Ashton Bries

"While Ashton’s life is hectic, she is never too busy to spend time with her friends and is always there just when you need her. Psi Beta is so lucky to have her and I look forward to sharing many memories with her in the future."

Hometown: Marion, Iowa

Major: Psychology

Kirsten Brown

"Kirsten is the kindest and most genuine person. Her heart is golden, and everyone is lucky to know her."

Hometown: Adair, Iowa

Major: Radiology

Claire Burelbach

"Claire Burelbach is just a little ray of sunshine! Her natural beauty is capturing and her goofy sense of humor is so special! She is so kind and  a joy to be around!"

Hometown: Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Major: Human Physiology

Emma Carlson

“Emma is genuine, kind-hearted and charismatic. Her intelligence and drive will take her far in life. Emma’s presence brings joy to all those around her.”

Hometown: Clive, Iowa

Major: Psychology, Pre-Med

 

 

Marisa Casas

"Marisa is such a radiant, kind, and mature young woman. Her smile brightens any room she walks into, and her positivity will take her far in life. She brings so much joy to our chapter!”

Hometown: Bettendorf, Iowa

Major: Business

 

 

Natalie Christensen

"She’s bright, bubbly, and one hundred percent true to herself. Her fun-loving and easygoing spirit shine through to everyone she interacts with, and she is loved by all who know her!"

Hometown: Waterloo, Iowa

Major: Open

 

 

Sylvia Clubb

"Sylvia is one of the most determined and fun-loving people I’ve ever met. She cares so much about the people around her and anybody would be lucky to have her as a friend!”

Hometown: Marion, Iowa

Major: English

 

 

Jordian Cook

"She's super personable, compassionate, and has a smile that can make anyone's day!!"

Hometown: Monmouth, Illinois

Major: Open

 

Madison Driscoll

“Madison is radiant, passionate, and full of laughter she puts 100% into everything she does and is the friend everyone wants to have. Madison always puts the service of others before herself and embodies everything Chi omega stands for.“

Hometown: Marion, Iowa

Major: Nursing

 

Greyson Dumont

“Greyson is one of the most hard working girls I know! She’s a business major, and she’s so invested in her classes, which I really admire.”

Hometown: Solon, Iowa

Major: Business

 

Ciara Feldman

“From the first time I talked to Ciara, I knew she belonged in the 804. From her strong academic drive to her radiant energy and positivity, I know she will bring so much to this chapter, and I can’t wait to watch her grow as a member of Chi Omega."

Hometown: Marshalltown, Iowa

Major: Chemistry, Pre-Med Track

 

Emma Ford

“Emma is naturally beautiful inside and outside. She has a huge heart and radiant spirit!“

Hometown: Johnston, Iowa

Major: Psychology

  

Kelsey Ford

"Kelsey is super sweet, outgoing, and easy to hold a conversation with. I know she will contribute so much understanding and level thinking to the Psi Beta chapter of Chi Omega, and expand her friendship to include everyone she meets."

Hometown: Grayslake, Illinois

Major: Nursing

 

Grace Foxen

"Grace’s kindness is contagious! She is a total sweetheart with a genuine smile. Her pure heart is inspirational. She brings so much joy to Chi Omega!"

Hometown: Waukee, Iowa

Major: Business

 

Katie Freund

"Katie is an actual ray of sunshine! Her smile could light up any room and her humor is unmatched. She has a heart of gold and we are so lucky to have her in Chi Omega!"

Hometown: North Barrington, Illinois

Major: Recreation Therapy

 

 

Taylor Fridrich

"Taylor is just as beautiful inside as she is on the outside. She is cool and confident, and always makes everyone around her feel special. Her hard work and dedication make her an amazing role model to everyone."

Hometown: North Liberty, Iowa

Major: Pre-Dentistry

 

Emmerson Fuller

"Emmerson is one of the sweetest souls. She is unbelievably selfless and never fails to have a smile on her face. She is such an unbelievably bright girl and is such a light. "

Hometown: Aurora, Illinois

Major: Elementary Education

 

Katy Garn

"Katy is a breath of fresh air! Her infectious energy and smile makes everyone feel welcome and loved. She is the definition of sunshine!"

Hometown: Norman, Oklahoma

Major: Biomedical Engineering

 

Olivia Gorsche

"I fell in love with Liv when I picked her up at the Chi O door during recruitment and I felt SO lucky to be the one who picked her up on Bid Day. She truly IS a star through her passion, confidence, and cool essence. I know that she will take advantage of the opportunities presented to her and SHINE in her 1st year as a Chi Omega. She knows how to make anything and everything fun and worthwhile - especially watching Harry Potter and playing Monopoly!"

Hometown: Johnston, Iowa

Major: Pre-Law

 

Kennedy Hannan

"Tears of happiness as I welcomed her home on Bid Day. Kennedy is such a driven, classy, amiable, and bright young women that is going to add so much to our chapter. I can’t wait to see her grow with her experiences as a Chi Omega and throughout her college career! She has a bright future."

Hometown: Marion, Iowa

Major: Business

Josie Hermann

"Josie is a bundle of happiness! She spreads love and joy to everyone she talks to! She is compassionate, caring and a true friend. Chi O is lucky to have Josie!"

Hometown: Washington, Illinois

Major: Enterprise Leadership, Pre-PA

Jordan Hook

"Jordan is selfless, bright and beautiful inside and out! She has an infectious personality and I have no doubt that she is going to flourish in Chi Omega!"

Hometown: Adel, Iowa

Major: Human Physiology

 

McKenna Horstmann

"McKenna is centered, brilliant, and compassionate. She radiates love, and she gives the best hugs! McKenna is a supportive friend and  always makes time for the people that she cares about."

Hometown: Des Moines

Major: Engineering

 

Madeline Huntley

"Maddie is a ball of energy and an absolute hoot! She is inclusive and loving and it is a privilege to know her."

Hometown: Urbandale, Iowa

Major: Marketing

Grace Keller

"Grace Lynn Keller is a Sophomore majoring in journalism and mass communication studies. She is the EPITOME of a star girl. Her joy and compassion she has for life shines through in every conversation you have with her, and she is incredibly easy to relate to. She is a tour guide on campus and loves sharing her passion for Iowa with incoming students.."

Hometown: Island Lake, Illinois

Major: Communications

 

Kayla Kinney

"Kayla is a truly genuine, radiant, and kind hearted girl. She is driven, yet humble, calm and collected, and bubbly and spontaneous all at the same time. You can’t help but smile when you’re around her!!"

Hometown: West Des Moines, Iowa

Major: Pre-PA

 

 

 

Madison Mayberry

"To know Madi is to love her! Her fun-loving and easygoing personality make her a joy to be around, and she has a smile that lights up every room she walks into. Chi O is so lucky to have her!"

Hometown: Morris, Illinois

Major: Open

 

Emma Mcilhon

" Emma’s positive attitude and shining personality can make any situation fun! She is a friend to everyone she meets, and her smile radiates sunshine. Our chapter wouldn’t be the same without her."

Hometown: Clive, Iowa

Major: Business

 

 

Shannon Micklewright

"Shannon is so put together and keeps her values at the forefront! She’s a ball to hang out with and makes me laugh so hard! I can already tell she’s someone I can trust with anything and will always be there for when I need an ear to listen."

Hometown: Bettendorf, Iowa

Major: Human Physiology

 

Ellise Mueller

"Ellise radiates positivity whatever room she walks into. Her optimism and pure joy for life is infectious and I couldn't ask for a better addition to Chi Omega. She is so loved!"

Hometown: Adel, Iowa

Major: Psychology

 

 

Georgia Sampson

“Georgia is spunky, sassy, and full of energy. Her smile is contagious and she brings life to Psi Beta. We are so lucky to have her!”

Hometown: Libertyville, Illinois

Major: Creative Writing

 

 

Abbey Schwarzenbach

"Abbey is the total package! She has a pure and genuine presence! Abbey is radiant, compelling, kind hearted, and easy to love!"

Hometown: Woodbury, Minnesota

Major: Nursing

Erin Smith

"I am so excited that Erin went Chi O. She is unique and genuine and she is going to THRIVE in this chapter. I can’t wait to see what amazing things she will do in her next four years, and we are so lucky to have her :-)"

Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Major: Pre-Med

 

 

Gina Sobecki

"Gina is one of those people that can light up a room with her radiant personality and contagious smile. Gina carries herself with poise and grace in everything she does, and Chi Omega is lucky to welcome her as a new sister."

Hometown: Arlington Heights, Illinois

Major: Speech and Hearing Sciences

 

Saylor Sonnenburg

"Saylor has the most kind and giving heart, and her positivity and love for others is infectious!"

Hometown: Clive, Iowa

Major: Pre-Med

 

 

Katie Stadler

"Katie is a friend to everyone! She radiates positivity everywhere she goes. She is so passionate and determined and a true STAR! So lucky to have her in Chi O and as a sister!"

Hometown: Cary, Illinois

Major: Health Sciences

 

 

Sydney Striegel

"Sydney is a social butterfly. She has the amazing ability to talk to others and make everyone feel comfortable around her. Her beauty and knowledge reflect exactly what it is to be a Chi Omega."

Hometown: Sigourney, Iowa

Major: Biomedical Engineering

 

Anna Sullivan

"Right when Anna jumped into my arms on Bid Day, I knew her love for chi o was beyond all means! Anna is a radiant, beautiful, & one of a kind HOOTIE! Her strong work ethic and generosity is what I value most about her! "

Hometown: Northfield, Minnesota

Major: Open

 

 

McKenna Tackes

"McKenna exudes elegance. She is humble, compassionate, and lovely in every way. And to top it off, she is a stylish little lady! So happy to call this sweet girl my sister!

Hometown: Keokuk, Iowa

Major: Speech and Hearing Sciences

 

 

Rachel Tandy

" Rachel is one of most down to earth, well-rounded, and driven women I have ever met. She goes out of her way to make everyone feel special, a true friend and role model to all.”

Hometown: Vinton, Iowa

Major: Health and Human Physiology

 

Callie Thomas

"Callie is an amazing, well-rounded lady. She is always smiling, and her bubbly personality can make everyone around her feel good!"

Hometown: Downers Grove, Illinois

Major: Elementary Education

 

 

Megan Verzoni

"The second Megan ran off the bus she shined.  She is such a sweet and fun soul, easy going, and so driven. I can’t wait to see what the next four years hold for her and watch her continue to shine like the star I know she is."

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Major: Accounting

 

 

Haley Vihnanek

"Haley has the kindest heart! She is intelligent, thoughtful, and crazy funny. Haley always finds a way to make everyone's day brighter and brings so much love into the world!"

Hometown: Oak Lawn, Illinois

Major: Pre-Med

 

Elle Weilbrenner

"She is the most determined, out going, personable girl I have ever met. She is a true go getter and we are so so lucky to call her a Chi Omega."

Hometown: Ottumwa, Iowa

Major: Criminology, Pre-Law

 

 

Brylee Yirkovsky

" Brylee is a ray of sunshine! She lights up every room she walks in with her contagious smile!”

