past memories! Our chapter looks forward to

sharing future news with you and hopefully hearing from each and every one of you. ………………………………….. Lauren Pignataro can be reached at lcp46@cornell.edu.

On Saturday, May 1st, the sisters of Kappa Alpha Theta hosted members of the Cornell community for a fun-filled outdoor fundraiser for our philanthropy, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). CASA is a nonprofit network supporting and promoting court appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children.

The event lasted from 4:00-7:00pm on a beautiful sunny day, with three student bands performing: Hype City Kings, Friend of Mine, and Debbie's Granola. The Iota chapter was

able to raise $2,800 for CASA at the event through the sale of food, raffle tickets, and donations.

The sisters were extremely

grateful to the many members of the Greek community and the Cornell community who attended the event and helped make it a success.

As our Philanthropy Chair Liz Wolfsthal ’11 noted, “Kappa Alpha Theta needed a new and different spring philanthropy event. Rock the CASA was so successful, we are planning on making it an annual event.” We look forward to continuing to raise funds for CASA in the future and making our philanthropic events an integral part of Theta’s presence on campus.

With 41 new members, the Iota chapter is enjoying a semester of over 160 women! We certainly have a lot going on. This year, we’ve made many changes to our chapter in attempts to come closer to a Golden Kite Award. We’ve revamped our new member education, big-little week, ritual education, and philanthropy events—just to name a few.

While, in the past, Iota has

only had the help of one

Greetings from Iota!

Alumnae News Kappa Alpha Theta—Iota Chapter—Cornell University

May 2010 Volume 2, Issue 2

Meet Our Executive Board

Lauren Pignataro President

Rock the CASA

hear your most recent updates and

advisor—Diane Miller—this semester, we were lucky enough to add Christine Wais to our list of advisors. Chrissie has been extremely helpful in the areas of development and education, and with the extra help, making changes to the chapter has been a lot smoother.

We hope that you will be able

to join us this summer for the annual alumnae event on June 12 during reunion weekend at Cornell. We would also love to

From left to right: Caroline Gross, VP Administration; Anne Gottwalt, VP Finance; Courtney Hayward, VP Membership; Courtney Osborn, VP Panhellenic; Emily Ruzbarsky, VP Development; Jen Davis, VP Public Relations; Taylor Daugherty, VP Education

Thetas Recognized in the Cornell Community

PAGE 2 OF 5

Rebekah Alexander Akunna Anyanwu Stephanie Bernardi Christina Blanco Katie Brent Weronika Bukowski Christine Chang Meg Crowell Hannah Geiser Casey Glassman Arin Grant Debbie Gu Sammy Heleba Elizabeth Henry Maxi Hepfer Jamie Hu Kristen Jenkins Becca Kaufman Kristen Kraemer

Becca Lesser Carolyn Levitan Levina Li Melissa Lin Theo Matthai Allison McQueeney Erica Meritt Julia Murphy Lizzie Nolan Anne D. Pennington Andrea Pimienta Belinda Platt Alissa Poloumieva Abby Robinson Lindsay Rosenblum Talie Schwager Sam Schwalje Lindsay Slaven Marion Smith

Kristen Steves Elisabeth Steyn Gabby Vega ……………………………… Want to recommend a Potential New Member? Please visit www.kappaalphatheta.org , click on the Alumnae tab, print and fill out the online reference form and send it to: Kappa Alpha Theta c/o Reference Chairman Jill Hirsch 519 Stewart Ave. Ithaca, NY 14850

The Iota chapter is full of intelligent, accomplished women and it is wonderful to see our members recognized by the Cornell community for their achievements. We are proud to announce that three of our seniors were inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society: Liz Curran, Ilana LeBlang, and Emily Winograd.

Additionally, Thetas won a variety of awards at the 23rd Annual Cornell Greek Awards Ceremony. Catie DeStio ‘11 and Danielle Jung ‘11 were named Outstanding Greek Women; Rohini Gokhale '08, Law '11, and Iota Facility Director (House Mother) was recognized for Distinguished Alumni Service; Liz Curran was awarded the Order of Omega

Award for Integrity of Character; and Kappa Alpha Theta received the Greeks Going Green Honorable Mention Award for Sustainable Dining. The Iota chapter is proud of our members and would like to congratulate these women on being honored by the Cornell community.

Welcome Pledge Class 2010!

Ritual Retreat

PAGE 3 OF 5

During our Chapter Development Day on February 7, many members expressed an interest in learning more about Kappa Alpha Theta ritual and tradition. The Iota chapter was extremely pleased to host our first annual Ritual Retreat on April 24 at the Hilton Garden Inn. The event was planned and facilitated by our Ritualist, Alexandra Hildreth ’11.

