Feature Friday: University of Kentucky College Panhellenic

University of Kentucky's college Panhellenic council

The National Panhellenic Conference is the umbrella organization for more than 575 College Panhellenic Associations. These associations, comprised of all the sorority women on campus who are members of an NPC member chapter, develop and maintain sorority life and interfraternity relations at a high level of accomplishment on campus. NPC is proud of the work that College Panhellenics do throughout the U.S. and Canada, including the work of the University of Kentucky College Panhellenic.

• College Panhellenic Excellence Award winner in 2014 and Achievement Award recipient in 2015
• Located in Lexington, Ky.
• 13 NPC organizations on campus
• Total campus sorority membership is 3,279
• Added 1,294 women to their Panhellenic community in 2014-15
• For the past two semesters the all sorority GPA has been higher than the all women’s average
• To encourage academic excellence, the College Panhellenic hosts Apple Polishing, an event where the chapters send five scholarly members each to mingle with professors and faculty to create a positive environment for scholarship and sorority life.
• The College Panhellenic strives to build and foster unity among sororities on campus. One of their recent efforts is the “Sister Sorority” program. Each NPC chapter on campus is paired with another, and they become sister sororities. The pairings change each semester. Having a sister sorority means having a group of women that may not wear the same letters, but will still support you and participate in your events plus the chapters get to learn about other NPC member organizations. 
• This College Panhellenic offers a variety of programming, including sponsoring the Novak Hazing Prevention Workshop, using NPC resources such as the “Building Panhellenic Spirit” PowerPoint and inviting Panhellenics Chairman Julie Johnson to campus to speak to their Panhellenic council and chapter presidents. 

Feature Friday: UCLA College Panhellenic

UCLA Panhellenic Executive Board at its 2015 awards.

The National Panhellenic Conference is the umbrella organization for more than 575 College Panhellenic Associations. These associations, comprised of all the sorority women on campus who are members of an NPC member chapter, develop and maintain sorority life and interfraternity relations at a high level of accomplishment on campus. NPC is proud of the work that College Panhellenics do throughout the U.S. and Canada, including the work of the UCLA College Panhellenic.

• College Panhellenic Excellence Award recipient in 2014 and 2015
• Located in Los Angeles
• 12 NPC organizations on campus
• Total campus sorority membership is 2,287
• Added 758 women to their Panhellenic community in 2014-15
• For the past two semesters the all sorority GPA has been higher than the all women’s average.
• The College Panhellenic donated 41,500 community service hours in 2014-15. 
• In the last year the College Panhellenic raised $185,000 for philanthropic causes.
• UCLA’s College Panhellenic encourages academic excellence by hosting a career night and initiations into Greek Honors societies, as well as hosting “Letters in the Library," which promotes wearing your letters while studying at the UCLA libraries. Individual chapters on campus encourage academic excellence by hosting scholarship dinners and inviting professors to attend.
• To promote Panhellenic unity, this Panhellenic hosts a program called Panhellenic Props, where the women can write encouraging notes to women in other chapters. They also host dessert swaps between different chapters and different grade levels.

Feature Friday: University of Illinois College Panhellenic

The National Panhellenic Conference is the umbrella organization for more than 575 College Panhellenic Associations. These associations, comprised of all the sorority women on campus who are members of an NPC member chapter, develop and maintain sorority life and interfraternity relations at a high level of accomplishment on campus. NPC is proud of the work that College Panhellenics do throughout the U.S. and Canada, including the work of the University of Illinois College Panhellenic.

• 2014 College Panhellenic Excellence Award recipient
• Located in Champaign, Ill.
• 19 NPC organizations on campus
• Total campus sorority membership is 3,973.
• Added 1,108 women to their Panhellenic community in 2014-15 
• For the past two semesters the all sorority GPA has been higher than the all women’s average.
• The University of Illinois ensures their recruitment counselors are thoroughly trained to assist potential new members (PNMs) to the best of their ability. Once they are selected to be part of the program, recruitment counselors must enroll in a spring semester class provided by the Educational Psychology Department. Women receive two credits from the University for this Class that is specifically geared toward preparing recruitment counselors, informing them on the policies and procedures of primary recruitment at the university and enhancing understanding of the National Panhellenic Conference. During the semester, the women participate in class discussions, group projects, expert lectures and interactive role-plays to prepare them for their leadership role. Course objectives include developing basic listening skills, taking an empathetic perspective and counseling micro-skills to assist in future interactions with PNMs and concerned parents as well as enhancing professionalism and ethical decision-making. The women must receive a grade of 80 percent or higher in the course in order to continue on with the recruitment counselor program. After the summer, recruitment counselors are required to return to campus a week early to continue preparing for recruitment.
• To promote academic excellence and a unified fraternity and sorority community, the College Panhellenic collaborates with the other three fraternity/sorority councils on campus to plan and host the Greek Oscars Ceremony each spring. This event is a formal event that recognizes high achievement in Panhellenic chapters, as well as chapters from the other councils. The 2014-15 College Panhellenic president said, “We are very proud of this event, as it not only demonstrates the academic excellence in our community, but it is a great display of fraternity and sorority unity, as the councils have the opportunity to celebrate their own achievements, as well as the achievements of the other councils, all together.”