Hometown: Swisher, Iowa

Major: Pre-Med

Leadership in Chi Omega

Leadership skills are important to know for all aspects of life, from joining an organization at school to interviewing for a future job. In Chi Omega, there are a variety of leadership opportunities; these experiences allow our members to give back to the sorority that has helped shape who they are and has enhanced their college years. Read below to learn a little about each position and each gifted human who fills it!

Katherine Crosby

Internal Philanthropy Director

I am the Philanthropy Director for Chi Omega and it is so awesome getting first-hand experience working with Make-A-Wish! We had out first ever partnering with UI Wishmakers for a Walk For Wishes this past spring that I got to help coordinate, and I am so excited for our Wish Week this September! Being heavily involved in our philanthropy has given my time with Chi Omega so much more value than I could have ever imagined. I am so thankful I get the opportunity to be so involved!

Macy Meredith

External Philanthropy Director

I'm the Philanthropy Director for the Community Service Cardinal Cabinet. For my position, I get to share with the chapter all of the philanthropies that other members of Greek Life are hosting to raise money for their respective charities. I also am in charge of making sure everyone gets their volunteer hours done each semester! I love helping Chi Omega continue to be philanthropic while supporting other organizations on campus. 

Margaret Kaufman

Internal Social Director

As internal social chair, I am responsible for planning all of our date parties, semiformal, and formal events. It is so fun and I always love watching the event come together in the end! There's nothing better than a night out with all the girls (& our lovely dates). 

Hannah Lee

External Social Director

My job as the social director is to communicate and plan events with other fraternities and sororities on campus so we can grow together as a Greek community and grow closer as sisters. I’m excited to grow Chi Omegas relationships with other Greek fraternities and sororities! 

Sydney Albertson and Kaitlyn Ohrstein

Internal Campus Activities Directors

I am one of the campus activities directors for Chi Omega. I help coordinate the campus-wide activities Chi Omega participates in during the weeks of Homecoming and Greek Week. My favorite part about this position is seeing everyone have so much fun during the events... and seeing Chi Omega win, of course ;) - Sydney

I am also a campus activities director! With this title, I lead the chapter in Homecoming week and FSL weekend. I communicate information between the chapter and the Fraternity and Sorority Life executive council, encourage participation, and represent our chapter in the Greek community. I had such a blast during FSL weekend - Winning first place was just the cherry on top! I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a leader in such a strong chapter. Next up… Homecoming Week! - Kaitlyn

Mary Mondanaro

External Campus Activities Director

In this position, I organize intramural teams so that Chi O's can compete with other teams on campus. I also am in charge of coordinating with Greek Spirit Wear so that our sisters have Chi O apparel to rep around Iowa City!

Bella Swan

Internal Sisterhood Director

My name is Bella and I serve as the Internal Sisterhood Chair. With this position I get to plan all of our events that we do as a chapter, and sometimes events we do with other chapters! During my first semester as the Internal Sisterhood chair, my sisters and I snuggled up at the movies to celebrate Galantine's Day, dyed easter eggs at the Chi O house, got sweaty at Hot House Yoga and Title Boxing, and celebrated our seniors before they left. I love my position because I get to work with many members to make events happen as well as learn more about fun things to do in the community!

Jenna Larson

External Sisterhood Director

I serve as the External Sisterhood Director! For this position, I lead in the planning and executing of our two largest sisterhood events, all of which benefit Make-A-Wish: Mom’s and Dad’s Day! What I especially love about this position is that I have the opportunity to see my sisters make incredible memories with one another and their family members. There’s no better feeling than spending countless hours planning an event to see the end result of people smiling, laughing, and enjoying another moment together as Chi Omegas.

Ciara McCune

Internal Public Relations Director

My name is Ciara McCune and my position is Internal Personal Relations Director. My position is a newer director position but I create and design decorative banners and decor for almost all Chi Omega events: sisterhoods, philanthropy events, Mom’s/Dad’s Day and Bid Day. I love how involved my committee is when creating banners/decorations. It makes everyone in the chapter feel involved and accomplished when looking at our finished job-well-done! 

Abby Willey

External Public Relations/Marketing Director

I manage all of Psi Beta’s social media accounts! My committee and I are also in charge of capturing photo and video at all of the Chi O events that take place throughout the year. I love having the opportunity to show the outside world what our sisterhood is all about! It’s been rewarding to showcase our accomplishments and to paint a picture of the greek life experience for friends and family. As a nursing major, it’s been really fun to step outside of my comfort zone and learn all about the strategic side of social media and marketing. Holding a position has made me appreciate this sisterhood so much more!

Clare Keating

Golf Classic Director

I serve as the Golf Classic/Community Service director. In my role, I help coordinate our golf Classic at Brown Deer Golf Club and manage the logistics such as organizing the signup, working with the golf course, and guiding chapter involvement. I love that my position allows me to bring people together in support of our philanthropy, the Make-A-Wish foundation, and that the event is a way for Chi Omegas to have fun with their friends and family while giving to a great cause!

Rachel Frescoln

Parents Club Director

Being able to have an impact on our chapter by having a leadership position has been so incredibly rewarding. As Parents Club Director, I have the opportunity to make connections with current members' parents and alumni, all while representing the wants and needs of my in-house sisters. Developing my leadership and communication skills all while hanging out with some super cool Psi Beta moms is definitely one of the best opportunities I've had at Iowa so far!

Kate McLaughlin

Alumni Relations Director

My position focuses on certain events throughout the semester such as the holiday cozy party and Christmas Tree/house decorations! We also throw a senior “soon to be” alumni event which has looked a lot of different ways (such as a dinner, brush and barrel event, etc)! love that my position gets a lot of creative freedom in deciding what people want at the event. We can totally create something new or continue the traditions people love! :) 

Elli Lenz

Foundations Ambassador

My name is Elli Lenz, and I am the Foundations Ambassador of Psi Beta! As the Foundations Ambassador, I help organize our Chi Omega scholarships, plan our Centennial event, and coordinate with other directors! I love my position because I get to know so many members of Chi Omega by working alongside both the amazing women of our chapter and our outstanding alumna.

Dani McComas

Career & Personal Development Director

My position is Career and Personal Development Director! In the fall, I will be helping my motivated and intelligent sisters find opportunities on their career paths or correlated with any of their interests! It’s my job to assist the women of Psi Beta with identifying their strengths, setting career goals, and establishing steps towards professional success through networking and involvement. I’m excited to interact with my sisters and see everyone’s passions. ❤️ I can’t wait to see my fellow sisters/scholars obtain experience and THRIVE in various areas. 

Piper Johanns

Educational Director

I am the educational director for Chi Omega. I really focus on scholarship and am in charge of getting diverse speakers to present to our group so we can learn about a wide range of things and become more well-rounded individuals. I love being the educational director because I get to pick the topics and the speakers. This can be challenging since every member has varied interests, but it's so rewarding to have members get excited for educationals and learn something from them.

Sara Leiding

New Member Educator Assistant 

I am a new member educator assistant which allows me to be a right hand (wo)man to Kate Vittore, the GM. I serve on the membership education team and get to be a liaison to the upcoming fall pledge class. I help plan the events and meetings that take place for the new members with the hopes of helping them feel better acclimated and happy to be apart of Psi Beta. I love that I get a chance to get to know the newest pledge class and can feel like I’m making a positive impact on their experience!

Rory Laubengayer

New Member Educator Assistant

I’m so excited to being the helping hand alongside side our New Member Educator, Kate Vittore (who is also my big), as the New Member Educator Assistant! From Bid Day until Initiation I will be by Kate and  the New Members side as they begin their journey in Chi Omega! Being hands-on with the planning of all the new member activities, and assisting Kate in any way she needs is going to be a blast! Making our New Member class feel at home in Chi Omega, the same way we do, is such a special thing and I love that I get to help do that!

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Besides being a director, another leadership option in Chi Omega is being on executive board. These driven women lead our chapter and give 110% into everything they do. Read below to see what their jobs entail and what they love about them. 

Karly Lent

President

I lead and manage chapter operations to create an environment that is consistent with Chi Omega's six purposes. My position basically oversees everything that the Psi Beta chapter does. I am responsible for enforcing our policies, procedures and bylaws and making decisions alongside the rest of the exec board. On top of that, I am the liaison between our chapter and our national headquarters, where I keep in contact with our regional director and national consultant. I attend many meetings within our chapter, and within the University of Iowa Panhellenic community including: weekly executive board meetings, monthly Skype calls with headquarters, individual member meetings, monthly advisor meetings, monthly Panhellenic Council president meetings, as well as conducting our weekly chapter meetings! I think the thing I love most about my position is the relationships I've been able to create because of it. I've grown immensely with women that I never would've encountered otherwise. This summer I represented Psi Beta at the biannual national convention and to say my love for Chi Omega grew times a million is an understatement. Chi Omega is for a lifetime and that is something I hold dear to my heart. I'm constantly inspired by the women around me and I've never felt more empowered or like I had a place in this world until Chi Omega.

Alli Grier

Vice President

As Vice President, I am keeper of Psi Beta's bylaws as well as our chapter's scholarship chair. What I love most about being the Vice President and on the executive board is helping my sisters succeed academically and learning there is so much more to being a part of a sorority than the letters one wears. It is about mutual connection and responsibility. It is about surrounding yourself with those that push you to be a better version of yourself. Despite challenges, I am thankful for Chi Omega everyday not only for its leadership opportunities but also for the people it has brought into my life. ❤️

Annalisa Stillman

Personnel Chair

In my position, I am in charge of standards (enforcing rules and holding my sisters accountable), risk management (making sure my sisters are being safe), sisterhood (making sure all my sisters are feeling loved) and morale (making Psi Beta as enjoyable and fun as it can be) - I also serve as a confidant as everything that is told to me is confidential! I have absolutely loved being apart of executive board. I think what I love most is that my role as personnel is so involved, I GET to care about all my sisters and be there for them when they need me!

Kate Vittore

New Member Educator

I have the privilege of welcoming our new members and getting them well acquainted with our chapter. I spend lots of time first semester teaching about Chi Omega's values and practices, helping with the transition to college, and guiding our hooties on their path toward initiation and becoming outstanding members of our chapter! I am so grateful for this role and it gives me so much joy because it means so much to be a friend, mentor, confidant, and sister to the new members and watch them grow. It's incredible how much your first semester as a Chi Omega shapes your college experience, and I have nothing but positive things to say about my job! So excited to welcome home the next pledge class and give them my all. 

Madeline Lawrence

Director of Programming

As Director of Programming, I oversee the Cardinal Cabinet Directors. I act as a liaison between the Executive board and the Directors to keep everyone informed and on the same page. I lead meetings with the Directors twice a month and ensure that the entire chapter understands their role within the Cardinal Cabinets. I love witnessing the Directors success and growth as a leader! I couldn’t ask for a better team of Directors!!

Megan Theis

Secretary

My position is secretary, on the executive board! I'm responsible for ensuring awesome attendance at Chi Omega events, and keeping track of who is, or who is not, in attendance. I also am in charge of updating our various archives such as the chapter roll book, which holds the names and signatures of every Chi Omega in our chapter. Finally, I serve as the liaison between the chapter and the advisers, as I take minutes at each meeting and forward them to the advisers. I love having the opportunity to interact with so many girls throughout the chapter and it's great leadership experience!

