A Busy Panda is a Happy Panda

We have not stopped and we don’t plan to! This past week has been a whirlwind at 4517 College Avenue- full of planning, executing, and enjoying several major events from philanthropy to the beginning Greek Week.  The energy is high and spirits are lifted, and the sun has not stopped shining, either!


Sisters get pied to Strike Out Arthritis!


This past Thursday, April 11^th marked our biannual AOPie in the Face in front of our Pi Delta Chapter house from 7 to 11p.m. Members from across the community showed support and made strides to Strike Out Arthritis by delivering sticky and sweet pies to our faces. And the girls took them like true champions-using laughter and jokes and from time to time, a little sweet revenge.  Our Philanthropy Chair, Ashley Nonemaker, orchestrated the entire event with the help of her committee and as a result we raised over $400! AOPie in the Face is often a favorite event among sisters and this semester the consensus was no different. How could it get old?




Sunday was also a full day as well as a beautiful one.  At a sunny 65 degrees, it was the perfect weather for our 2^nd Annual HonduRun in honor of our beloved sister, Kayla Libby.  Kayla was a dedicated member of the UMD branch of Students Helping Honduras and so each year we get together with SHH to co-sponsor a 5K race along with music, food, raffles, and a balloon release in her memory.  All of the proceeds went to the construction of the Benedicion Elementary School in Honduras.  The Libby family and several of Kayla’s friends from their Massachusetts hometown joined us for the event.  Participants enjoyed looking at photo albums, letters, and pairs of high heels, as well as writing Kayla notes on bright, pink balloons.

“We had a great turn out- better than last year,” said Amy Young, who helped to coordinate HonduRun. “It was great to see so many people come out to honor Kayla’s memory and support a good cause. The Libby's were happy to see how everything went."

Kayla's memory lives through us each and every day and Sunday was the perfect way to celebrate this.

And as if we did not have enough to do already, Greek Week at the University of Maryland has begun!  This semester, we are paired up with Alpha Tau Omega which is thrilling in itself since they are an awesome group of guys.  We have already attended a UMD baseball game and set up our own carnival stand on Chapel Hill for a day of service to the community. The rest of the week has much in store for us, too, including Olympics events, athletics, dumpster painting, and the highly-anticipated skit competition.  Our theme is the Travel Channel and we will be sporting colors and flags from around the world.  Greek Week is always a time to celebrate and enjoy being a member of the UMD Greek community, forging new friendships, and making a lot of noise-and it’s finally here!  Go ATOPi!

Follow us on Twitter @umdaoii to stay updated on how our week is going!

Alpha Love and FTK!

This weekend, the University of Maryland hosted a successful 4^th year of Terp Thon- a Dance Marathon program that raises money for cancer research and the Children’s Miracle Network, and prompts thousands of students to stand “for the kids;”  for those who cannot stand for themselves.  At the beginning of the semester, Pi Delta paired up with IFC fraternity Alpha Tau Omega to form a fundraising team and, by the day of the event on March 10th, had raised over $12,000!

Members of AOII sporting their "Team Yellow" shirts.

We also had several active members involved in the formation of Terp Thon from our very own chapter.  Senior Amy Young served on the executive board for the organization as the Morale Chair, and was up on stage in front of thousands teaching the signature “morale dance” that was performed at the end of the 12 hours.  She was one of the top overall fundraisers, and spoke at almost every chapter meeting about Terp Thon’s progress and why we should all be involved.  Every sister admires her dedication and enthusiasm for such a great cause and is beyond proud of the work she has done!  Not to mention, she made the cover of the UMD newspaper The Diamondback, the front of The Diamondback Online, and made an appearance on the popular website Total Frat Move.  In addition, new member and sophomore Amy Vaccaro shares a similar passion for Terp Thon, serving as captain on its advertising team and heading their video execution, as well as raising over $1,000!  And senior Brittanie Hawkes was the 3^rd highest overall fundraiser, contributing over $1,700!

