Happy New Year!

Looking back on 2011, PA Kappa's members pledged to do many things. Among those was, "to always be there for a sister in need," "to uphold all the values of Pi Beta Phi" and "to promote on campus involvement and event attendance". Additionally, Pi Phis became more educated with the "Green" bulletin board with facts about how to conserve energy and water. You might say this came in handy because Pi Phi won the Greek house week long competition to see which chapter could use the least amount of energy.

We are looking forward to an equally great 2012!

Adopt-a-Family

Pi Phi was so excited to take part in Adopt-a-Family at Donegan Elementary School in Bethlehem. We adopted a family of six after raising money to buy them tons of gifts just in time for the holiday season. It was a humbling moment for all who participated on that day and we can't wait to participate again next winter!

Posing with two of the children in our "adopted" family

Clothing Drive

Pi Phi is proud to be donating clothes to the Green Action clothing drive! Thank you to all of our members who participated!

Open Houses!

Last night, we welcomed over 200 PNM's into our house to let them see what Pi Phi is like! It was a great way for our sisters to get to know the PNMs. We decorated the house in a fall theme and turned on our fireplace to make a cozy atmosphere. Our chef Carol, with the help of many girls in the house, made a lot of delicious treats for the PNMs to eat. We are very happy with the turnout and we look forward to

 seeing the PNMs in January for Formal Recruitment! 

Pi Beta Phi HQ Blog

Check out the Pi Beta Phi HQ Blog here!

We are back!

      Sisters have started moving back in to our house and we all couldn't be more excited! We are all getting settled in and hearing about everyone's summers.
      Members of PC '11 are assisting with Freshman move in on Thursday, August 25th. We can't wait to meet all the new freshman!

Sisters Only Self Defense

Yesterday, our members participated in a self defense class as a sisters only event. We learned how some martial arts moves and how to defend ourselves if we need to! It was such a fun class and we are so happy we had the opportunity to do this!

Pi Phi Does the Lipdub!

PC '11 recently participated in Lehigh's Lipdub! They had a great time doing it and wore their letters to represent Pi Phi! Watch the lipdub here! Great enthusiasm ladies :) 

PA Kappa makes its 'Arrow' Debut!

      We are so happy to report that our chapter was in the Spring 2011 issue of "The Arrow" twice! The Arrow is Pi Phi's national magazine; every issue, different chapters are featured for doing notable things for their college communities. This was our first time being in The Arrow and we could not be more excited!! Our first mention was a picture of members of our house at Adopt a Family back in December. This event was very special because it gave us an opportunity to give back to our community by bringing gifts to a local family.
      The other PA Kappa featured in The Arrow was Brenna Tudor. She wrote an article about a 'chance encounter' with another Pi Phi. In her article, Brenna wrote about her abroad experience in Italy last summer, and how her roommate happened to be a Pi Phi too! It was a great article and we are so happy that it was chosen for The Arrow!

Sister Spotlight: Ellie McGuire

       As a member of the pledge class of 2014, I am so excited to be a new member of the PA Kappa chapter of Pi Beta Phi! Throughout the entire New Member Education period all of the sisters were so encouraging and supportive and made it really fun and easy to get to know everyone. Every single girl I met was so excited and eager to welcome myself and the other 32 girls in my pledge class into the house--one of the many reasons I’m glad I chose Pi Phi! Out of all of the girls I have met at Lehigh who are involved in Greek Life, Pi Phi is hands down the most down to earth, friendly and interesting group of girls I met. Everyone in Pi Phi has such diverse interests: there are athletes, engineers, business majors, artists and everything in between, and all of the sisters are super supportive of everyone’s individual interests. I look most forward to being an active member of Pi Beta Phi on campus by helping out with our philanthropy events and making sure Pi Phi is a productive and contributing presence on campus. I know that as a member of Pi Phi I will learn many important skills through leadership opportunities and community service projects that will help me far beyond my college years, and I can’t wait to get started! I love all my new sisters so much already, and I know that Pi Phi is going to make my college experience some of the best years of my life! 