Hannah Birt

Treasurer

One of my main jobs is to create and stick to the chapter budget so a lot of my work is behind the scenes. When we throw any sisterhood, date party, or event I help directors and executive board members stick to their allotted budget. I love being able to ensure that our monetary decisions are being made to reflect the wants and needs of every woman in the chapter!

Gabbi Nielsen

Panhellenic Delegate

'In this position, I am responsible for being the “middle-man” between Chi Omega and the rest of the Panhellenic community! I absolutely love getting to know the delegates from all the other chapters and hearing about all the good each chapter contributes through philanthropy and campus involvement!"

Photo by Katherine Mendieta

Kayla Carrothers

Membership Chair

My main job is to make sure that the chapter is recruiting girls that uphold our purposes, and will flourish as Chi Omegas. I love this position because I am very interested and intrigued by the behind the scenes work of recruitment. 

 

Sarah Fisher

Recruitment Chair

As recruitment chair, I work with the chapter to prepare for formal recruitment each fall. I specifically direct the half of our members that actively recruit during the rounds, while Kayla works on mechanics and organization with the other half. I do my best to make sure our women feel comfortable and confident when sharing why chi omega is so special to all of it’s members and help women explain how it may be a future home to many of our potential new members. Recruitment is a life skill. It teaches you how to communicate effectively, which is the key to success. Getting to combine this skill with the love I, and so many others, have for Chi Omega is the ultimate gift. I could not image a more wonderful opportunity than leading this chapter in something such as recruitment!

Mackenzie Watterson

Facilities Director

My name is MacKenzie Watterson, and I am the Facilities Manager for Chi Omega, Psi Beta Chapter! Being the Facilities Manager (aka House Manager) comes with having a lot of patience and understanding. There are many things that the Facilities Manager deals with such as delegating the house chores to each live-in member, being the liaison between House Corporation and the women living in the house and helping to make sure that everything in the house is running smoothly and working properly. For me, the best part of being the Facilities manager is getting to know all the women who live in on a different level and being able to work with and alongside the advisors and House Corporation. Through this position I have learned many important life skills such as organization, communication and delegation and I have loved being a part of the Executive team!

Chi Omega Class of 2018 - a look back over the past four years

Four years ago, they opened an envelope on Bid Day to find "Chi Omega" written on a piece of paper. They ran home to 804 Iowa Avenue to celebrate joining a group of women who would quickly become family. Here is a look back at some of the highlights and accomplishments over the past four years.

2014-2015 Freshman Year

In their first year as Chi Omegas, they were Homecoming Champions, Intramural Champions, held the highest new member class GPA, contributed to the highest overall chapter GPA, Dean's Circle Award, raised over $38,000 for Dance Marathon, won the Chapter of Excellence Award, and won Chapter of Year! They received their Big Sisters, were initiated and made official, and formed even closer friendships at various Sisterhood and Philanthropy events. 

2015-2016 Sophomore Year

Sophomore year they became even closer after moving into the Chi Omega house together. This year was also their first time on the other side of recruitment, and they were excited to have Little Sisters. After Bid Day they went on to win Iowa Shout and 2nd Place Overall during Homecoming Week, received 1st place in Greek Week Follies and 3rd place overall,, overall Intramural Champions, won the Chapter of Excellence Award, raised over $10,000 for Make-A-Wish, and once again held the highest chapter GPA.

But one of the biggest points of pride for the 2015-2016 school year was breaking the Dance Marathon record for most money raised by a sorority with over $95,000 FTK! (click HERE to read more about it)

2016-2017 Junior Year

Junior year they passed the halfway point of their time as active members of Chi Omega. The tradition of excellence continued as they created their first online recruitment hype video, were Iowa Shout Champions and 2nd place overall in Homecoming Week, Greek Week & Follies Champions, the Top Fundraising Chapter for Dance Marathon 23, once again held the highest chapter GPA, were named Chapter of Excellence, and recruited another amazing group of women into Chi Omega. They also held numerous leadership positions in Chi Omega, and organizations across campus. 

2017-2018 SENIOR YEAR

They began their Senior Year, their year of 'lasts' with a bang, leading the chapter to another successful recruitment! They continued to lead when we raised $9,000 for Chi Omega's first ever Wish Week, trained for the Chicago Marathon, cheered on our Sister Kimmi as she won Homecoming Queen, danced our way to Iowa Shout Champions and 2nd Place overall at Homecoming, FSL and Follies Champions, celebrated with our Moms and Dads, ran the Chicago Marathon, and once again broke the record at Dance Marathon - this time raising over $100,000 as a chapter. 

They also cheered on two of their Sisters as they gave Commencement Speeches at Graduation! Kayln Hugdahl and Kimberly Chexnayder.

Read about the future plans and favorite memories of Some of our Seniors Below!

MADI SMITH

Degree / Future Plans: graduating in December with a Nursing degree

I owe a lot of my successes to Chi Omega. To begin, Chi O introduced me to the most incredible women that I now call my best friends. Chi O encouraged me as I began my journey through nursing school and it shaped me into the leader that I am today because of the opportunities I had while serving on our executive board. Chi O cheered me on as I ran marathons, studied for countless exams and celebrated with me on every single birthday. Chi omega  has repeatedly pushed me to be a better friend, daughter, student, leader and women and I couldn't be more thankful. I will never forgot the memories I had as an active member and especially the 2 years I lived in 804 Iowa Ave! I miss it already. Xo

PAIGE SHOCKEY

Degree: Marketing Management, Certificate: International Business

Future Plans: I will begin my training as a District Manager for ALDI in the Chicago suburbs.

Favorite Chi O memory was the night before initiation freshman year. Our pledge class all came over to Kenzie and I's dorm room and we hung out, ordered food, and watched movies. We were so excited to officially be Sisters the next day!

kayln hugdahl

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Human Physiology and Spanish Minor

Post grad plans: Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Iowa

Fave memory: My entire senior year! Bid day, Nashville, spring break, formal, just hanging out and playing games. There is nothing better than seizing every moment with friends before we go our separate ways. I owe a huge thank you to Chi Omega for introducing me to the best people I know.

Alex Griffin

Degree: Journalism Mass Communication & Business

Future Plans: Traveling this summer, then working for Insight Global as an account manager

When it comes to my favorite memories with my time in Chi Omega, it is almost impossible to choose one specific time.  It's the moments that we have had where we are all in sweats cuddling and dying laughing about nonsense together, or all of us jamming to 80's music in the bathroom while curling our hair, or the infamous amount of McDonalds runs we would all take packed into one person's car.  The simplest of times with each other, where we are close and laughing, are the memories I will cherish the most.  I have made friendships I could only dream of, and as much as it kills us all to be separating physically, we all know we all will always have each other in our hears and memories.

Caroline Rossberger

Degree: Marketing

Future Plans: Traveling this summer to Brazil and looking for a job! Chi O has given more than I ever could have asked for. I have met my best friends, role models and future bridesmaids. Some of my favorite college memories are with my Chi O's driving to Coralville Lake with the music up and the windows down! These past four years have been the absolute best and I have my Chi O's to thank for them.

Kimberly Chexnayder 

Degree: Journalism & Mass Communication

Future Plans: Junior Rotational Executive- The National Football League 

Favorite Memories of Chi O: Meeting my best friends and soulmates through Chi Omega. Women in this house have changed me for the better. I know that without them my college experience would’ve never happened as magically as it  did. 

Ashley Mazzocchi

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Minor: Spanish

Future plans: Graduating in December with my BSN and then will plan to work here at UIHC before moving back to Chicago! My career goals is to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in Oncology. 

Chi Omega has been the reason my college career has been so great. Because of Chi O I’ve been lucky enough to be blessed with my forever friends. These incredible, passionate, caring women have been by my side through the many ups and downs of my college career. They’ve been with me to support me through my hardships and help celebrate my achievements. I am so lucky to know these women will be by my side throughout the rest of my life. Chi Omega has also given me the courage to travel abroad for a summer, to apply to the nursing program, and endless opportunities to make a difference both on and off campus. I have Chi O to thank for my passion for Dance Marathon which has shaped my career path into becoming Pediatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in Oncology. Without Chi O, I wouldn’t have nearly as an amazing college experience. I will also cherish the trips and memories we have taken. From Nashville to Cabo to all the memories in Iowa City! Thanks for the absolute best four years, but thankfully Chi Omega is for lifetime.

JENSEN BISHOP

Degree / Future plans: Graduating in December with my BSN and plan to go into OB/maternity nursing. 

My college experience would not have been the same without Chi O. We’ve been through everything together. The ups, the downs, and everything in between. I will never forget all of the late nights living together, sharing bunk beds, running around Iowa City, and all of the road trips we have taken. Chi Omega is not just four years, it truly lasts a lifetime. 

ELIZABETH SHAW

Degree: Sport and Recreation Management with an emphasis in business studies, certificates in leadership studies and interscholastic athletic/activities administration

Future Plans: I will be attending the University of Iowa College of Law to pursue my Juris Doctor degree

Favorite memory from Chi O: is honestly meeting everyone from all of the different pledge classes and helping people navigate college! Sal Lee and Lucy Korsakov (graduated last year) really helped mentor me the past few years when it came to law school applications and I would have never met them if it wasn't for Chi O! I also loved being the Golf Classic Director this past year because it made me feel like I was truly giving back to Make-A-Wish and it was fantastic seeing everyone have fun out on the golf course.

Hayley Wilson

Degree: BA in Health Studies and minor in Business Administration, graduating in December 

Future Plans: Attend Des Moines University to receive my Masters in Health Administration & hopefully manage a pediatric specialty clinic in the future! 

Favorite Chi O Memory: IMPOSSIBLE to pick a favorite buttt my favorite memories always include snacks from Casey’s, and the chapter room full of girls “trying” to study but instead sharing stories and laughing about anything and everything.

CORTLYN KASIK

Degree: bachelor in science in human physiology (pre-dent)

Future Plans: Going to dental school next year at Iowa!

Favorite Chi Omega Memory: Every part of senior year. It was the best year of my life because I had my best friends at my side! We really came together and finished college with a bang. We lived by the Tom Petty quote and cherished every second!

Lindsey Hiepler

Degree: Finance

Future Plans: working in Bloomington, MN as associate finance manager at Aramark

Favorite Chi Omega Memory: how do i pick?!?! Probably our road trip and adventure in Nashville this past fall.. We were only there for 48 hours but man we had so many good times on Broadway and on the long car rides.

RILEY COYLE

Chi O helped remind me constantly to push myself. I was constantly reminded of our values through the actions of the people around me. I’m thankful chi o was able to shape me the last four years. 

Megan Frischmeyer

Degree: Environmental Bioscience and Public Health

Future Plans: Traveling!

Choosing Chi Omega 4 years ago turned out to be the BEST decision I made in college. I came to Iowa without a clue as to what I wanted to do here or who I wanted to be when I left but everything fell into place the minute I stepped inside. Each year brought new memories from dining together in Burge, having sleepovers every night in the house, or taking countless road trips and vacations with the women who know me best. I can't thank this amazing chapter for giving me the life I've always dreamed of and friends who support each other every step of the way. XOXO

Lindsay Randklev

Degree: BBA in Entrepreneurial Management, certificate in International Business, minor in Spanish

Future Plans: District Manager with Aldi in Chicago suburbs

Favorite Chi Omega Memory: The late nights in the house, full of pokey stix and endless shenanigans.

