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!!