Friday, February 28, 2014

#NPCScholar Spotlight: Creighton University

Creighton University College Panhellenic credits the success of its individual chapters to its academic success as a campus. The seven sororities at Creighton have a wide variety of methods by which they support academic excellence. Regular study hours are held and highly encouraged for all members. Women are supported by chapter scholarship chairwomen through the creation of academic success plans and identifying resources that can further academic goals. There are study groups for similar majors, mentor programs and advice and support from alumnae available. Chapters host presentations on being successful in the classroom on topics like time management, campus resources and goal-setting. They also consistently recognize academic achievement, often with small prizes, in chapter meetings each week for perfect attendance, utilizing professors and tutors to be more successful and high scores on quizzes and tests. In addition, Order of Omega grants an “Excellence in Scholarship” Award each year at the Greek Awards Ceremony. All of these efforts have resulted in the all-sorority average rising to a full point higher than the all-women’s average at Creighton University.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

#NPCScholar Spotlight: California State University, Fullerton

The Panhellenic women California State Unviersity, Fullerton have been working toward the goal of academic excellence for a long while, and they set high standards for themselves, focusing a lot of effort on promoting academic success. The women started a program called Scholar of Month that recognizes women who have achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher with an Instagram shout out and special gift. They also have an awards banquet each year, Pursuit of Excellence, at which they reward both Interfraternity Council men and Panhellenic women who have achieved a 3.9 GPA or higher. The Panhellenic Council shares all scholarship opportunities with each chapter on campus to assist women with the financial responsibility demanded by both academics and sorority involvement. Finally, the Panhellenic Council awards two scholarships each year to sorority women for Order of Omega dues.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Why I Wear My Badge: It's a Family Thing

Many women in the sorority community treasure being a legacy. It means so much because as an initiated legacy, you add another layer to your family relationship by sharing ritual and sisterhood. In this video Stacy Segal, Delta Phi Epsilon, shares why she wears her badge.




Celebrate International Badge Day with your sorority family Monday, March 3. RSVP that you'll be celebrating and download celebration resources from NPC.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

#NPCScholar Spotlight: Bethany College (@Bethany_College)

Every year during the fall convocation at Bethany College, the dean of students awards the Anna Ruth Bourne Award to the sorority with the highest overall GPA. The three sororities on campus are very focused when it comes to their academics. The academic chairs from each of the three chapters at Bethany College were asked to share their chapters’ academic plans for the upcoming semester, and each sorority seemed to have similar plans for rewarding its members for their hard work. One chapter plans to continue its trend of exemplary grades by incorporating academics into sisterhood events, with events such as themed study parties and study sessions. The chapter also plans to continue its weekly rewards system, which involves recognizing women each chapter meeting who have earned academic achievements. Another chapter plans on having pre-chapter meeting study parties as well as asking each sister to create her own academic plan. The chapter is also creating a reward system to keep its sisters motivated to stick with their academic plans. The third chapter on campus wants to raise its academic GPA and has implemented study hours based on its members’ GPAs. The chapter is also starting a new reward system that involves giving small gifts to sisters whom the chapter wants to recognize for academic achievement.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Why I Wear My Badge: A Reminder of Our Founders


Sarah Lindsay, Delta Delta Delta
I wear my Stars and Crescent badge because it reminds me of Tri Delta’s founders, young college women who designed a beautiful piece of jewelry that carries with it the full meaning of Delta Delta Delta. Whenever I wear my badge, I remember all of those Tri Deltas who have educated me, encouraged me, supported me and stood beside me as I served as an officer in my collegiate chapter, as a volunteer and as an elected officer of the Fraternity. Even though several of these women are no longer with us, they continue to be an influence on me. My badge reminds me of all of those friends from my collegiate chapter who I truly cherish and all of those steadfast friends I have made as an alumna member who I cannot imagine my life without. Tri Delta’s badge is uniform; all members have the exact same badge. When Tri Deltas gather together, all are wearing the identical Stars and Crescent. It represents the full impact of the bond of sisterhood, where age has no relevance, where the understanding of shared values and commitment to one another is what matters. It is a symbol of true friendship, the kind of friendship where women support each other, stand by each other in good times and bad, are considerate, kind and loving. All of that within a simple gold crescent with three stars!