KELSEY WROBLE

Degree: Therapeutic Recreation with a certificate in Disability Studies 

Future Plans: attend graduate school for Special Education. 

My favorite memory from Chi Omega:  our Sophomore year sleepover on the porch.

Alexandria Seavey

Degree: English and Communication

Future Plans: I will be working for a company called All Community Events as an Event Manager for races from 5ks to Marathons.

I love Chi Omega because four years ago it brought me my best friends. These women will be my bridesmaids, my 4am call when life gets to be too much, my home team. I would not be the woman I am today without them.

Maddie Lorentzen

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Human Physiology with honors and distinction 

Future plans: I will be headed to Rhode Island to work at the Rhode Island Free Clinic as a patient and volunteer coordinator for one year! After that I hope to attend medical school. 

I kind of think of Chi Omega as the best “cheat sheet” to college. Before getting halfway through freshman year I already had an amazing group of friends, help in my classes, a gorgeous house to live in. It’s the end of my senior year and as I snuggle on the couch with my best friends and sisters I realize I have a world of appreciation for the sisterhood that provided me with this impeccable “cheat sheet”. College would not have been nearly as great without it. 

Michelle Kannenberg

Degree: Marketing, a minor in Italian, and a certificate in international business

Future Plans: I have two full time offers, one in Chicago doing advertising and marketing consulting  and the other in Cedar Rapids doing digital marketing. I plan on choosing on of the 2 by graduation, spend a month at home, and then move/prepare for my full time career!

Favorite Chi Omega memory: Getting Katherine Crosby as my little. One of the reasons I joined Greek life was to have a little because I never got the privilege of having younger sibilants. She is one of my very best friends and I couldn’t be more blessed to have her and the rest of our Chi Omega family in my life. I know she will be a forever friend and I can’t thank Chi Omega enough for that.

Rosemary Adams

Degree: Journalism and Mass Communication

Future plans: I will be working at Weber Shandwick in downtown Chicago doing Consumer Public Relations

Chi Omega shaped me into a more driven and strong young woman and showed me how to advocate for myself in order to accomplish my goals. It has given me friends for a lifetime and memories that I’ll cherish forever.

Seniors, we love you and are forever grateful for the lasting impression you have made on our chapter. We are so proud of you and can't wait to see you change the world. 

Graduation photos by Katherine Mendieta Photography & Films

Chi Omega Mom's Day 2018

Mom's Day is special day for all of us here at Psi Beta. It is a day where we get to celebrate the empowering women in our lives and give back some of the love and support they have shown us. This year the event was held at hotelVetro and thanks to our amazing sisterhood committee, our celebration was nothing short of amazing!

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“I loved my first ever Chi Omega Mom’s Day because I was able to spend time with my best friend, my mom, and I was able to introduce her to all of my sisters. It was such a fun event to celebrate in the spring and I already can’t wait for it next year!”

— Ellie Murphy

“I loved getting the chance to spend some quality time with my mum. She is my best friend so it was so nice to see her. I loved introducing her to all of my friends and getting to show her what Chi Omega is all about! I am so proud to be a Chi O so it was really special to share it with her. We do not have sororities in the UK, so it was really fun to introduce her to this and for her to understand it more. I talk so much about my friends so I was really excited for people to meet her. I am so proud of her so I couldn’t wait to show her off!!!”

— Jess Hawkins

“Being able to have a weekend to spend with my mom was incredible. I loved being able to introduce her to the wonderful women that I surround myself with on a day-to-day basis and show her why I’m so proud to be a Chi Omega. The day was lovely and I know we both really enjoyed ourselves.”

— Kara Krantz

“My mom and I had SO much fun at Mom’s Day meeting everyone, listening to cute stories, and spending good quality time together! Even though we didn’t get the purses we bid on ;)”

— Camryn Glienke

"Mom’s day is one of my favorite Chi Omega events. I love being able to show my mom the kind, funny and intelligent women I have surrounded myself with. I am so thankful to be in a chapter that I am proud to share with my family." - Hannah Birt

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to spend time with my mom and my Chi Omega sisters. My mom is the strongest, kindest, most beautiful person I know, and I was proud to introduce her to all of the amazing women in our chapter. Together we danced and laughed and joked and cried, too, as the seniors and I stood up in front of everyone and shared how lucky we are to have been raised by our moms. My mom made me feel as if I had left the world behind and gone on vacation, and I wish that I could spend every weekend with her by my side!”

— Morgan Jones

"Since my mom and I couldn’t make it to Mom’s Day last year, this year was my mom’s first real experience with Chi Omega. It was such an amazing feeling to get to show her the people that I’ve chosen to surround myself with during my time at college, and to feel genuinely proud of the friends that I was introducing her to. Moms Day was the perfect opportunity to show my mom all that Chi O is about and why I love it so much, and I know that she loved it too!!" - Macy Meredith

"This weekend was the best of both worlds having my first best friend and newest best friends all around me! My mom felt so at home being surrounded by all my sisters! I loved celebrating all of our moms’ jobs well done- bringing us ladies up to be the strong, talented females we are today. Already counting down the days to next year when the coolest moms come to town again and show IC where all us Chi O’s get our best traits from!" - Renee Cafun

“For the past three years at Moms Day my mom and I have listened to each senior class speak about the impact each their moms have had on their life. It’s been something I’ve been looking forward to doing, even though I knew I would lose it as soon as I looked at my mom and saw tears in her eyes. Being able to share my love and gratitude for my mom with the other women that have had such an impact on my life was truly special, and it is something we will always remember.”

— Lindsey Hiepler

In addition to the lunch catered by Graze Restaurant, there was a silent auction and the money raised was split between the Chi Omega Foundation and Make-A-Wish. At the end of the event, the grand total was $7,751 with $5,945 going to Make-A-Wish and $1,806 going to the Chi Omega Foundation.

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HUGE thank you to our sister Jenna Larson for all her hard work she put into making this event a success. Psi Beta loves you!

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"I am because you are."

We are incredibly grateful for our moms and the numerous other strong women in our lives. We wouldn't be the women we are today without them. They encourage us to be confident and to never apologize for being ourselves, and most importantly, they taught us how to love. If we are half the women they are someday, we will be just fine. 

FSL Weekend

This year the University of Iowa hosted their first ever FSL Weekend! FSL Weekend was formerly known as "Greek Week", a celebration of Greek life on campus full of fun and friendly competitions between paired fraternities and sororities. FSL Weekend contained all the same events as Greek Week used to, except this time it was condensed into a fun, jam packed weekend! Chi Omega was honored to be paired with the men of Phi Gamma Delta and Pi Alpha Phi for FSL Weekend. The theme was "No matter our letters, we still rock together" and we proved that in everything we participated in. Our pairing rocked it and took home 1st Place! Take a look below to see all the fun events that took place. 

Photo by Impact Photo / Joe Photo

On Thursday, there was a blood drive and an educational given by RVAP representative Nailiah Roberts. Chi Omega was the highest donating chapter for the blood drive and had the highest attendance at the educational. 

On Friday, Cortado hosted community day where Chi Omega raised the highest funds. Additionally, our sisters and our fraternity pairings busted some moves on the dance floor at Follies. At Follies, each pairing puts on a skit including singing, dancing, and a bit of acting. This year our Follies skit theme was 2000s pop. The men and women involved in our skit channeled their inner Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears, rocking all the denim they could possibly wear. The skit was not only a blast, but all our hard work paid off as we received first place in Follies and the banner competition, as well as winning best female soloist - congratulations to our sister Sidney Smolik! 

On Saturday we participated in Greek Olympics!

Spanning the length of the entire weekend, there was a penny war and a school supply drive. In the end, Chi Omega did well in the penny war and received first in the school supply drive, which benefits local schools in the community.

We had one sister in particular who played a major role in FSL Weekend. Katie Cabel was the Executive Director of Follies and did an incredible job putting together such a big event. 

Photo by Impact Photo / Joe Photo

“I had the honor of being selected as the Director of Follies on the FSL Weekend Executive Council. I had a blast planning with my awesome co-director, Devonte Chism of Alpha Sigma Phi, and the rest of the council over the past few months. Being Chi Omega’s Campus Activities Director and participating in the past couple of Greek Weeks were fantastic experiences for me, so I was thrilled I could extend my passion this year for the first ever FSL Weekend. I loved organizing the Follies competition at Hancher Auditorium (for the first time ever!) and seeing all the talented groups do what they love on stage. Being able to announce Chi Omega as Follies Champs was definitely an experience I’ll never forget!”

— Katie Cabel

Photo by Impact Photo / Joe Photo

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Our success of FSL Weekend would not have been possible without the hard work of our fantastic campus activities directors, Kaitlyn and Sydney. Thank you so much for your dedication to and love for Psi Beta!

Photo by Impact Photo / Joe Photo

“I’m just so honored to be able to represent Chi Omega on a bigger scale. I’m proud of everyone who participated and worked so hard to win Chi the Championship!”

— Sydney Albertson

“I am so proud of this chapter for putting so much hard work into FSL Weekend and winning FIRST PLACE!!! From winning Follies, to highest donations at the blood drive, these girls put their all into representing our chapter on campus. I absolutely loved every second of FSL Weekend—from working alongside our chapter pairings, to making late night runs to collect schools supplies—I would not change a thing! I was so ecstatic to see our fraternity pairings come together to make the most of this years FSL Weekend-we made an amazing team! I made some amazing friends and even better memories! I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a leader in such a strong chapter. Next up...Homecoming Week!”

— Kaitlyn Ohrnstein

Alternative Spring Break

Spring Break is a time for college students to kick back and relax, but one of our sisters, Bella, decided to do something different. Bella went to Biloxi, Mississippi on a service trip through the University of Iowa and provided meals, education, and physical labor for those needing it in the community. Bella exemplifies our symphony in every way and was able to spread kindness by simply choosing to serve rather than relax over spring break. Read below to hear the impact this trip had on our sister.

My journey for Spring Break 2018 all started when one of my old professors told me she would be leading an Alternative Spring Break trip this year. She, along with Karly Lent, who attended the Alternative Spring Break trip to Atlanta, Georgia last year, encouraged me to apply. Before I knew it, I was meeting with 15 strangers with whom I would spend my spring break. Along with the trip, I was enrolled in a class where we learned about the importance of community as well as how we should do service with members of the community rather than to the community. During this class time I got to get to know my class mates and soon-to-be travel partners even better and before long we were packing the vans at the IMU at 3:00 in the morning. The whole team took turns driving and after about 18 hours in the car, we had made it to our destination in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Our schedule was full and we were all excited to get our week started. On our first day of service, we made our way over to the Moore Community House, which is a daycare that provides early education to low income families. There, each of us picked a classroom to help out in and take the kids to recess. During nap time, we made some posters for the classrooms and helped in the garden. Directly following the Moore Community House, we headed over the Boys and Girls Club of Biloxi where we hung out with kids after school, playing basketball, heads-up-seven-up, picture bingo, and so much more.