To learn more about the University of Illinois College Panhellenic visit: http://illinoisphc.com/.

Feature Friday: Mississippi State College Panhellenic

The National Panhellenic Conference is the umbrella organization for more than 575 College Panhellenic Associations. These associations, comprised of all the sorority women on campus who are members of an NPC member chapter, develop and maintain sorority life and interfraternity relations at a high level of accomplishment on campus. NPC is proud of the work that College Panhellenics do throughout the U.S. and Canada, including the work of the Mississippi State College Panhellenic.

• 2014 College Panhellenic Excellence Award recipient
• Located in Mississippi State, Miss.
• Eight NPC organizations on campus
• Total campus sorority membership is 1,977 women.
• Added 714 women to their Panhellenic community in 2014-15
• For the past two terms the all sorority GPA has been higher than all women’s average.
• To promote academic excellence, the College Panhellenic hosted a joint 4.0 banquet with IFC and NPHC, where they treated the men and women from all three councils to dinner and gift cards for a local smoothie shop.
• During the 2014-15 academic year the College Panhellenic raised $45,000 for philanthropic causes.
• To promote the primary recruitment process, the College Panhellenic hosts a sorority spring preview day every April. The purpose of this event is to introduce potential new members to sorority life and to offer a glimpse into what the actual recruitment week could look like for them. This event helps spread the word about when registration for recruitment will open and where to register.
• When describing the efforts the College Panhellenic coordinates to build and foster unity among sororities on campus, 2014 College Panhellenic president Anna Langford said, “We do not have to work very hard to promote unity because our Panhellenic women have worked themselves to create a friendly Panhellenic environment for each other. When Alpha Delta Pi colonized in 2013, our chapters jumped at the opportunity to help promote and develop the new chapter. They each had representatives that served as Alpha Delta Pi ambassadors. These sort of activities help create one of the most unified, friendly communities possible.”

To learn more about the Mississippi State College Panhellenic visit www.panhellenicmsstate.com. 

Feature Friday Staff Profile: Leesa Jing, Marketing and Communications Intern

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.

Leesa Jing is the marketing and communications intern for summer and fall 2015. She manages the advocacy efforts of TheSororityLife.com initiative, including writing newsletters, updating the website and posting to social media. 

About Leesa: Leesa is from Evansville, Ind. and is a junior at Butler University, where she’s majoring in arts administration and mathematics. She has an older sister, 23, and has two small dogs she loves taking for walks. She is a member of Alpha Chi Omega and the university dance team. She also serves as a campus tour guide.

Interesting fact: I almost died from a bowling ball. I was on stage at a magic show and the ball accidentally fell from the ceiling. It landed less than a foot away from me!

Q & A: 

1. What do you most enjoy about working at NPC? I love having the opportunity to learn new things. As an arts administration major, I take only a few communications classes, so this internship is a learning experience. I also love that everything I’m learning at NPC is interesting to me. 
2. What is something you do every day? I try to work out. My day doesn’t feel complete without going to the gym. 
3. How would your friends and family describe you? Family-oriented, hard-working and organized
4. What is your favorite book? My favorite book is "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.
5. What have you gained by being a member of a sorority? Being a member of a sorority has affected me in so many positive ways, but I think the two main things I have gained from Alpha Chi Omega are lifelong friendships and leadership experience. Some of my closest friends are from my sorority, and I never would have met them otherwise. My sorority has also a helped me grow as a leader by presenting me with many opportunities. I’m currently Alpha Chi’s recording secretary and sustainability coordinator, and I’m a Panhellenic recruitment counselor. These experiences would not have been available to me if I weren’t a sorority member. 

Five Key Principles of Eating Healthy

By Abby Hall, Kappa Delta

Today “eating healthy” can have a multitude of meanings, and it can be hard to navigate through them. Everyone from celebrities to stay-at-home moms claims to know the best and most healthful way to eat and wants you to consume accordingly. Fad diets have been around for centuries and, unfortunately, are not going anywhere. Instead of trying to beat them -- and you definitely shouldn’t join them -- why not outsmart them?