Sister Spotlight: Ari Cohen

My name is Ari Cohen and I’m a sophomore in the PA Kappa chapter at Lehigh. Before going to college, I never thought that I would join a sorority. I always thought that being in a sorority meant turning into a clone of every other girl in the house and that individuality would disappear. However, when I met the sisters of Pi Beta Phi, I realized how many different personalities and backgrounds there were within the house and I knew it was exactly what I was looking for. I feel so lucky to know such a diverse group of amazing girls who are each completely and totally themselves.

            I went from never wanting to be in a sorority to now being on one’s Executive Board. I am currently the VP of Event Planning for Pi Phi, and it has been such an enjoyable yet challenging experience. I am so thankful to have this opportunity because I have learned countless new things that will help me be ready to face the world outside of college and it has allowed me to broaden my knowledge and skills. Holding this position in the house as well as being an architecture major has forced me to learn how to have a healthy balance of work and play, which to me may be the most valuable lesson to ever learn in college.            

            Being in Pi Phi has given me the support system I need to be the successful and well-rounded individual I aspire to be. Lehigh is far away from my home in West Palm Beach and I definitely feel that distance every now and then, but living with the sisters of Pi Phi is the one thing that gets me through it – there is always someone around to make me laugh and to help clear my head. This is truly the greatest group of girls I could ever ask to be around every single day, and I know that the memories made here will be some of the best ones of my life! 

Pi Phi's on Panhel!!!

Congratulations to juniors Rachel Modica and Taara Ness-Cochinwala on being elected to serve on Lehigh's Panhellenic Council for the 2011-2012 school year! Rachel is going to be the Vice President of Programming and Taara is going to be the Vice President of Recruitment. These are two very important positions and we know that Taara and Rachel are going to do a great job leading our sorority community next year!

Congrats to our New Members!!!

The PA Kappa Chapter of Pi Beta Phi is so excited to welcome 33 new members into our family!! We are all so excited that all of you are now officially our sisters!!

Sister Spotlight: Mel Bilge

            Being a sister of Pi Beta Phi has been a very rewarding experience that has given me many opportunities to create change not only in my chapter, but on campus as well. One of these opportunities is being able to join Greek Allies, a student run organization that is open to all Greek fraternity and sorority members. Greek Allies strives to be a support system as well as an advocacy group that deals with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender , queer, questioning, intersex, and ally issues.  I joined Greek Allies with two other Pi Phi’s with the intent to not only become an Ally, but to inform others on campus, as well as those in my chapter about LGBTQIA issues that affect all of us in some shape or form.  It is important to me and others in our group to create a safe space for those that may already be in Greek houses that are struggling with their sexuality and how it may affect their role in their chapters and how others act towards them. We also want to be able to warmly welcome all women who choose to undergo the recruitment process and let them know they we are accepting of everyone and that we would be a comfortable environment for them to surround themselves with. Greek Allies has not only made me become a better person but it has brought me closer to my other sisters that are also involved in the program. We spend a lot of time discussing personal issues and opinions and through these discussions, we have come to learn a lot about each other  on a deeper level. Greek Allies is like a second family to me and I love that I can be a part of such a change with some of my sisters. 

Big/Little Reveal 2011!!

The 2011 Big/Little Reveal was a huge success!! The bigs sat in a circle and watched as their littles searched through a pile of balloons with one with their name on it. Inside each of the balloons, was picture of the new member's bigs! Once they popped their balloon, the bigs were officially revealed! After everyone got settled, the bigs gave their littles their favorite flower, which they then put into a vase with everyone else's flower! It was a really great reveal and the bigs can't wait to welcome their littles into their lineage!

The bigs waiting for their littles to arrive!!!

Revealed!!!!

Bigs and Littles!!!

All of the flowers in the vase 

                        

Sister Spotlight: Jackie Odgen

My name is Jackie Ogden and I am a junior in Pi Beta Phi! I As a Freshman, I joined the rowing team here at Lehigh, and as a Division I athlete I chose not to join a sorority. However, as I got to know the sisters of Pi Beta Phi and became close friends with them, I knew I was missing out on something great. As a Sophomore, I joined Pi Phi in Fall of 2009, and I found the support system and circle of friends I loved! I have never looked back and thank the sisters who encouraged me to join Greek life!

