Friday, February 27, 2015

Top 10 Campus Resources for NPC Scholars

1. Library


Though Google may give you the answer, try heading to your institution's library for a wealth of resources.

2. Career Center



The career center is a great resource for resume and interview advice, as well as, a place to learn about available internships and job openings.

3. Academic Advisor


Your academic advisor is not just there to make sure you get the classes you need, they are also there to help you throughout the term with anything course related.

4. Speaking / Writing Center


The speaking and writing centers are great resources if you get nervous before presentations or have trouble with writing assignments. These are often student led groups so you get to support from your peers.

5. Study Abroad Office


The study abroad office offers year-long, term-long and short opportunities to learn in other countries. 

6. Learning Resource Center


Not everyone is a great test taker. Others can have problems with studying. Whatever your problem is, your campuses Learning Resource Center is there to help make you the best student possible.

7. Professors


While your professor probably doesn’t have real magical powers, they can still be pretty magical people. Talking to a professor can make all the difference when you are struggling in a class. You might be surprised how much they are willing to help if you reach out to them.

8. Sisters in your major


Everyone’s favorite lawyer Elle Woods wouldn’t have gotten into law school without her sisters. Find one in your major to help you with concepts and classes, chances are they can help or know someone who can.

9. Online Learning Portal


While technology isn’t always our friend, most schools have an online portal where you can upload assignments, take quizzes and keep up to date on your classes. 

10. Health Center


Exercise and sleep can be used to help keep stress levels down and keep you from getting sick.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Feature Friday Staff Profile: Julia (Jules) Schenk, Marketing and Events Manager

The National Panhellenic Conference has five full-time staff members and interns who work daily to advance the sorority experience. Here we will introduce each staff member and let them tell you who they are and what they do in the office. 

Jules is the marketing and events manager for NPC. She works with the committee chairmen and editorial team to review all publications and documents going out from NPC, oversees social media, works to ensure the brand is consistent, assists the public relations firm, plans all our meetings and trainings, writes for newsletters, supervises the marketing and communications interns and The Sorority Life brand, and handles other duties as assigned. It sounds like a lot, but most important is that she says, "It’s a lot of fun!" She is also the veteran in the office, having worked for NPC for just over seven years starting as the communications and programs coordinator.

About Jules: 
I grew up in Evansville, Ind., and my parents are still there. I have a younger brother, Joe, who is better known in the NPC office as #KappaBroJoe. He is a physical therapist with a specialty in orthopedics and works for OrthoIndy. We actually share a condo, which some people think is weird, but he’s paying off student loans and I share my living space to help out. It may be cheesy, but he is my best friend. Our little family of four is really close, and there are no three people I’d rather spend my time with.

A proud graduate of Butler University, I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism. My focus was on integrated communications, which is advertising and public relations. I chose this area of focus after my journalism and yearbook classes in high school. I love to write, which lends itself to journalism, and I was the first-ever advertising manager of our yearbook. When I went to college, I thought I wanted to work at an ad agency. I have also attended Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), where I’m one internship short of completing a certificate in event management. An internship I had my senior year at Butler helped me find my love of planning events.

The choice to go through recruitment was one of the best I ever made. With encouragement from my new roommate I decided at the last minute to participate. She told me, “Let’s just do it. We’ll meet some new people, and we don’t have to join.” Famous last words that led to a life of volunteering for Kappa Kappa Gamma and working to support the sorority movement! I served Mu chapter at Butler University in various advisor roles for six years, and I currently serve Kappa as the province director of chapters for Delta South Province: Indiana University, DePauw University, Butler University and Purdue University.

Fun fact: A nursing class was in the room watching when I was born.

Q & A:
  1. What do you most enjoy about working at NPC? I love that each day is different. I’m not stuck doing the same thing day in and day out. After all, variety is the spice of life.
  2. What is something you do every day? I drink at least one Diet Dr. Pepper every day. No one wants to be around me if I don’t have one.
  3. What are you most passionate about? I’m passionate about sharing my time and talents, whether that is with my family, through my work or as a volunteer. It’s important to be a good steward of the gifts you’ve been given, so I try my best to share what has been given to me with others.
  4. What is your favorite band? My favorite band is New Kids on the Block, even though they certainly aren’t kids anymore. People may laugh at me, but I loved them when I was six and I love them now. In fact, they were my very first concert. The tickets were a present from my aunt for my eighth birthday.
  5. What have you gained by being a member of a sorority? Sorority membership has taught me many things throughout the years. I’ve learned to work with people I don’t necessarily like. I’ve learned that your best friends can be women you thought you’d never get along with, as long as you have shared values. I’ve learned that age is just a number, and your closest friend could be 15 years older than you. I’ve learned the importance of mentoring and how mentorship becomes deep friendship. I’ve learned to “stumble up the back steps, and walk gracefully out the front door.”


Thursday, February 12, 2015

Top 10 Tips to Achieve a 4.0

         1. Plan a schedule of balanced activities.

    Do not overbook your life. You want to make sure that you have flexibility in your schedule for surprises.

    2. Go to every class prepared.


    Read assigned material in advance so you can participate in discussion.

    3. Sit in the front of the class.


    Sitting in the front of the class gives you less distractions so you can concentrate on what is being taught.

    4. Review notes ASAP after class.


    By reviewing notes right after class, you are able to highlight the areas that were most important and keep it fresh in your mind.

    5. Study at the same time each day.


    By studying at the same time and in the same space you maximize your efforts. Also, the earlier in the day you study, the better your comprehension.

    6. Spend no more than two hours studying one subject.


    Taking breaks and changing topics will maximize your effectiveness and enhance efficiency.

    7. Do justice to each class.


    Keep distractions to a minimum while studying and put in the same effort for each class.

    8. Take care of yourself.


    Eating properly and sleeping 7-10 hours a night is a big factor in being able to function at your highest level.

    9. Trade time – do not steal it.


    Always keep a “to do” list so you can make sure that you get everything done that you need to.

    10. Reward yourself.


    When you meet a study goal, make sure to reward yourself for a job well done.