Amy Vaccaro (left) and Amy Young (right)

“It’s unbelievable how far this organization has come in 4 years and I am so proud to call myself a part of it,” Brittanie said, via Facebook.  Her tireless efforts persisted until the very end; out of every participant, she raised the most money over the duration of last hour.    

In addition to non-stop music and dancing, Terp Thon also had entertainment from the UMD dance team UnBound, which feshman new member Tori Janus is a part of.  Sisters cheered proudly as she and the team performed a contemporary dance number.  And between songs and live performances, 20 "Miracle Children" joined us to share their stories, laughter and tears.  They served as reminders of why we were there and who we were standing for.  

Terp Thon raised over $306,000 and touched countless lives this year.  The sisters who participated agree that it was one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences they have had the chance to be a part of.  

Being a part of a sorority gives you the chance to develop a passion not only for your own chapter’s philanthropy, but for charity in general and for the desire to devote yourself to bettering the lives of others.  We are lucky to have organizations like Terp Thon here at UMD that give us the opportunities to really change the way we look at our own lives and to make a difference.  And we are blessed to have such dedicated sisters as role models and as encouragement to push ourselves to do more. 

Only a Life Lived For Others is a Life Worthwhile

We are excited to announce that we will be working with the UMD branch of Students Helping Honduras again this semester, and co-sponsoring the 2^nd annual HonduRun. 

Children of the village Buenos Amigos in El Progresso, Honduras

 SHH raises money to send students to poverty stricken areas of Honduras and build schools there. Last April 2012, our chapter paired up with SHH to host the first ever “HonduRun in honor of Kayla Libby”, to contribute to the cause and to recognize a sister’s life and dedication.  Kayla was an active member of SHH and had been working with them to fund an elementary school known as El Pimientera Elementary School before she passed away in Jan. 2012.  The event was a 5K that began front of the Kappa 

Alpha Order fraternity house and featured food, music, and raffles.  Members from across campus and local communities, as well as from Kayla’s hometown community in MA, came out to participate.  Together we raised over $2,000 and all of the proceeds went to the school, which was completed in the summer of 2012 and dedicated to Kayla with a plaque in her memory.  

El Pimientera Elementary School in El Progresso, Honrduras

The 2^nd annual HonduRun will take place this coming April 2013 and again will include a 5K race, music, food, and raffles. Proceeds will benefit a new project in a village in Honduras called Bendicion de Balsamo, where SHH has been building a school for 150 elementary-aged children with an overall fundraising goal of $20,000. A book sale will also take place for El Pimientera Elementary School.  

“I’m really, really excited that were doing the HonduRun again this spring,” said senior Erica Davis.  “I think it’s a really incredible way to give back to the students on this campus and the philanthropies they are involved in while also remembering our sister Kayla.”

More registration information will become available as the date approaches on the Alpha Omicron Pi and Students Helping Honduras websites: 

 www.umdaoii.wix.com/umd  

 www.umdshh.webs.com

Welcome to the Family, Spring '13!

Recruitment is: overwhelming, exhausting, anxious, exciting, chaotic, nerve-wracking.  It asks of you your time and your patience.  But the rewards are unbelievable.  Ask any Pi Delta and she will tell you that not only is it worth it, but it is an experience that truly goes unmatched.  Over these past few weekends, the Greek community at the University of Maryland has been busy with spring formal recruitment.  With rounds last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as well as this past Friday and Sunday, every Greek member and Potential New Member has been searching for a perfect fit.  And it is with enormous pride and love that we introduce our new pledge class of spring 2013!  Thirty-nine beautiful, talented girls have already made their mark on our chapter as they have been welcomed home.  Older sisters are eager to share with them the joyful experiences they have had thus far in AOII and our new girls show little hesitation in divulging in all the chapter has to offer.  Monday night, Feb. 4^th, was bid night where, following tradition, PC’13 ran from Chapel Hill to our front doors where they spent the evening having dinner and getting to know Alpha Omicron Pi- their new home.  Congratulations, ladies!  We have seen in each and every one of you the qualities desired of an AOII and love you unconditionally already!

