Captivatingly Kappa
With a combined passion for leadership, citizenship, sisterhood and service,
Phi Sigs at world-famous GW set new standards for sorority success.
September 3, 2010
IF GEORGE WASHINGTON WERE ALIVE TODAY, there’s no question he would applaud the women of Phi Sigma Sigma based at the famous university bearing his name in our nation’s capital, home of our historic Kappa Chapter since 1924.
World-renowned as an institution dedicated to educating the best-of-the-best leaders, The George Washington University is like no other urban campus, as our sisters there will tell you. Here, politics, American culture, fine arts, history, science and a deep commitment to community service merge, creating savvy and sophisticated college students who seem predestined to achieve Great Things.
So it comes as no surprise that the Phi Sigma Sigmas on this campus – in a chapter that’s now more than 110 women strong – eventually become some of the most celebrated sisters in our international organization. As young alumnae, their passionate commitment to professional excellence, good citizenship and servant leadership is so prominent, it’s practically a hallmark of true Kappa sisterhood.
President George Washington – whose vision to develop students exactly like this led to the creation of his university in 1821 through a Congressional Act – would have been proud, indeed.
Building on success
But it’s doubtful he could be prouder than long-time Chapter Key Advisor Dotti Shields – who, come this spring, will mark a decade of faithful service to GW Phi Sigs as their mentor, cheerleader, sister and friend.
When she initially took on the advisor role in 2000, shortly after the chapter had recolonized in 1997, Phi Sig still had a long way to go to reestablish itself as a Greek leader on campus, she recalls. Kappa was struggling with membership, the women were having difficulty pinpointing their unique “brand” or personality on campus, and there was a disconnect between the collegians and local alumnae.
Today, Kappa is solidly one of the largest groups on campus, Phi Sigma Sigma is renowned as one of the top philanthropic and service leaders among nearly 40 Greek-letter organizations, and the chapter regularly networks with prestigious local alumnae such as the Hon. Ruth Cooper Burg (a Kappa herself, and one of our top 100 sisters of all time).
What made the difference? Greater emphasis on recruitment and service, alumnae involvement, participation in various campus activities and diversifying membership, Dotti says. “We built and built on our successes, year after year,” she adds. “It took effort and time, and it paid off.”
True servant leaders
Archon Samantha McLean, an international affairs major, agrees wholeheartedly.
“One of our main strengths is that we purposefully seek out women who embody the core values of Phi Sigma Sigma and GW – and it’s absolutely helped with recruitment,” she says. “It’s helped define who we are on campus: We’re the women who get things done, who enjoy mixing with all kinds of students and student groups, who are involved in every activity you can think of, and who logged 3,400 hours of community service by the end of last semester. That’s 739 more hours than any other Greek chapter.” (It’s about 30 hours per sister, too. Wow.)
In fact, Kappa Phi Sigs were singled out by University public relations as tops in service during a campus-wide challenge leveled earlier this year by none other than First Lady Michelle Obama, who declared if GW students performed 100,000 hours of service, she’d speak at their commencement on the National Mall in May. Of all Greek groups (remember, there are nearly 40), Phi Sigs logged a whopping 16% of the total contributed to that goal – helping to ensure GW’s success. Mrs. Obama gave the commencement speech – and Phi Sigs in the audience were thrilled to have helped make it happen, Samantha says.
Strong record of success
Kappa Phi Sigs are especially proud of how closely they work together to achieve chapter goals, Samantha says. Among recent accomplishments and honors:
Outstanding Chapter GPA and New Member GPA awards.- 2009 Greek Week champions.
- Greek Unity Award.
- Nearly $3,000 raised for the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation at a single Rock-a-thon event.
- Nearly $2,000 raised for the Michael J. Fox Foundation via Kappa’s new “Pancakes for Parkinson’s” event.
- Nearly $2,000 raised through their signature 3-day philanthropic campus activity, the Sapphire Cup, in which fraternities compete in various events, drawing hundreds of Greek spectators.
- Former Archon Madi Lottenbach nominated for Phi Sig’s prestigious Jeanine Jacobs Goldberg Archon of the Year Award in 2009-2010 (one of 6 finalists internationally).
- Chapter of Excellence Silver and Bronze Awards (Phi Sigma Sigma).
- Chapter Excellence Gold Level Award (George Washington).
What’s more, Kappa is closing in on a special goal to honor their sister Laura Treanor, who passed away unexpectedly last year.
With the help of the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation, they’ve established a Chapter Educational Fund in Laura’s name that will distribute a substantial scholarship to one chapter sister every year as a way to keep Laura’s memory and her strong love of Phi Sig alive.
It’s no small feat to raise the $10,000 necessary to create the fund. But doing so is consistent with everything Kappa sisters stand for. (FYI: In less than one year, they’re just $500 away from that goal. Contact the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation if you’d like to contribute toward the effort in Laura’s memory.)
“We’re not content to sit on the sidelines when we can get out there and make a difference,” Samantha explains. “We’re extremely proud to be part of this historic chapter, and we’ll always work hard to prove how much we love our sisters and our sisterhood.”
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