As an athlete and a double major in the College of Business and Economics, life can get pretty hectic, but my sisters are always there for me to calm me down and help me out! If I am stressed, they know exactly the right things to say to calm me down?.or they force me to take a much needed study break to take a trip to Saladworks! If I need help academically, there is always someone there to go over homework or to study with! Without their support, good humor, understanding, encouragement and friendship I could never survive!

Sister Spotlight: Delia Riggi

My name is Delia Riggi, I am a junior in the PA Kappa chapter of Pi Beta Phi and my story is a little out of the ordinary. I was a member of the varsity swim team my freshman and sophomore year and that is where I found my niche. I had some friends in school but the majority of my social connections were teammates of mine. In the beginning of sophomore year I realized that swimming was not for me and I decided to leave the team in hopes of a better lifestyle outside of Division 1 athletics. While my roommates had practice and dinner every day from 4-8 I was left to fend for myself but luckily a fellow Pi Phi took me under her wing and invited me to hang out at the house more often. I have never felt such love and support from a group of young ladies in my life. These Pi Phis were some of the nicest most genuine people I have encountered at Lehigh. From ski team adventures with a sophomore in the house to the most spirited intramural competitors there is never a dull moment at Pi Phi. I could not image myself continuing with swimming and missing out on the opportunity to meet the most down to earth girls on the hill.

Sister Spotlight: Vanessa Rodriguez

My name is Vanessa Rodriguez and I am a sophomore in the College of Business and Economics.   Since I’ve joined Pi Phi my life has seriously changed.  I can not picture my college experience without Pi Phi in it.  Every cherished memory involves at least one of my sisters and honestly without them I probably wouldn’t be at Lehigh today.  Freshman year I was a commuter and I found it very difficult to meet people because Lehigh is a very residential university.  I was having a miserable time and was considering transferring.  However, over winter break I convinced myself to rush and thank goodness I received a bid from Pi Phi.  The friends I made at Pi Phi will definitely follow me out of college and I can not wait for all the new experiences we will share together.  This sounds so cliché but its true and they have proven it to me.  Last semester I was unable to return to Lehigh for financial reasons and this was the worst time period in my life.  I have never met another group of supportive friends than the girls in Pi Phi, they acted as if nothing had changed and I was always included in every aspect of Pi Phi.  People always claim that joining a sorority is paying for friends but this is obviously not the case for PA Kappa. They loved me for me and I can not thank them enough for that.  They made my life so much better and Lehigh is seriously the only place I will ever want to be because of them.

Sister Spotlight: Kate Wesely

My name is Kate Wesely and I am a sophomore in Pi Beta Phi. I am majoring in Accounting with a minor in Spanish. Some of the things I’m involved in on campus are MERGE, a mentoring program for high school students, Leadership Lehigh and the Accounting Club.

I am Vice President of Finance for my chapter. Even though I’ve only had the job for a little over a month, I have already learned so much. I know that especially as a business major I will encounter many experiences as VP Finance that will really help me both during school and after graduation. I’m excited to serve my sisters as VPF for the next couple semesters!

I absolutely love the support system that has come with being a member of Pi Phi. If I come home upset or even just stressed from a long day, I can always find a supportive shoulder to lean on or someone to vent to. During my freshman year we went to Hershey Park for a sisters only event. That day I decided to be adventurous and go on a rollercoaster for the first time. As soon as I was buckled into the seat, I immediately began to panic. Luckily, I had a Pi Phi on either side of me holding my hand and comforting me the entire way. Though I decided that day that rollercoasters are not for me, it was still a great experience in that it really made me realize the great support system I’ve gained in Pi Phi. The support system has also come in handy with schoolwork- if I ever need help on an assignment or studying for a test, I can always find at least five sisters who have already taken the course and are more than willing to help me. I have loved my Pi Phi experience so far and I can’t wait to make more memories with my best friends!

Welcome New Pi Phis!!

Welcome to the 33 new girls who are part of our PC '11!! We are so excited to have you all become a part of our family!