The next day, my team and I got up early to go to the Mental Health Association of South Mississippi which provides resources and support services for those seeking mental wellness and recovery in the Biloxi area. As soon as the members came in, we immediately began bonding with them. The day was filled with some amazing sheppard’s pie, a few rounds of bingo, a meditation practice, and a beautiful trip to the park for some volleyball and football. Although some of my friends and I admitted to being a bit nervous going into the day, not knowing what to expect, we all walked out of the mental health association with the feeling gratitude for our newly formed relationships.

On our final day of service, the team and I headed to Bread and Loaves, where we helped prepare breakfast and dinner for the homeless. It was really cool to spend time with the people that prepare these meals regularly because I got to witness the genuine love they have for the service they do. They work so hard to have everything ready for the meals, but still have time to catch up with the people that come in to eat. Once lunch was over and we were done cleaning, we said our “fair wells” to Bread and Loaves and drove to the YMCA where we helped with yard work.

Before the trip, my friend Karly told me how close her team had become in just that one week together. Although I believed her, I never imagined that I would have become so close with 15 other students that were recently strangers. We often found ourselves in the kitchen cooking together, playing games around the church we were staying at, taking crazy pictures in New Orleans, and of course playing soccer at the beach. Since returning to Iowa, I talk to my friends from the trip every day, hoping that we can return to spend time with some of the greatest people we have ever met in the beautiful city of Biloxi, Mississippi.

Will you be my Galentine?

Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate those we love and for our sisters, there wasn’t any shortage of love. Take a look below to see why we love Chi Omega.

Photo by Katherine Mendieta

"I love Chi Omega because it has given me a home away from home. Chi O gives me courage to strive to be my best self. It has surrounded me with girls that share similar goals and aspirations as me. While I am just beginning to get to know all of the girls in Chi O, I know my future bridesmaids are among this group. I am so grateful for all of the memories and friendships Chi O has given me this past semester. I cannot wait to see what the future holds. XOXO." - Gracie Wilson

"When I came to Iowa, I knew I wanted to join a sorority. I knew I wanted all the friendships and leadership and service opportunities that were presented to all of us PNMS prior to recruitment. What I didn't know was how much a sorority was going to impact me on a personal level. As I went through recruitment I found myself being drawn to the Chi O house and all the wonderful and well-rounded ladies I met there. I anticipated every round and at the conclusion of each round I found myself wishing I could stay longer. It wasn't until I was talking to my best friend (a sophomore in Greek life at another school) about recruitment that I really learned why I loved Chi Omega. She asked me the type of person I wanted to be upon graduating high school and I listed characteristics such as determined, passionate, and humble, among many others. She then asked me what chapter I described and I knew instantly that it was Chi Omega. The ladies I met were some of the most kind hearted and down to earth ladies I've ever spoken to. Chi Omega truly gives a new meaning to sisterhood: a family that will push you, believe in you, and ultimately be there for you no matter what." - Michaela Goodley

“I love Chi Omega because the women in this chapter genuinely care about what is going on in my life and encourage me to be the absolute best I can be!”

— Olivia Grubbs

“Chi Omega has given me so many opportunities, connections, and lasting friendships. Not only has Chi Omega helped me grow socially and academically, Chi Omega has made me work on my personal life. Giving me support and love every second of the day and holding me accountable for every action I do. Chi Omega has changed my life in so many ways. Means the world to me!”

— Jenna Heeren

"Regardless if I'm sad or happy, whenever I'm with my sisters, I am surrounded by women who love me and support me. Every day I see women who want to be the best they can be and that motivates me to be the best I can be. (Can literally start crying because I love chi o and what being a chi o means to me). Whenever someone asks me why I love being a Chi Omega, my answer is because I am better because of it: sisterhood is worth more than any other relationship you can have. Rain or shine, my sisters will have my back." - Heather Lindenberg

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Galentine's Day is a nonofficial holiday, created by fictional character Leslie Knope from the hit TV series "Parks and Rec". It is the day before Valentine's Day and is dedicated to ladies celebrating ladies. This year was nothing short of incredible as our sisters celebrated with each other. In fact, we had a little extra love going around this year as we welcomed our new transfer member formerly of the Zeta Delta Chapter at the University of Nebraska - Omaha, Lexy Larsen. We are so thrilled to have Lexy join us at Psi Beta and cannot wait to watch her thrive and grow with us!

“I love Chi Omega because all of the girls are so genuine and are exemplary women all around. Since I have transferred to Iowa from the University of Nebraska - Omaha, all of the Psi Beta girls have made me feel included and I am so excited to get to know everyone better and become closer in our sisterhood through Chi Omega.”

— Lexy Larsen

 

"It's only fitting that I spent time with my sisters that I love so much during a holiday that's dedicated to love. We had so much fun eating the ice cream, punch and chocolate strawberries (s/o to our amazing sisterhood chair Bella!) and taking time to catch up with one another!" - Karly Lent

"Galentines was so much fun! I love any excuse to hang with my sisters and eat some yummy snacks!! I'm so lucky to be surrounded by so many amazing ladies in Chi Omega who make celebrating this holiday so easy." - Kate Curran

"I loved the Galentine's sisterhood event because it allowed me to spend time with all my lovely sisters! Sharing this event with them was so special and showed how much we care for each other and always put each other first." - Ellie Murphy

"Galentines may be the most underrated holiday, but combining chocolate with your best friends will always be my favorite past time. Thanks to our sisterhood committee! This event was created and led to a stress relieving night with all my favorite people." - Sara Leiding

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We had the best time celebrating this day of love with those we adore. We wish you a lifetime full of roses, chocolate boxes, and happiness. From the ladies of Chi Omega to you, we hope you all had the best Valentine's Day. 

Love you like XO!

Dance Marathon 24: A Year of Breaking Records and Changing Lives

24 hours. No sitting, no sleeping, and no caffeine. $3,011,015.24. All For The Kids. Dance Marathon 24 was a year of creating traditions and breaking records. The new tradition of the Kinnick Wave swept the nation, getting featured on ESPN and receiving the Disney Sports Spirit Award. Not only was DM 24 successful as a whole; it was also quite the year for our Chi Omega chapter. We are so proud to be the first Greek chapter at the University of Iowa to raise over $100,000 for Dance Marathon, and for the third consecutive year we received the Mary Peterson Award for being the highest Greek fundraising chapter on campus. Additionally, we had 17 sisters take on the Chicago Marathon in 2017 as charity runners for Dance Marathon 24. All of this culminated to February 2, 2018, where thousands of dancers from across campus gathered to celebrate life, rejoice the accomplishments made, and dance For The Kids.

My freshman year here at Iowa I stood in the back of the ballroom seeing the tote board go up showing 2 million dollars.My senior year, I stood in the front of the ballroom seeing the tote board go up to show three million dollars. In 4 years, we achieved a million dollar increase on top of moving into a brand new children's hospital, and ACHIEVING many milestones in between!! I couldn't love this organization more. I am so honored to be a small part in the financial and emotional support Dance Marathon provides for cancer victims and their families. - Ashley Mazzocchi

“DM24 was unforgettable, 100%. We had an AMAZING year and Chi Omega and Dance Marathon broke so many records raising money for the kids! On a personal note, my role as a Morale Captain Assistant was something I will never forget. There are so many people that are passionate about Dance Marathon, and I am so thankful I am able to experience it with my sisters. DM25 can’t come soon enough!”

— Heidi Swanson

24 hours of no standing, sleeping, or caffeine? Seems pretty daunting. And there are times when it is definitely just as hard as it sounds. But the pain that our bodies are feeling throughout that one day is nothing compared to what a innocent child battling cancer experiences in just one hour. This big event was my first year on leadership with Dance Marathon, and I didn't think that my passion for this organization could grow any more, but DM once again proved me wrong. The atmosphere of being surrounded by 3,000 other students is absolutely exhilarating, and the inspiration fills every corner of the room to help keep you on your feet. Why do I dance? I dance for a cure. I dance for more laughs, birthdays, and memories. I dance so that parents never have to experience losing a child to cancer. I dance for the kids. Dance Marathon is so much more than just the money (not that Chi Omega raising 100k as a chapter isn't amazing because holy moly is it!!!) Dance Marathon is the hope that one day, we will no longer need to dance for a cure, but we will be dancing in celebration of that found cure. These kiddos are my inspiration, and for them, I will never stop dancing. - Hayley Stuenkel

'Their journeys will become a part of each of us.' As a first year member of the Family Relations cabinet I walked into this year thinking I was going to change the lives of these families. Little did I know, they changed mine. Each kiddo I have played with and every parent I have talked with on the 11th floor of the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital has given me a reason to both laugh and cry. What these families endure throughout their journey battling pediatric cancer is one which no words can do it justice. I dance to remind them they aren’t alone. I dance for the kiddos who fought but did not win. I dance for the families who are running out of hope. I dance with a goal in mind that someday we will find a cure and this $3 million is one giant steps towards reach exactly that.

- Courtney

“As a Junior this year, one of my favorite parts about Dance Marathon was spending time with some of our Chi Omega New Members. I never knew that Zumba at 5 in the morning could be such a bonding experience but we all had fun working out despite our sore bodies. I loved watching everyone power through the exhaustion with determination and love for the experience. We all helped each other fundraise, and together, we reached our goal. I wouldn’t want to spend midnight burritos, 3AM karaoke, and the big reveal any other way than surrounded by the people I love most.”

— Bella Swan

Experiencing the big event as a captain was easily the best 24 hours of my life. Not only did I get to dance, smile, cry, and laugh, I got to do that with all of my dancers that made it to the big event. It's so heartwarming to see them find their way and to see them experience it for the first time...and this year for them to have experienced breaking records and raising $3,011,015.24 FOR THE KIDS at their very first is the coolest and most rewarding thing to see as a captain! As for this year as a whole, I couldn't be more thankful to have fundraised FTK, met some amazing kiddos, and found the best friends on Morale '18. Dance Marathon 24 gave me memories that I will cherish for a lifetime. - Annie

“Dance Marathon is unlike anything I’ve ever done. The people you work with, the dancers you dance with, and the kiddos and families you meet change your life. It’s amazing to be a part of something bigger than yourself. My first year on Operations introduced me to some of my best friends and it was awesome to see that all our hard work paid off. We danced, we cried and laughed together, and raised of 3 million dollars all For The Kids. ”

— Kylene Spanbauer

“I am so proud to be a Chi Omega and to have been a part of Dance Marathon. I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it again (standing for 24 hours is hard), until I saw those kids’ faces. I’ll definitely be doing it next year, hopefully raising even more than $3 million!”

— Julia Romanowski

Chi Omega Sisters with Leadership Positions for Dance Marathon 24

We had many sisters who held leadership positions throughout the year, but one of our sisters had an essential role in DM 24. Riley Coyle was the Executive Hospital Director and has decided to dedicate her life work to kiddos like those on the 11th floor of the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.

“Serving as Executive Hospital Director for the University of Iowa Dance Marathon 24 has absolutely changed my life. I’ve met children who showed me strength like never before, I experienced loss to cancer I had hoped I’d never have to face, and I think most importantly I learned so much about the resiliency of children in times of distress. Dance marathon gave me everything, including a future career path. I will hold on to the memories, friendships, and lessons I learned this year for the rest of my life.”

— Riley Coyle

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"Creating tomorrow by dancing today."