 Pi Delta during the House and Values Tour of recruitment on Jan. 25th. 

Welcome, PC’13: Arielle Abrams, Tanya Bagheri, Clare Bailey, Rae Baron, Holly Barra, Melissa Bean, Emily Catron, Katie Cauley, Rebecca Connor, Ciara Delehanty, Maggie Doran, Maddie Dwivedi, Bethany Fincher, Maura Fries, Jody Herron, Cara Hissey, Tori Janus, Delaney Kelly, Hannah Kim, Rachel Kuff, Morgan Lash, Kelly Lawrence, Ali Mazurek, Katie McCreanor, Catherine McGrath, Katharina Mitchell, Erin O’Keefe, Joy Phifer, Colleen Phillips, Ericka Rocke, Casey Rozek, Andrea Safirstein, Jordan Sallinger, Abbey Sauber, Jillian Sikora, Klarissa Tan, Amy Vaccaro, Shaill Vasavada, Kristen Wolfe. 

When You Leave Here, Don't Forget Why You Came

Although it is always sad to see a sister go, joy and pride take the forefront when it comes to the graduation of Theresa Dipeppe and Megan Krenzke.  On December 30, 2012, Theresa and Megan both graduated with Bachelors of Science in marketing and supply chain management.  Throughout their time at the University and in AOII, these girls have left significant marks on our chapter and community while at the same time carved themselves paths toward a bright future. 

Theresa is originally from Montgomery County, MD and joined AOII in the spring of 2009.  As a student in the Smith Business School, Theresa participated in the Design and Innovation in Marketing Fellows Program which provided her with priceless hands-on experience.  And she was a part of the Media, Self, and Society Scholars program her freshman and sophomore years.  Her involvement spread far beyond her academics, too.  As an AOII, Theresa served as House Manager and Vice President of Administration.  She holds a special place in her heart for the countless memories, especially her first year of recruitment.  “You get to learn so much about yourself, your sisters, and the chapter,” she says.  “It brings everyone so close together and you get a bunch of new sisters once the process is over.”  
         Theresa currently works full-time for Maier & Warner, a PR/Marketing firm in Rockville, MD.  She is a Marketing Specialist for the firm and manages client accounts through marketing, social media, and budgeting for advertisements.  We know her success is inevitable and wish her all the best!

Megan comes from Damascus, MD and is a member of the AOII fall ’08 pledge class.  During her time at UMD her biggest involvement was with the chapter.  She dedicated herself as Vice President of Recruitment as well as Chapter President!  She attended convention in Tuscon, AZ which remains one of her fondest memories.  Impressively, Megan was also a member of the Greek Leadership Honor Society known as the Order of Omega.  At the same time, she kept up with academics and graduated with University Honors. She was also a student in the Smith Business School. 

          Her time at Maryland was irreplaceable.  She will never forget “Snowmagedon” of 2010 or the spring break cruise in 2011.  And the chapter will never forget all she has done for it.  At the end of January, Megan will begin full-time with PepsiCo.  “I’m really excited! I’ll be working as a demand planner in Columbia, Maryland.”  Good luck, Megan!

The entire Pi Delta chapter cannot adequately express how grateful we are to have had these girls and to continue to know them.  They have provided examples of leadership, friendship, and excellence for the house to model itself after; true contributors to the strong sisterhood we pride ourselves on having.  And since you are both staying in the area you have no excuse to not come back to visit! We will be watching to see all the amazing things you do, ladies. Alpha love!

