Kappa Alpha Theta

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Mission

The Crest of Kappa Alpha Theta

Fraternity Purpose
The intellectual ambition of the Fraternity shall be the attainment of highest scholarship. The social aim of the Fraternity shall be to exercise the widest influence for good. The moral aim of the Fraternity shall be the standard of love.

Mission Statement
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, Kappa Alpha Theta exists to nurture each member throughout her college and alumnae experience and to offer a lifelong opportunity for social, intellectual, and moral growth as she meets the higher and broader demands of mature life.

Events

KATWalk 2007

KATwalk for Casa
http://www.katwalknv.com

Current Officers

President: Riley Marriage
VPPR: Jenna Bruce
VPEducation: Kate Mcleod
VP Panhellenic: Holly Gerhardt
VP Membership: Ellen Beckman
VP Administration: Haylee Finkel
VP Finance: Danielle Farris
Ritualist: Felicia Nichols
Philanthropy Chair:Jennifer Richards
Social Chair: Christina Hernandez
Dance Chair: Sandi Sambrano
House Manager: Elizabeth Anthony
Risk Manager: Jaclyn Johnson
Convention Awards: Kim Anchinowski
Technology Chair: Jen Brzezicki
Sports Chair: Kristin Neddenriep
Service Chair: Laura Reany
Member Activities Chair: Cassie LeVesque
Alumni Relations: Julie Mauer
Newsletter: Maritza Perez

History

Kappa Alpha Theta was founded in 1870 and was established to give women a support group in the then mostly male college world at what is now DePauw University. Indiana Asbury, as the university was known then, officially opened its doors to women in 1867, thirty years after the college was first established. Four women, Bettie Locke (Hamilton), Alice Allen (Brant), Bettie Tipton (Lindsay) and Hannah Fitch (Shaw), sought to create an organization for women that would provide the encouragement and support that would draw women to coeducational colleges and help them attain a degree. It was with these ideals in mind that the four women founded Kappa Alpha Theta, and believed in the Fraternity’s strength through its members’ lasting loyalty to each other and to the Fraternity ideals.

Kappa Alpha Theta was based in part on two Fraternities with which Bettie Locke had contact; Beta Theta Pi her father’s fraternity, and Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji), her brother’s fraternity. Bettie had many friends in Fiji, and when members asked her to wear their badge as a “mascot,” Bettie declined. She said she could not wear it as she did not know the secrets and purposes represented by the letters. She followed her father’s suggestion to begin her own fraternity for women, and so Kappa Alpha Theta was conceived. Bettie and her friend Alice Allen together wrote a constitution, planned ceremonies, designed a badge, and sought other women on campus worthy of membership. It took these women 3 years to found Kappa Alpha Theta. These four founding members initiated themselves on January 27, 1870, becoming the first Greek-letter fraternity known among women.

These four women proudly wore their black and gold badges to Asbury’s chapel service on March 14. The Alpha Chapter at Asbury grew to 22 sisters. Soon Kappa Alpha Theta spread to other colleges with Bettie’s establishment of the Beta Chapter at Indiana University in May of the same year. After the formation of Theta the men of Phi Gamma Delta presented Bettie with a silver cake basket engraved with their letters as a token of appreciation.

Through the years, Kappa Alpha Theta has grown to its current size of 125 college chapters, 282 alumnae groups, and more than 170,000 members. In 2005, Kappa Alpha Theta celebrated its 135th anniversary.

Some symbols of Kappa Alpha Theta are twin stars, a black and gold pansy, and the kite, which all represent the fraternity ideals of sisterhood.

Beta Mu Chapter at the University of Nevada, Reno

The Beta Mu Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta was founded on the University of Nevada, Reno campus in 1922. One of the most famous founding members was Effie Mona Mack for whom the Mona Mack Social Sciences Building is named after.

Alumni

Sheryl Crow – Singer
Lynn Cheney – Wife of Vice President
Cindy McCain – Wife of Presidential nominee John McCain
Laura Bush – First Lady
Jenna Bush – daughter of President Bush
Barbara Bush – daughter of President Bush
Amy Grant – Singer
Kate Voegle – Singer/Actress
Kerri Strug – Olympic Gymnast
Rue McClahan – Golden Girls Actress
Melinda Gates – Wife of Bill Gates