After 24 hours of dancing, singing, and being on our feet we may have been tired and sore--but it is nothing in comparison to what these kiddos are battling every single day. We are incredibly proud of our 88 sisters that participated in DM 24 and can’t wait to see what records DM 25 will break. FTK!

Read about Dance Marathon 23 HERE

Read about Dance Marathon 22 HERE

Initiation 2018

Initiation 2018

January brings a plethora of feelings for most people: it brings a new year, a time of reflection, and for Chi Omega’s most recent pledge class, initiation. Leading up to this special event, new members learn about the fraternity established in 1895 and reflect on why they chose to join this sisterhood. As a new chapter begins, we asked our newly initiated members to take some time to reflect on their first semester with their sisters at Chi Omega.   

“My favorite Chi O event was the sisterhood event at the orchard. Looking at the past semester, this was one of the first times I hung out with girls who I now call my best friends. I love Chi Omega because it focuses on the values that I want to emulate most: focusing on character rather than my appearance, to be lovable rather than popular, working earnestly, speaking kindly, and choosing wisely. Chi Omega has shown me the sky is not the limit, it goes even further. SO many of my older sisters have accomplished so much, and knowing we care about the same things shows me that if I push myself I can accomplish anything I put my mind to, especially since I have Chi Omega behind me.”

— Rory Laubengayer

“My favorite Chi O event so far was Dad’s day because my family is so important to me. I love Chi O because I am able to be myself. Chi O has inspired me to not limit myself because of my age or any other challenges. I have applied to many positions and broken outside of my box because of it!”

— Emma Hapeman

“My favorite Chi O event so far was the apple orchard sisterhood event— I didn’t know very many people going into it since it was one of the first events, but I bonded with so many girls and met some of my closest Chi O friends there! I love Chi O because of the people in it. I feel like I could have a conversation with every one of the girls and they each inspire me in a different way. The girls all hold themselves to such high standards and are constantly striving to become the best person that they can be, so it is amazing to be surrounded with that kind of energy. The Chi O symphony is something that really resonates with me and inspires me if I am having a hard day. Chi O inspires me to be the best version of myself.”

— Jess Hawkins

“My favorite Chi O Event so far has been Bid Day! It was so cool to meet lots of people in my pledge class, and we had the CUTEST theme! I love Chi O because it is filled with genuine women. All of them are willing to do anything for their friends and approach every task with confidence. Chi O has made me a better person because my sisters push me to make a difference through service. It is so much fun to give back to the community with the support and help of my Chi O friends!”

— Mary Grace Henderson

“Oh my goodness, where to start. I am UNBELIEVABLY grateful I found and joined Chi Omega. I couldn’t imagine a group of girls as encouraging, funny, loving, or welcoming as the ones I’ve found. To me, there’s no such thing as the ‘sorority type’. Because who wouldn’t want to be a part of an organization as beautiful as this?”

— Becky Nelson

“I love Chi Omega because when I look at each of my sisters, I see a woman who is always there to pick me up when I’m down; that came in handy during my favorite event, our ice skating sisterhood. Not only has Chi Omega provided me with lifelong friendships, but it has encouraged me to be myself. Chi Omega isn’t Chi Omega without everyone’s little quirks.”

— Peyton Swift

“My favorite Chi O event so far has been finding out who was my “Big” Sister. It was so exciting to see that Michaela was my big since she made me realize I wanted to be a Chi O! I love Chi O because of all the women who make this sorority what it is. They make me want to be the best version of myself each and every day. I always feel welcome in the house and I know that I truly belong here. Chi O has challenged me to make sure that I put my best foot forward every day and present the world with the best version of myself. Chi O has inspired me to set my goals high and given me the drive to achieve these goals.”

— Sarah Niesman

“My fave Chi O event was the ice skating sisterhood. Even though I fell almost 20 times, I loved doing it with my sisters. I love Chi O because it represents the kindest, classiest, and most beautiful ladies I know, and I am so honored to be a part of it. The friendships I have formed are so genuine and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Chi O has given me somewhere to run to, and has inspired me to be more kind, more open, and just an overall better person. I love these ladies with all my heart, and I want to be the best sister I can be.”

— Julia Romanowski

“I love Chi Omega because it pushes me to be the best possible version of myself. I look around me and I see that I am surrounded by so many hard-working, strong, intelligent, and beautiful women and I am continuously inspired by my sisters. My favorite event thus far was the sisterhood event held at Wilson’s Orchard last fall because it was the first time I got to hang out with my soon-to-be big, Morgan Jones. From that first magical day of bid day to becoming an initiated member, I cannot wait to see what else Chi Omega has in store for me!”

— Skyler Lawson

“I would say my favorite memories from this past semester was Bid Day and the apple orchard sisterhood. I love getting the chance to celebrate with the entire house and seeing how all the girls come together to support each other, lift everyone up, and just have a good time! I definitely felt that on these two occasions.”

— Caely Tietz

“I have a few favorite Chi O events! The Holiday Cozy was definitely a very fun and different event that I loved very much. It was so much fun to see everyone in holiday sweaters and to be serenaded by the men of Intersection A capella group. Another favorite event of mine was Myth Night! It was so fun to come full circle after a semester of learning about Chi Omega and finding ourselves within the chapter. We all had so many laughs about the memories we all shared together in just a few short months (and many more to come!). Spending more time with and really getting to know my sisters has really reaffirmed my love for this wonderful organization. We all bring out our best selves when we are together and I truly think we can do amazing things!! I think Chi O has really inspired me to be my best self. I really don’t want to be the person to bring our chapter down, so I make sure to work my hardest to make my sisters proud! ”

— Andrea Huls

“My favorite Chi Omega event so far was the first sisterhood to Wilson’s Orchard. It allowed us all to meet more of the girls in our grade and all across Chi O while still being super fun and cute! I love Chi O for the opportunities that have opened up and all the lovely people I’ve met. Chi O has inspired me to become a better person by giving me goals to attain in school and people to surround myself to help me reach them. Also, I LOVE community service work and Chi O gives so many chances to get out there and help others! ”

— Hanna Chambers

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Initiation is a special moment for everyone in a sorority, but for some of our sisters, it was extra memorable. A few of our sisters have family members who are a part of Chi Omega and their families were able to witness them being initiated.

“When I saw my sister, I was so surprised and filled with joy. She’s my best friend and I love that I got to share that special moment in my life with her. Not many people get to experience that. Now we can officially say we are sisters x2!”

— Camryn Glienke

“It is inspiring that Chi Omega is so rich in tradition that a mother and daughter can participate in the same ceremony!”

— Peyton Ross

“Seeing Peyton’s initiation was extremely nostalgic for both my mom and me. For my mom, it brought back so many fond memories of her Chi Omega days and for me, it made me cherish the friendships and memories I’ve made thus far and thrilled for those to come. I was so proud, excited, and elated to call myself an official member of Chi Omega a year ago and now that I have this special bond with both my mother and my sister, my feelings only escalate. Peyton, the best gift our parents and Chi Omega ever gave me was you as my sister ❤️”

— Morgan Ross

“I get to share a sister bond with my cousin, Gracie. It made my initiation experience so much more memorable! She helped me through my entire recruitment process and has always been someone I look up to. I’m beyond happy I get to have a cousin, sister, and role model like her in my life.”

— Ali Randolph

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As we welcome in our 2018-2019 executive board, we asked the incoming new member educator to reflect on this momentous occasion for the new initiates.

“Taking on the role of new member educator is one of the most exciting opportunities I’ve had in my college career this far. Learning so much about Chi Omega’s ritual and history has renewed my love for our organization. Initiation was such a heartwarming and meaningful experience for me as I got to experience the big day with our new members, and it was the perfect way to start this journey of being new member educator! There are so many great things I’m looking forward to like Bid Day, meeting PC ‘18, and strengthening the bond of our sisters more than ever before. I can’t wait to see what this year has in store!”

— Kate Vittore

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"Individually unique, together complete"

By the end of the week, we initiated 58 young women into the largest sisterhood in the nation. We are overjoyed for our new sisters to have joined Chi Omega and cannot wait to see what the coming years will bring them.   

2017: A Year for the Books

As 2017 comes to a close, it calls to mind all of the memories that we made this year. From Dance Marathon in February to Semi Formal in December, Chi Omega truly has done it all! Here is a look back at our incredible year together and all of the accomplishments and memories we have made along the way.

FEBRUARY:
DANCE MARATHON 23

Chi Omega raised over $85,000 For The Kids for DM23 and it all culminated at the Big Event in the beginning of February. Our sisters danced for 24 straight hours with no sitting or caffeine all to benefit the children and families at the Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Other sisters even ran the Chicago Marathon to support Dance Marathon, and THEN participated in the Big Event later in the year! Dance Marathon truly shows how far our passion and commitment can take us. We love not only supporting our national philanthropy, Make-A-Wish, but our on campus philanthropy, Dance Marathon! (click HERE to read more about it!)

MARCH:
SPRING BREAK

Several of our sisters traveled to amazing places over Spring Break in March, including Cabo, Florida, Arizona, London, Ireland, Spain, Austria, the list goes on. Other sisters went on service trips to give back to different communities and those in need over break and we are so proud of them and their philanthropic efforts! (click here to read more!)

Our sister, Karly, was one of our sisters who was chosen to attend an alternative spring break through the University of Iowa. "For my spring break, I went to Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta isn't the first thing that pops into most people's minds when they think of a spring break location, but that's where I ended up! I went there with 16 other students from The University of Iowa for an alternative spring break trip. Instead of going on vacation with friends, it is a chance to give back to the community. It was a life changing experience that I'll look back on for the rest of my time here at Iowa as well as the rest of my life!" 

APRIL:
GREEK WEEK & MOm's Day

This year for Greek Week, we were partnered with the men of Delta Tau Delta and Delta Upsilon, and were thrilled to take first place overall with our theme of Candy Land! From earning the most donations through the Chipotle Community Day, donating blood, attending educationals, participating in penny wars, to getting crowned the CHAMPIONS at the Follies dance competition, this week was nothing short of fantastic. (click here to read more!)

We also welcomed our mothers to Iowa City as we had our annual Mom's Day at the Sheraton Hotel. We all loved getting together for a brunch commemorating on another great year in Iowa City, all while supporting our philanthropy with our Make-A-Wish Silent Auction. (click here to read more!)

MAY:
GRADUATION

Our amazing senior class graduated last May. These women left behind strong legacies in Chi Omega and we cannot wait to see what they accomplish in their future pursuits. Though we will miss seeing them at the University of Iowa, we are excited to see where their journey takes them next! (click here to read more!)

Katherine Mendieta Photography & Films

Katherine Mendieta Photography & Films

SUMMER:
TRAVELS ABROAD

Many of our sisters studied abroad this past summer to places like South Africa, Spain, Italy, South America, and all over Europe! They advanced their college careers through rigorous coursework overseas and expanded their horizons with new cultures around each corner. Many of our sisters also participated in a volunteer program, Vida Volunteer, where they dedicated two weeks of their summer in Guatemala helping provide free medical services to those in need! (click here to read more!)