Chris Dickey, Alpha Delta Pi


I believe that it is a privilege to wear the diamond-shaped badge of Alpha Delta Pi, and each time I wear it, I am reminded of the values established by our founders in 1851. By embracing these values, I have been enabled to become a well-balanced woman and inspired to do my best in whatever I undertake.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

#NPCScholar Spotlight: Wichita State University (@WichitaState)

This month, we are celebrating the Month of the Scholar. We’ve been highlighting College Panhellenics on Twitter that have achieved an all-sorority average above the all-women’s average on their campuses, and this week, we will be highlighting some specific activities that College Panhellenics are doing to promote academic excellence and scholarship. The first campus we are highlighting is Wichita StateUniversity.

Wichita State University Panhellenic Council holds an annual scholarship dinner each spring as an opportunity for its chapters to encourage academic excellence. This year’s dinner included a guest speaker from the Wichita State University Barton School of Business. The women hope that the scholarship dinner and recognition encourages sorority women to strive for academic excellence.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Why I Wear My Badge: So Little Girls Know They Can Join Someday Too

Telling our sorority stories is a way of passing on the legacy of sorority to future generations. We are thankful for our rich history and know that our organizations will provide friendship and support for women for ages to come. In this video Beth McOsker, Alpha Sigma Tau, shares why she wears her badge.




Put on your badge for International Badge Day, Monday, March 3, and explain sorority to younger generations. RSVP that you'll be participating and download celebration resources online.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Why I Wear My Badge: A Promise to Make the World a Better Place

The badge each sorority woman wears is an outward symbol of a promise to live with integrity, striving to be the best women we can be. In turn, it's a promise to make the world a better place. Living sorority values makes a positive impact on a woman's life and all those around her. In this video Sandy Burba, Gamma Phi Beta, and Laura Sweet, Sigma Sigma Sigma, share why they wear their badge.




Put on your promise to make a positive impact Monday, March 3, for International Badge Day. RSVP that you'll be participating and download celebration resources from the NPC website.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Why I Wear My Badge: Sorority Membership Is for a Lifetime

Gina Kerley, Phi Sigma Sigma
I proudly wear the Sphinxhead of Phi Sigma Sigma because I am proud to be a sorority woman and sister of Phi Sigma Sigma. The person I am today is because of the leadership qualities that I gained directly from my affiliation. There are many times that people ask me why I am still involved in my sorority after so many years since my college experience. I proudly respond to them that my sorority membership is for a lifetime. I wasn’t a Phi Sigma Sigma. I AM a Phi Sigma Sigma, and I gratefully stay involved in order to enable other young women to have the amazing sorority experience that I did.

I have also learned that our badges stand not only for the love of our individual sororities but for the entire sorority community. Each individual sorority has a different badge, tenets and creed but all of us strive to develop young women leaders who will have a lasting effect on the local communities in which they live and work.

My sorority sisters and my Panhellenic sisters still remain some of my closest friends, and each continues to inspire me to greatness. That is why I wear my sorority badge with pride. 

Celebrate lifetime sorority membership on International Badge Day Monday, March 3. RSVP that you'll be participating and download celebration resources from the NPC website. 

Friday, February 14, 2014

Why I Wear My Badge: All Badges Remind Us to Live Our Creed

No matter if it's receiving her new member pin, her badge at initiation or her daughter's badge at her alumna initiation, every sorority woman knows that her badge is a representation of the values and creed of her organization. Putting on that pin or badge is a reminder to live each day guided by the principles of her sorority. In this video Dana Katz, Alpha Epsilon Phi, and Donna Stallard, Phi Mu, share why they wear their badge.




