GREEK LIFE SPOTLIGHT: KAPPA ALPHA THETA

By Rudo Ellen Kazembe ’20

Features Editor

Kappa Alpha Theta is an international sorority that was founded in 1870. According to President Emily Norris ’21, “Kappa Alpha Theta was the very first Greek life organization for women that was founded so that women could feel safe and empowered by each other.” This sorority was founded by Bettie Locke Hamilton, Alice Allen Brant, Bettie Tipton Lindsay, and Hannah Fitch Shaw at DePauw University. These women were the “very first women to attend this college [DePauw],” Norris said. The Lake Forest College Eta Nu chapter of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority was founded in 2004 and currently has 30 members.

According to Norris, Kappa Alpha Theta was founded on values that are referred to as the “four points of kite,” which are intellectual curiosity, leadership potential, commitment to service, and personal excellence. This chapter has “leading women on campus” who are brought together by the commitment of those values, Norris said. Scholarship Director Jessica Walsh ’20 said, “I joined Theta during rush week because I wanted to form connections with wonderful women who are all unique and truly themselves. To this very day, these Theta women are still my role models who inspire me.”

One of the values of Kappa Alpha Theta is intellectual curiosity, which focuses on scholarship. According to Chief Financial Officer Hajar Habbal ’20, “Thetas have study halls in the library every day, and you will always see a Theta in the library every single day no matter what time it is.” A proactive member, Kaitlyn Daniel ’20, said “joining Theta has pushed me to do well in my academics.” Other members such as Lake Forest Panhellenic President Carly Griffith ’20 have echoed this statement. “Theta has a very popular and competitive scholarship, looking at which member hosts the most study halls and who has the highest GPA to ensure that members reach their highest academic potential,” Griffith said.

In addition to scholarship, this sorority places an emphasis on leadership potential. According to Norris, Kappa Alpha Theta “creates opportunities for women to step up and be leaders.” There are 10 leadership roles on the executive board who each have a different specialty role, like external affairs, finance, and operations. “Each leadership position is very important to how the sorority functions,” Norris said. According to Griffith, as a part of the executive board you “learn the effective skills needed to become a great leader.”

Kappa Alpha Theta emphasizes philanthropy by hosting two significant philanthropy events:  KAT at Bat and Serve It Up for CASA. According to Norris, these events “raise money for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), which provides support for children in the foster care system.” Theta members also hold lemonade stands throughout the academic year connected to Alex’s Lemonade Stand to “raise money for pediatric cancer research…which is something close to their hearts,” Norris said.

There are various short-term and long-term benefits of joining Greek life. According to Chief Operating Officer Alexia Loggarakis ’20, “Kappa Alpha Theta has enabled me to befriend women whom I know I will be friends with for the rest of my life. My sisters have assisted me with networking, equipped me with leadership skills, and have given me enthralling experiences that come along with doing philanthropy work for the community.”

Rudo Ellen Kazembe can be reached at kazembere@mx.lakeforest.edu.