Our sister, Madeline, was the campus coordinator for Iowa for the trip. "Vida provides so much for its volunteers. This is a very unique volunteer opportunity that not only allows students to learn from doctors and serve communities, but also to experience another culture. Vida brings volunteers out of their comfort zone and encourages adventure. It creates lifelong friendships and memories. Both of the Vida trips I have been on left my heart so full and for that I am forever grateful. I also owe a huge thank you to Chi Omega for introducing me to Vida Volunteer. Through other sisters, I was encouraged to be apart of this incredible program. Being able to experience all of this alongside some of my Chi O sisters made it even so much more special. It was so rewarding to be able to watch my sisters grow through service and share their passion for healthcare with others!" 

AUGUST:
SPIRIT WEEK & RECRUITMENT

Spirit week started right when Chi Omegas returned to Iowa City during August and spent a week getting ready for recruitment throughout spirit week, with each day representing a new way to dress up! From Make-A-Wish day to PJ Day, we had a blast reconnecting with sisters and getting ready to welcome the new class of women who would join our sisterhood. During the last weekend before recruitment, we welcomed our moms into the 804 to spend some quality time with them before we started recruitment! We then spent two weekends sharing what we love most about our sisterhood and philanthropy with over 1,000 women here at The University of Iowa.

Katherine Mendieta Photography & Films

SEPTEMBER:
BID DAY & Dad's Day

This brings us to September, where we welcomed home and amazing new member class of 59 incredible women! These women have already had a huge, positive impact on our chapter and we could not be happier that Chi Omega is their new home away from home. Bid Day was themed Enchanted Forest, and the decorations in the front yard were beautiful. We could not have been more thrilled to welcome our new members as they ran off the bus into our forever sisterhood. (read about our new members here!)

The end of September also brought our fathers to Iowa City for our annual Dad's Day and our First Annual Make-A-Wish Philanthropy Week, Wish Week, which ended on Sunday at our 13th annual Chi Omega Golf Classic! Our Wish Week was a huge success! We held various events on campus: Adam's Wish Story, donuts and coffee at Hubbard Park, CHIpOtle Community Day, 24 hour Wish Rally and finally our Golf Classic! We are so proud to be able to have raise a grand total of $8,670.08 all for Make-A-Wish and are able to grant a child's wish! Our Dads Day was so much fun as we cheered on the Hawkeyes against Michigan State! Our day was complete with a bags tournament at the Chi Omega house followed by a tailgate at Quinton's in Coralville. Read about Dad's Day by clicking HERE, and all about Wish Week HERE!

OCTOBER:
CHICAGO MARATHON

17 of our Chi Omega sisters who ran 26.2 miles in October For The Kids! All 26.2 miles ran were in honor of the children and families who are undergoing cancer treatment at The University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. Many sisters also traveled to Chicago to support the runners, making it one of the best days of the year. Our sisters trained for months to accomplish this task and it is a shining accomplishment of theirs! We are so proud of our sisters for running all FTK! (read more about the Chicago Marathon HERE)

HOMECOMING

October was also Homecoming week! Chi Omegas participated in many events throughout the week, from relay races, canned food drives, donated blood, and took home FIRST PLACE in Iowa SHOUT - a dance competition with our pairings of Delta Upsilon and Delta Tau Delta. All of our hard work earned us second place overall in Homecoming! We are also so proud of our sister, Kimmi Chexnayder, for being awarded Homecoming Queen for the University of Iowa this year! (read more about Homecoming week HERE)

DECEMBER:
HOLIDAY COZY & SEMI FORMAL

December may bring finals with it, but it also brought us our annual Holiday Cozy, complete with cookies and our favorite, our personal Intersection Concert! Sisters wore their ugliest holiday sweaters and brought the cheer to the Chi Omega basement as we celebrated the holidays before we all parted ways for Winter Break!

We also had our Semi Formal, where Chi Os spent the night hitting the dance floor at Rapid Creek Cidery at Wilson’s Apple Orchard. Everyone had a blast dancing the night away with our sisters and we are already looking forward to our Formal in the spring!

Finally, right before Finals Week, we had our last sisterhood event of 2017, where we went ice skating at the Coral Ridge Skating Rink! We had so much fun taking a break from studying for finals to skate the afternoon away with our sisters! 

2017 may be over, but that means the 2018 is just beginning! A new year means a new start, but it is also an opportunity to build upon a strong foundation from the year before!

Happy New Year!

17 Chi Omegas Ran The Chicago Marathon FTK!

On Sunday, October 8th, 17 Chi Omegas ran the Chicago Marathon For The Kids! Each of the 26.2 miles came with their own difficulties, but every runner can agree that it was nothing compared to what the kiddos in the Stead Family Children's Hospital face each and every day. Each of these women had a blast in Chicago representing Dance Marathon at the University of Iowa. Read their stories below: 

MacKenzie

"You ask me who I run for and I'll tell you. I run for those who do not get a break from chemo or transplants. I run for all of the kiddos and their families who are going through the unimaginable. I run for more birthdays and more smiles...but most importantly I run for my mom! Because let me tell ya, running 26.2 miles is nothing compared to the battles they face everyday."

MEGAN F.

"Running in the Chicago Marathon was easily one of the most rewarding experiences I have had and it completely changed my point of view on how strong your mind is. Running has never been easy for me and even throughout training, I knew that it would be a miracle to survive the marathon...but I did! Not only did I complete my first marathon, but I LOVED IT! The energy and support that was continuously present the entire 26.2 miles from other Chi Omegas and Dance Marathoners were what carried my feet. If i hadn't gotten to think about our amazing kiddos and constantly hear "FTK!" the entire way, I don't know if I could have done it. BEST DAY EVER and of course, FTK!"

MORGAN

"Every blister, every cramp, every step, and every mile was for those kiddos on the 11th floor of the Children's Hospital."

Megan T.

"These kiddos have inspired me to reach beyond what I ever thought I would be able to do. Having the honor to run a marathon to not only help, but inspire, these kids undergoing the unimaginable has been my favorite and most valued opportunity of my college career. I can only hope that the organization of Dance Marathon is changing their lives as much as it is changing mine. FTK always!"

alex

"This was my second year running the Chicago Marathon FTK, and to say I was like a little kid on Christmas would be an understatement. I always underestimate the passion that exudes from the spectators as well as the other Dance Marathon runners. We were like a pack moving through the streets of Chicago screaming "FTK!" and "GO HAWKS!" These marathons have been my two favorite memories at Iowa. There really is nothing like doing your favorite thing with some of your favorite people for the best kiddos out there." 

kayla

"If you zoom in on my arm, you'll see the words: "For those who can't, for those who are still fighting" and I think that truly says it all. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for the kiddos up on the 11th floor. 26.2 miles was nothing compared to what they endure every day, and I am so honored to have been able to run the Chicago Marathon for them!"

ellie

"I laughed, I cried, I walked, I ran. But most importantly, I finished 26.2 for my heroes."

annie

“10.8.17: the day I did the coolest, hardest, most crazy thing I have ever done...run the Chicago marathon FTK! To my little heroes: thank you for giving me a reason to run 26.2 miles.”

gillian

"26.2 miles. Yep, that's a lot. Yeah, it hurt. But there are children and families up on the 11th floor of the Stead Family Children's Hospital in more mental, emotional, and physical pain than any of us could even imagine. Some of these children do not even know what life is like beyond the hospital walls. So compared to these incredible kiddos who continue to fight with all the strength they can muster from their tiny little bodies, 26.2 miles is nothing."

RILEY

“This year, I’m ran my my 3rd Chicago Marathon FTK. Throughout these years of running long and hard, sore joints and tired muscles, I have found that I run because if the kids I’ve gotten to know and love can fight for their life, then I can fight for 26.2 miles. This year, I have the honor as serving as the Executive Hospital Director for Dance Marathon. This position has also given me a special opportunity to choose 26 Dance Marathon kids to each represent one mile. Hearing 26 stories of children who have had their lives turned inside out by cancer and having the opportunity to tell their story to hundreds of runners has been unlike anything else. I am so thankful for what each of the kids has taught me. Their stories and struggles are why I run. All FTK.”

alicia

"This race wasn't about me. It was about the kids fighting cancer on the 11th floor of the Children's Hospital in Iowa City."

brookanne

"Running the Chicago Marathon was one of the greatest experiences of my life! Being my first marathon, it was a little challenging, but with all of the people, friends, and family yelling "FTK!" and cheering me on, I was able to push through and finish one of my most prized accomplishments. I raised over $1,000 for the kiddos battling pediatric cancer at the Stead Family Children's Hospital in Iowa City! It is amazing how far you can go (26.2 miles actually) with a little inspiration from such an amazing cause. I loved every second of it and I am counting down the days until I can do it all again next year because honestly, it becomes an addiction!"

kaitlyn

"Marathons are hard, like really hard. But every time I looked down at my wrist and saw that list of kiddos that reminded me who I was running for, every stride got a little easier and a whole lot more meaningful."

"Running Chicago was an unbelievable experience that I would recommend to anyone! People that that running a marathon is such an impossible feat, but being surrounded by 40,000 other runners and over 60,000 spectators makes the 26.2 miles go by in a blur. I'm so glad I got to experience it as well as raise over $1,000 FTK!"

Michaela

"I have no words for this past weekend...26.2 miles later and my love for this organization and these kiddos has grown even more than I thought possible. I ran for every kiddo that has no choice in what he/she endures, for every family that has had their lives permanently altered by pediatric cancer, and for the hope that one day pediatric cancer will be beat. Until then...we will dance, we will run, and we will fight. Peace, Love & FTK!"

Nicole

"And just like that, it’s over. Months of training, and 26.2 miles. 26.2 miles of running, crying, and continuously pushing forward FTK. I am so incredibly grateful for this experience, and in awe of the love and support in this world for these amazing kiddos fighting an unimaginable battle. If these kids can fight cancer, I can run 26.2 miles."

Darby

"Last year when I ran the marathon, it was such an honor to be one of the 200 people to be wearing my lime through downtown Chicago on that long, long run. This year, when given the opportunity to Run Chicago again, I did not hesitate to sign up. Running can be really, really hard. But, it never fails to amaze me how something so challenging becomes so rewarding. It is even easier when the motivation comes straight from the kiddos and straight from the "lime army" that is Dance Marathon. It is said time and time again, but those kiddos go through the unimaginable, and they do it all with a smile on their face. Now, running a marathon is nothing compared to battling cancer, but if that is what it takes to provide more smiles and more birthdays, I think we should all run a marathon (or five)!"

ALUMNAE

We are also proud of all the wonderful Chi Omega Alumnae that ran the marathon this year, too! We are so proud of these amazing women and all that they have done after graduation!

Hannah Credille (left) and Stef Mueller (middle), both class of 2015, loved their first experience of a marathon!

Grace Rafferty (right), class of 2015, represented Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago where she works as a nurse.

Photo by Lurie Children's Hospital 

Lauren Patnoe, class of 2014, had a big Chi Omega cheering squad!

Sisters Taylor Curran (left) and Megan Merrion (right) from the class of 2015 cheered on Stef and all the other Psi Betas!

Iowa Homecoming 2017

This year's Homecoming was an absolute blast! Chi Omega was paired with the fraternities of Zeta Beta Tau and Lambda Chi Alpha and participated in activities like Can-Struction, bags tournaments, Ruckus at the Rec, and of course, Iowa SHOUT. We placed 2nd overall and we could not be more proud! Read all about our events below! 