PPL!!!

Pi Phi Basketball Intramural Team Makes it to the Playoffs!

    Congratulations to the Pi Phi Basketball Intramural team! We are very excited about making it this far and we are very confident in our team to make it to the finals. Members of the team included Delia Riggi, Jen Tell, Carolyn Zelenetz, Liz Toumanios, Chloe Albright, Julie Suzzan, and Emily Flanagan.

    Great Job     Girls!!!!

Sister Spotlight: Haley Rodack

    I’m Haley Rodack, a sophomore and member of Pi Beta Phi. Being a part of this fraternity for women has broadened my experience at Lehigh University. I believe this because being a part of this diverse group of girls has resulted in me becoming more active in various groups around campus. I am a member of Greek Allies which has the goal of making the Greek community more open to LGBQTIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Transgender, Intersexual, and Ally) members.   I am also a member of the University’s club field hockey team.  Most importantly, I have become engaged in service to the community.

    One of my sisters, Isabella, has helped introduce me to community service. She is a huge advocate of volunteerism, continuing to sacrifice her time to tutor children and cook at a shelter. With her encouragement, we both signed up for a trip to Tennessee during spring break   to help restore hiking trails, along with spending time at schools and retirement homes.  Without being a part of this house and sisterhood, my experiences at Lehigh may have been more limited.  Perhaps the most exciting aspect of Pi Beta Phi membership are the future opportunities that will present themselves as I continue my Lehigh education.  

At the end of December, our chapter partnered with Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity to adopt a less fortunate local family for the winter season. We bought the family toys, appliances, and linens so they could enjoy their holiday season without the financial pressure of buying gifts. Because the whole Greek community partnered with other organizations to adopt families, we were able to make a huge impact and help these people to enjoy their holidays!

Sister Spotlight: Julie Suzzan

     My name is Julie Suzzan and I am the Vice President of Communications for the PA Kappa Chapter of Pi Phi!! I started this blog to get the word out about our chapter. I am so excited for different sisters to post on the blog and let our parents, alumni, and our followers get to know us better and see some of the great things we all do on campus.
     Ever since I joined Pi Phi, I have been active in our chapter. As a member of Junior Panhel, I worked with seven other representatives from all of the other sororities on campus to unite our chapters and make an impact at Lehigh. I was also a part of Greek Emerging Leaders. Myself along with a group of other members of fraternities and sororities learned the skills we needed to be effective leaders for our chapters. I really enjoyed being a part of both of these activities and I think they are part of the reason I chose to run for a position on our executive board.
     At Lehigh, I am a Design major with a concentration in Graphic Design and an Earth and Environmental Science minor. I am enjoying my classes during this semester so far and look forward to learning more about both subjects. I am really excited for the semester to progress!! I am looking forward to being on exec and making an impact in our chapter and being a second semester sophomore at Lehigh.

Sister Spotlight: Corry Starr

    When I try to think what Pi Beta Phi means to me, the characteristic that sticks out the most is true friendship. People will tell you that if you join Pi Phi you are not only making friends, but also you become sisters. I truly believe that statement.

    Last week I came running home with excitement. I had a personal experience occur that, in my eyes (as corny as that sounds), my dreams had come true. I was glowing with happiness. All I wanted to do was smile and dance around the room like a three-year-old who just got her first puppy. I went barging into the room across the hall from mine, to find two sisters sitting talking. I instantly spilled my good news to them. I would have never expected the reaction I got. The two sisters got up, blasted the song ?Celebrate Good Times? and danced around the room with me for half hour. You could tell they did not only just listen to my story, but they truly felt happy for me. They wanted to share the experience and bliss with me. It made this night ten times more special for me.

    It was this moment that I knew I was in a house where love between sisters existed. You do not only tell your stories and feelings, you share them with one another. You do not only make friends, you make sisters. I have found my best friends in Pi Beta Phi.

Pi Phi's Save Lives!!!

Today at the Blood Drive at Lehigh, a number of Pi Phi's donated blood! One pint of blood saves three lives. We are so thankful that so many of our sisters were able to participate. Way to go girls!!