Put on your badge for International Badge Day Monday, March 3, and be reminded of the values and creed you are guided by each day. RSVP that you'll be participating and download celebration resources online.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Why I Wear My Badge: An Outward Symbol of Sisterhood



Sally Grant, Alpha Phi

My Alpha Phi badge is an honor badge and a replica of a founder’s badge created in 1872. It is an outward symbol of the sisterhood I enjoy with Alpha Phi sisters around the world. As a collegiate officer many years ago, I wore a similarly designed badge from the original officer of my chapter who wore it in 1887. Today, the officers of our fraternity wear badges that are replicas of those worn by the founders of the fraternity. They remind us of the vows we accepted and of the friendships we enjoy every day.



Alpha Phi was the first fraternity for women to use Greek letters as its emblem, and the official badge is the Greek letter “phi” with the Greek letter “alpha” superimposed upon it. The Phi bears the small Greek letters “a,” “o” and “e” in black. The meaning of these letters is explained during the initiation ceremony and is known only by initiated Alpha Phis.

Put on your outward symbol for sisterhood on Monday, March 3, to celebrate International Badge Day. RSVP that you'll be participating and download celebration resources from the NPC website.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Why I Wear My Badge: I Love What My Badge Stands For

Each NPC sorority provides its members with opportunities for leadership throughout their lifetime. A sorority woman's badge may remind her of leadership because of roles in which she served or because she knows that there is always a way to be involved. In this video Laura Mauro, Zeta Tau Alpha, and Shari Malone, Delta Gamma, share why they wear their badge.




Remind yourself of the opportunities for leadership by wearing your badge to celebrate International Badge Day on Monday, March 3. RSVP that you'll be participating, and download celebration resources online.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Why I Wear My Badge: I've Got Sisters to Carry Me Through

Each NPC sorority believes in a lifelong commitment to sisterhood. No matter what stage you are in life, a Panhellenic woman has sisters from her sorority and all NPC member sororities to provide support. In this video Rie Hoehner, Alpha Gamma Delta, shares why she wears her badge.




Remind yourself of the support your sorority and Panhellenic sisters provide by celebrating International Badge Day on Monday, March 3. RSVP that you'll be participating on Facebook, and download celebration resources from the NPC website.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Why I Wear My Badge: A Reminder of the Incredible Opportunities to Serve



Julie L. Johnson, Kappa Delta

I am a proud sorority member. I believe in the opportunities that sorority membership can provide to women: leadership, altruism, encouragement in scholarly pursuits and lifelong friendships. Wearing my badge is a statement to others of the value I place in sorority membership. It is also a symbol to other sorority women that although our badges may be different, the bonds we share and the experiences we have had are similar.



The specific badge I wear now is a very special one. It was a gift given to me by Kappa Delta when I went out of office as national president. It is a beautiful badge, adorned in our sorority jewels, that always reminds me when I wear it of the incredible opportunities that I have had serving the organization. The memories and the wonderful friendship made through the years stand as a testament to the benefits and bonds of sorority membership.


In a few weeks I will have the opportunity to pin my daughter with her Kappa Delta badge at her initiation ceremony. I can only anticipate what a special moment that will be — for both of us. My hope is that she and all of today’s collegiate members come to understand the value and opportunities that sorority membership can bring. Wear your badge proudly!

Remind yourself of all the wonderful opportunities sorority has provided you by celebrating International Badge Day on Monday, March 3. RSVP that you'll be participating on Facebook, and download resources from the NPC website.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Why I Wear My Badge: Ready to Talk About My Experience

Each NPC member organization has a unique badge, but whenever a sorority woman puts on her badge she is representing her organization and the greater sorority community. Putting on her badge brings back memories and the desire to share the sorority experience. In this video Donna Chereck, Alpha Chi Omega, and Deanna Detchemendy, Alpha Xi Delta, share why they wear their badge.


Get excited to put on your badge and talk about your sorority experience by participating in International Badge Day on Monday, March 3. Be sure to RSVP and download celebration resources online.