Fall 2012 With Pi Delta

Our chapter’s fall 2012 semester began with excitement and reunion when we welcomed back all of our sisters who were abroad during spring 2012! Rachel Miller, Rachel O’Dell, and Kayleigh Schultz were in Barcelona; Katie Franke, Dana Berber, Jacquelyn Lichitan, and Amy Vitale were in Australia; Molly Bumbera and Erin McGrain spent their semester in Rome; Erica Davis returned from London; Nicole Kozlowski was in Sevilla; and Naomi Tesfai came back from South Africa.  Every year we have an impressive amount of girls spend their semesters all over the world and though their experiences are never regretted, it is always beyond thrilling to have them return to us at home on College Avenue.  As a reunited chapter, we eagerly jumped back into our lives as loyal Terps and dedicated AOII sisters for an incredibly successful fall semester.  

Senior Molly Bumbera about to be pied at our philanthropy event.

          Philanthropy is a crucial component of Alpha Omicron Pi.  This semester, all three of our main philanthropy events were able to occur- finally! (Last semester, fate dealt an unfortunate hand and schedule conflicts/weather got the best of us).  We owe a big “thanks” to our philanthropy chair, Amy Young, who did a fantastic job in coordinating it all for an outstanding turnout.  In October, we hosted our Strikeout Arthritis kickball competition on Fraternity Row, cosponsored by several other fraternities and sororities.  The day was perfect with beautiful weather, music, and food.  In November, we hosted our "AOPie in the Face" event in front of our chapter house where brave sisters volunteered themselves to be ‘pied’ for the cause!  And later that month, our spring ’12 pledge class hosted our bi-annual Spaghetti Dinner at our chapter house.  Members from all over the community came out to enjoy all-you-can-eat spaghetti and added to our philanthropy contribution of over eight hundred dollars this semester!  Thanks to help from the entire chapter and community, we were able to give back to the Juvenile Arthritis Foundation in an enormous way.  Our new philanthropy chair Ashley Nonemaker is already strategizing how we can top this in the spring. 



Another major highlight from fall 2012 was Homecoming Week in October.  This year, we were paired up with the brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon and together we had one of our most successful Homecoming Week’s in recent history.  At the highly-anticipated skit competition, “AOEP” took home second place in backdrop and placed second in overall skit!  We all were overwhelmingly proud of our skit chairs, painters, and everyone who participated to make it as successful as it was.  We also went on to place second in the Olympics portion of the competition!  The week was full of energy, unity, excitement, and hard work paying off.

"AOEP" at the Olympics competition, where we came in second place

As these past few months have drawn to a close and winter break is upon us, it is rewarding to reflect on another incredible semester as an AOII sister at the University of Maryland.  Whether it was winning first place in the banner competition in Sigma Chi’s Derby Day’s, co-sponsoring the newly-colonized sorority Alpha Xi Delta’s first philanthropy event, supporting Miles and Smiles for Michaella in memory of our sister Kayla Libby, hosting three successful open houses, watching the talents of our own Kayla Taitz on E’s Opening Act, enjoying the beautiful renovations our house has received thus far, ranking third highest GPA out of all fourteen UMD sorority chapters, or simply grabbing dinner together on Route 1, our sisterhood continues to grow in every sense of the word.   As individuals and as a unit, we are blessed to be where we are today.  We are grateful to have each other and look forward to an exciting rest of the year, and to welcoming a new pledge class in a couple short months!  Best of luck to all our sisters who will be attending service trips or studying abroad this break, and those who will be studying abroad for the spring 2013 semester.

 

Upcoming Philanthropies

We have a busy month ahead of us--Pi Delta will be cosponsoring and participating in several philanthropic events throughout April and May! Visit the following links for more information and to find out how to get involved!

Students Helping Honduras & AOII: HonduRun (In Honor of Kayla Libby):

http://www.facebook.com/events/320459348018255/

Strike Out the Competition (Proceeds go to the Arthritis foundation)

http://www.facebook.com/events/306476109421754/

All are welcome to attend these events and we'd love to see you there!