At the retreat, members enjoyed a delicious brunch and then rotated to different stations in the company of our lineages to learn more about what makes Theta so special. Kerrie Lopez ’11 taught us about the meaning of our Greek letters and Greek

names. Ashten Waks ‘10 spoke to us about the importance of 1 Corinthians and the values of faith, hope, and love. Alex Hildreth ‘11 and Taylor Daugherty ’12 led the chapter in practicing the ritual we observe during each chapter meeting on Sunday.

We also learned about Kappa Alpha Theta’s Headquarters and Foundation, Iota’s history on Cornell’s

campus, learned some fun Theta trivia, and even looked through old scrapbooks from past pledge classes.

To close a lovely day, the entire chapter linked arms to sing the Theta chain song. New and older members alike agreed the day was a great way to remind Iota women of the common bonds of ritual we share as members of Kappa Alpha Theta.

Arin Grant Freshman Major: Policy Analysis and Management Hometown: Seattle, WA Activities: Cornell Ambassadors, AIESEC Future goals: I hope to go to law school after graduation, then land a job with the UN or World Health Organization travelling around the world and solving conflicts in developing nations.

Iota Spotlight

Sarah Hermes Sophomore Major: Landscape Architecture Theta Positions: Steward and Environmental Chair Activities: Treasurer for the Cornell Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Team Leader and University Marketing Chair for DesignConnect, Greeks Go Green Committee Member, Public Service Center Scholar Future Goals: I am planning on spending the next 6 months in India, with hopes that my experiences there will influence and shape my goals for the future.

Page 4 of 5

Lauren Rosenblum Junior

Major: Applied Economics and Management

Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana

Theta positions: Risk Management Chairman and Alumni Relations Chair

Activities: Student Assembly Finance Commission (Co-Chairman for the

upcoming ‘10-’11 year), tour guide, Cornell Design League Future goals: My aspirations for the future are constantly changing; right now, I think I might want to become a lawyer and/or get involved with politics a few years after graduation. In the short term, I'm interested in marketing and consulting.

Alma Aldrich Senior

Major: Government and French

Hometown: Carlisle, PA

Theta positions: Membership Development Committee since Spring 07

Activities: Student Manager for Campus Information and Visitor Relations; former

Director of Service Learning for Cover Africa; founder of Active Civically Engaged Students (ACES); Editorial Board Member Cornell Daily Sun; Cornell Tradition

Fellow Future goals: I am currently in the application process for the Peace Corps. I'm hoping to spend two years in sub-Saharan Africa working with women on health issues. After

that, I hope to return to the states and work in the government or non-profit sector.

Alumnae Spotlight

She is the author of a new biography, Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women and the producer/writer of the American Masters PBS documentary of the same name currently being aired nationally. The documentary was named Top Video of the Year by Booklist and the biography was named to the Top Ten Standout Books of the Year by the Wall Street Journal. Please visit www.louisamayalcott.net to read excerpts from the book and see clips from the film.

She received her Masters in School Counseling from Long

Island University and is looking at PhD programs in Consumer

Psychology. Currently, she works as the

Director of Community Service at Fountain Valley School in

Colorado. Kimberly says of her time in Theta: “My favorite

memory at Theta involved all of the preparations needed for RUSH week. Creating a skit that showed

off our class’ personalities was the best bonding experience-we

couldn’t stop laughing.”

Harriet Reisen Class of 1967

Kimberly Nolan Class of 2003

Page 5 of 5

Senior Sendoff This spring, Iota says a bittersweet goodbye to an outstanding Senior

class. Each and every one of these women has been incredibly valuable to our chapter. They will be deeply missed, but we wish them the best of

luck in their future endeavors!

Blast from the Past

Want to see you and your Theta friends featured in Blast from the Past? Email your pictures to Peggy Ramin at

mar335@cornell.edu or mail them to 519 Stewart Ave.

KAPPA ALPHA THETA IOTA CHAPTER

519 Stewart Avenue Ithaca, NY 14850

An Iota Alumna’s To Do list:

• Make sure contact info is up-

to-date. Submit info at http://rso.cornell.edu/theta/Membership.htm.

• Check Iota’s website at

http://www.rso.cornell.edu/theta.

• Submit Recruitment

Recommendation letters to jeh274@cornell.edu.

• Send pictures, memories,

questions, and comments to mar335@cornell.edu.

Summer/fall Dates June 12 Cornell

Reunion Alumnae event

September 25 homecoming

To Our Alumnae On behalf of every member of Iota, I would like to offer our deepest thanks and appreciation to our alumnae. Each one of you provides collegiate members with a foundation from which our chapter

can learn and grow. We sincerely appreciate your support of the Iota chapter and value your membership and contribution. If you would like to become more involved with the Iota chapter,

we urge you to send us your pictures, memories, advice, favorite Theta traditions, and any general feedback or questions.

Additionally, please don’t forget to mark your calendars for our Reunion event at the Theta house on June 12 from 3:30-5:30 pm.

And remember, you are always welcome at the Iota chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta!

Peggy Ramin

Alumnae & Foundation Liaison mar335@cornell.edu