Can-Struction was a mad dash to build the best design with canned goods that would be donated at the end of the day. Chi Omega decided to build the children's hospital to honor the kiddos on the 11th floor and to represent the newest Iowa football tradition: The Wave. 

We also had a blast at Ruckus at the Rec! We participated in Tug of War, obstacle courses, and dodgeball. Those who did not play cheered in the stands and caused a ruckus for their sisters. Ruckus at the Rec is always a fun way to bring out our competitive side and cheer each other on.

Our Campus Activities Director, Katie Cabel, played an enormous role in Homecoming Week. She spent countless hours preparing the dances for SHOUT, and making sure the week was a blast for everyone. We are so proud of her dedication and love for this chapter. 

“Homecoming Week 2017 was one to remember. I was so proud to see our pairing come together and give it their all at various events. I especially had a blast working with our team for Iowa Shout, and I was absolutely thrilled when we won! It was a great time for me to get close to our new members and share with them how this aspect of Chi Omega holds a special place in my heart! I can’t believe my time as Campus Activities Director is already up, but I look forward to seeing someone else take over and hopefully give their heart and soul to the position because I loved every minute!”

— Katie Cabel

Iowa SHOUT is always the highlight of the week (besides the football game, of course)! Each chapter gets a chance to show off with a girls dance, boys dance, and a partner dance. This year, Chi Omega took FIRST PLACE in SHOUT and had a blast doing it!

The dancers worked their butts off for weeks leading up to the performance to make it past try-outs and be able to take the main stage in the IMU! They put in many hours of work each week and the payoff was outstanding!

All of the rehearsals and the performance allowed us to bond even more with our pairing-making new friendships all week long!

Iowa Shout Photos by JoePhoto

Besides Chi Omega having  blast during Homecoming week, our Sister Kimmi Chexnayder won Homecoming Queen this year! We could not be more proud of her and everything she has accomplished! HUGE congrats to Kimmi! 

As with everyone home game, we also enjoyed seeing our Sisters who perform on the field and pump up the crowd! Kylene Spanbauer is Iowa's Golden Girl, Sydney Albertson and Kayla Drow are on the Iowa Dance Team, and Maria Werner Anderson is a member of the Hawkeye Marching Band!

photo by Connor Barber

We finished off the week in a very special way this year. Two of our inspiring alumnae, Brooke Mickelson and Meighan Phillips, took the new first quarter 'WAVE' to the children's hospital a step further. Both Brooke and Meighan have a personal connection to the hospital, as they have experienced firsthand having a child treated at the Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. So they created a shirt to fundraise for the kiddos in the UISFCH. This shirt raised over $100,000 for the Stead Family Children's Hospital in the first 48 hours it was on sale! You can order your WAVE shirt by clicking here ---> The Iowa Wave Shirt

Chi Omega Dad's Weekend 2017

During the last weekend of September, Chi Omega celebrated our fathers at our annual Dads Day and hosted the fourteenth annual Golf Classic! We were lucky enough to spend the weekend with our families, play bags with our Dads, cheer on the Hawkeyes, and enjoy some golf of Sunday to benefit Make-A-Wish! Our Chi Omega sisters and their fathers describe their favorite moments below:

“Dad’s Day is always one of my favorite weekend of fall! I love getting to spend quality time with my dad in Iowa City, and it’s so much fun to watch all of the dads become friends. My dad and I may lose in the first round of bags every year, but we have a lot of fun doing it! Dad’s Day is a holiday I look forward to every year!” -Ellie Begg, Class of 2019

"I always look forward to Dad’s Day. The turnout is huge and the atmosphere is fun. I always play my best golf (and only golf) of the year on Dad’s Weekend. Must be because we get the best caddies out there! It was great to spend a weekend in Iowa City with my daughter, her friends, and their dads." - Mr. Begg

As for me, I grew up with a twin sister ad had to do a lot of sharing with our parents. When I get one on one time with either of them, it’s something I really value and hold close to my heart. Chi Omega gave us an amazing opportunity to spend time together and really reassured me that family is everything. I am so lucky to get to share moments like these with my dad!” - Sara Leiding, Class of 2020

"It was a special weekend because I got to enjoy a different kind of event with my daughter and spending time together is special for both of us. I enjoyed getting to know Sara's roommates and their families better as well!" -Mr. Leiding

““Dad’s Day has always been one of my favorite events throughout the year because it’s a whole family affair! I’m so lucky to have a family that’s always down for some Hawkeye or Chi Omega fun! This year was even more special since it’s my last Dad’s Day, but we definitely did our last one right. Dad’s Day will be an event my whole family is going to miss in my years after college!”

— Lindsay Randklev, Class of 2018

"I don't know what was more fun...missing the ball seven times in a row or spending time with my dad!" - Peyton Swift, Class of 2021

"The caddies were better golfers, but everyone had a really great time!" - Mr. Swift

Dads Weekend was the most awesome birthday weekend a dad could ask for. Golf Classic was a great way to bond with the dads!” - Mr. Hickerson

"Saturdays are definitely for the dads!" - Meredith Hickerson, Class of 2020

Katherine Henry

“Golf Classic was a great opportunity to get my brother out of Iowa City! Not only did I get to spend quality time with family, I also got to support all the great kids and families involved with the Make A Wish Foundation!” 

I really enjoyed the golf classic. I met so many great people and we all had a lot of fun. It was totally worth the drive to Iowa City, because it’s for such an amazing cause! - Jack Henry, Katherine's Brother

Julia Stenger, our incredible Sisterhood chair planned Dad's weekend and was incredibly pleased with how it turned out. We are so grateful for all of her hard work and dedication that made the weekend such a success!

Julia, Sisterhood Chair

"Dad's Day was an absolute blast! My dad and I didn't play in the bags tournament, but we did organize it and had so much fun doing so. We got to watch games that came down to the wire and we were thrilled to see Gianna Fiandaca and her dad win it all-new defending champs of 88 teams! Following the fun at the house, we went over to Quinton's for a restaurant full of Chi Omegas, food, and cheering for the Hawks. It was beautiful weather, great company, and an awesome time to be able to make the day as fun as I could have!"

Chi Omega's First WISH WEEK!

Chi Omega’s first Wish Week has come to an end in what seems like the blink of an eye. But Wish Week started off as just that - a wish. A wish to raise awareness, to raise money, and to provide hope for children and families grappling the burdens of life-threatening illnesses to show them the happiness, relief, and renewal that a wish can bring. This was Chi Omega's goal with our first ever Wish Week to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation: our philanthropy that we are deeply attached to and proud of. We decided to plan a week full of events leading up to our annual Chi Omega Golf Classic to raise funds and awareness for Make-A-Wish within the Iowa City, University of Iowa, and Greek communities.

It is a beautiful thing when an entire campus comes together for a cause bigger than themselves. In years past, we have had single-day events for the cause, but this year we decided to take it one step further. The results? More than we could have imagined. In seven days, we raised a grand total of $8,670.08: enough to grant a child's wish!

Our sister, Anna Vos, played a huge role in organizing this week and we could not be more grateful to her and her hard work. Read more about this incredible week below! 

Monday - Adam's Wish

This year, each day of Wish Week saw a new event. On Monday, we kicked off our week by hosting an event called "Adam's Wish," where we were blessed to listen to Adam's family speak. We heard about how Make-A-Wish granted Adam's wish to visit San Diego, California, and learned first hand what the power of a Wish truly means to a kiddo and his family. We loved being able to invite the Greek Community to come listen to Adam's story and it was so awesome to share our philanthropy among so many different chapters! 

Tuesday -Donut you wanna grant a wish?

Tuesday mornings call for donuts and coffee, which we handed out at Hubbard Park all morning. We got to spread the power of Make-A-Wish to our fellow student body over some delicious pastries and caffeine! 

Wednesday -Chipotle Community day

On Wednesday, our sister, Ella Paris, organized our first community day at CHIpOtle. This means that 50% of the proceeds that Chipotle made from 4-8pm that night went directly to Make-A-Wish! The line was out the door for hours as everyone on campus chowed down on burritos for an amazing cause.

Thursday & Friday - 24hr wish rally!

Thursday and Friday we blew Facebook up with our 24 hour Wish Rally! We urged our family and friends to find a few extra dollars to donate to Make-A-Wish through social media, and the results were incredible. We started out with a goal of $1,100 and surpassed that before the 6 hour mark. We then raised our goal to $2,000 and ended up with a grand total of $2,555! 11:11am on September 28th to 11:11am on September 29th saw the funds for portion of a child's wish get raised, and that is something we are truly proud of. 

Sunday - Golf Classic

Wish Week finished up on Sunday with our annual Chi Omega Golf Classic! Golfers sign up to play 9 holes in competitive fun on Brown Deer Golf Course. Chi Omega's caddied for our dads, fraternity men, and community members all throughout the day. This is always one of our favorite events throughout the year and having it finish off our first ever Wish Week made it even better! 

Our friends in Phi Kappa Psi took home the gold on the Front 9 by shooting 8 under par!

Liz

"Golf Classic 2017 went really well! Clare Keating and Margaret Kaufman were my assistants and I could not have done it without them! We couldn't have asked for a better day. The weather was perfect and it seemed like everyone was enjoying themselves. What I enjoyed most about Golf Classic in general was witnessing all of the planning pay off. I was able to caddy for my dad and boyfriend, which let me relax and soak in the whole day. We raised so much money for Make-A-Wish and all the families that Make-A-Wish helps! It will be great to see another child be granted a wish!"

Our sister, Liz Shaw, was the mastermind behind the planning of Golf Classic. She spent months contacting the golf course, organizing the donations, and making sure it would be a wonderful event for all! 

Anna, Chi Omega's Philanthropy Director, commented on the incredible turn out in on both the participation and financial ends of the spectrum of Wish Week -which so successful largely in part to her hard work and dedication!

"As the Greek Philanthropy Director, I cannot express how much it meant to have such a great turnout at the Wish Week events. To me, it demonstrates the sense of unity in the Greek community when we come together to show emotional and financial support for organizations that make an impact across the country. It’s incredible to see the way Greeks contribute to that impact, and how we empower one another by encouraging leadership and awareness through organizing philanthropy events. Most importantly, we came together to raise enough money to grant a child’s wish. In meeting Wish families throughout our events, we were able to catch a glimpse of the lasting impact that can make on one child’s life, and how that one person can continue to inspire others who are wishing to make a difference." -Anna Vos

Chi Omega's President, Sarah Fisher, could not be more proud of how the week turned out.

"As Chi Omegas, we are so excited to take on new projects and try to push ourselves to go above and beyond. We are so proud to have raised nearly $9,000 for Make-A-Wish during our first Wish Week! However, none of this would have been possible if we did not have such amazing individuals organizing these events. Anna Vos, our Philanthropy Chair, went above and beyond to make sure this week went so smoothly. She spent countless hours setting things up, tearing things down, and making sure everyone had a smile on their face throughout the week. Anna, along with the rest of our Make-A-Wish committee, are women that make Chi Omega so outstanding. Each and every one of them contributes their strengths that make this organization successful. We want to give Anna and the rest of these ladies a HUGE thank you for all of their hard work. Psi Beta has endless love for them and all that they do!"

Missed this year's Wish Week? Don't worry! Next year's is already in the works!