There are a few key principles to making wise choices: portion size, filling up on fruits and vegetables, eating a rainbow, moving frequently and moderation.

Portion size. One of the most challenging aspects about today's food culture is portion control. Portions are large no matter where you go, and without knowing it, you can double not only your caloric intake, but your pants size. Check out www.choosemyplate.gov/ for suggested portion sizes to follow.

Fill up on fruits and veggies. Filling up on fruits and veggies can help you cut down on other, less nutritious items. Fruits and vegetables are not only packed with nutrients that your body needs, but are also low in calories. This makes them perfect for snacks and meals. Watch out for sauces/dips that might accompany them, as these can be high in calories.

Eat a rainbow. Why are fruits and veggies all different colors? To provide us with many different nutrients. Mother Nature is pretty clever and made each color represent a different group of vitamins and minerals. Love carrots? Great, but we only need so much beta-carotene. Mix orange carrots with purple grapes, green peppers and even white veggies like onions for your very own natural multivitamin.

Move frequently. Yes, movement is part of a healthy diet. Eating well is about 70 percent of the equation, which leaves 30 percent to exercise. Doing only one or the other leaves your health unbalanced. Not a marathon runner or CrossFit champion? No problem! Get about 30-60 minutes a day of moderate exercise outside of normal activity; walking the stairs is fabulous, but consider that a health bonus. Extra motion will make you feel good and boost all your healthful eating.

Everything in moderation. Treats are important, but it is also important not to overindulge every day. Find your balance. For some, it is the juicy hamburger; for others, the occasional chocolate cake. The key is the 80:20 rule. If you make good choices 80 percent of the time, that leaves 20 percent for indulgences.

Remember to make food and health fun. Food is the body’s fuel, so give it the best fuel you can! 

 

About Abby Hall

Abby Hall, R.D., C.D., works as a metabolic dietitian at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. She is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on both national and state levels. She received her bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from Indiana University in Bloomington and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Buffalo – SUNY.

Stress Can Be Managed in a Healthy Way

By Lori Miltenberger, Kappa Kappa Gamma

Stress happens to everyone, and stress itself isn’t good or bad! Stress is what we all experience as we adjust to the demands of our lives. It can be a source of motivation, pushing and moving us to take action, or a source of negativity, creating feelings of sadness, anger and depression. It is the negative reaction to stress that can lead to health problems such as headaches, high blood pressure and heart disease, as well as anxiety and depression. Every day we experience stress as a response to both happy and difficult events, and it is how we react to these stressors that will determine if stress will help or hurt us.

Research has shown that women are highly susceptible to stress. This may be due to multiple factors, such as managing a balance between work and traditional responsibilities at home, difficulty in saying no to others and spending less time nurturing our own needs. Hormones and body chemistry may also play a part.

So how can we better manage stress? We need to remember that we can’t eliminate it entirely, and without it we might become stagnant. The goal is to find our own optimal level of stress, so we feel motivated rather than paralyzed. When you begin to experience symptoms of too much stress, it is time to take action and change your reaction to it. Symptoms include decreased memory and concentration, mood swings, distractibility, depression, anger, increased alcohol consumption and excess smoking or eating.

Begin by becoming aware of your stressors and how you react to them physically and emotionally. Recognize when you feel distressed, and ask yourself what is causing that feeling. Pay attention to how your body responds to the stress. Are you physically upset – for example, do you notice stomach pain or tension? Are you emotionally upset, with negative thoughts or feelings of helplessness?

Second, identify what you can and cannot change. Can you eliminate the stressful circumstance completely or reduce its intensity by delegation or managing it over a longer period of time?

Third, reduce the intensity of your emotional and physical reactions to stress. Your reaction is determined by your perception of the event. Are you turning a small event into a larger one? Are you trying to please everyone? Try looking at the stressor as something you can effectively cope with, so as to put the situation into perspective. Practice deep breathing exercises, which will bring your heart rate to a normal level, and use relaxation techniques to reduce muscle tension.

Fourth, build yourself up physically and emotionally. Exercise regularly, eat balanced and nutritious meals, avoid caffeine and get enough sleep. Nurture supportive friendships, develop realistic goals and be kind and gentle to yourself. Stress can be managed in a healthy way!

About Lori Miltenberger
Lori Miltenberger is a professional counselor, currently working in a university counseling center. In addition to providing individual therapy, Lori serves as the outreach coordinator, developing and coordinating mental-health initiatives in the campus community. She finds working with college students very rewarding, and is honored to be involved in people’s lives at a time when they are experiencing tremendous growth and change. Besides working with students in her professional career, she has been involved through the years in mentoring, advising and participating in inspiring young women as a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity. She has been married for 20 years and is the proud mother of three.