Champions Are Readers

Every quarter the women of Pi Beta Phi go to Covedale Elementary School to participate in the CAR program. CAR stands for Champions Are Readers. Through CAR Pi Beta Phi is able to promote literacy locally. Pi Phi is partnered with a different second grade class each quarter where the children are able to improve reading skills in a fun, exciting way. Each CAR session lasts an hour each week for four weeks. At the end of CAR, Pi Phi hosts a party for the children for completing the program. Parents are invited to see their kids receive a certificate and medal.  Throughout the four weeks, the second graders work on a CAR workbook with the Pi Phi ladies. The workbook includes reading activities, word searches, mazes, and a reading racetrack for the kids to complete with their parents at home. This encourages the kids to read outside of the classroom.

I have been participating in the CAR program every quarter for the last two years. I enjoy being able to read with the children in the second grade classes. Knowing that the kids look forward to seeing and reading with me every week makes it that much better. I have gained so much from participating in CAR. I am able to promote literacy with my other Pi Phi sisters, give back to the community, and pass my passion of reading onto the second grade classes. CAR is such a great opportunity and I am so thankful going Covedale Elementary has become part of my week. There is no better way to start out

For the second annual Dad's Day Celebration, the women of OH Kappa headed to Stratford Pavilion for ball park food and beverages before driving down to Great American Ball Park to watch the Reds take on the Houston Astros. Recruiting dads, the Parents Club helped VPC Tori put together the brunch. With a booth set up in the corner, dads were eager to get involved after touring our beautiful clifton home and conversing with other Pi Phi gals.

"Dad’s Dad may have started off with a little rain; but we didn’t let the it ruin our picnic (literally, we just moved it inside)! The food was tasty and the conversations were great. As soon as we finished eating we headed off to the Great American Ball Park. It looked like it was going to be a gloomy day, but as soon as the game started the sun came out and the Red’s had an awesome come back! Hanging out with my dad and meeting all the other dads was just a bonus to this awesome day! I can speak for my dad and myself and say this day was one we will always remember together. Even a few days later all the girls are still talking about how much fun everyone had!"- Beth Morand

All together, the 148 attendees couldn't have asked for a better time. Seated in left field on the main level, the view was gorgeous. With the sun out, and a Reds comeback win, the event was a hit. We can't wait to welcome dads back for the next year.

"The Best Kind of Father Raises a Pi Phi Daughter"- Dad's Day OH Kappa 2012

Written by: Beth Morand and Tori Roser

Night Walk

            Night Walk is a volunteer organization at the University of Cincinnati that gives UC Students a safe ride home around the Clifton area after dark.  A student calls into dispatch, says where they are and where they want to go, and then dispatch sends two volunteer students in a marked Night Walk Safety van to pick the student (or group of students) up and drives them to their destination.  It’s a great way to get volunteer hours for UC students and help out the safety of our peers!

            OH Kappa Pi Beta Phi has been volunteering at Night Walk since the fall of 2011.  Every Thursday night two members of OH Kappa volunteer their time from 8pm-11pm helping their fellow students of UC stay safe.  I had the opportunity to volunteer with Jessie King one Thursday and had a ton of fun!  We meet at dispatch at 7:30pm, got our walkie-talkie and Night Walk van keys, and then started on our night of chauffeuring!  Jessie was the navigator and I got to drive the van.  I’d never driven a mini van before so it took a little getting used to how big it was.  We made a lot of trips to the College of Engineering and the Library to take studying students home.  Once we stopped for water but we wouldn’t fit in the tiny drive through space so we had to skip the pit stop.  Jessie and I had a ton of fun meeting students, listening to music and just hanging out together while we gave back to our university.          

     My Night Walk experience was a great one.  Not only did I feel good that I had helped make sure students got home safe, but Night Walk provides pizza to its volunteers after their shift is done!  It was a great way to spend my Thursday night.  I am so happy OH Kappa has this opportunity for its members to take advantage of and help their UC community.  

Written By: Hannah Jones

As Greek Week 2012 has come to a close the women of Ohio Kappa and the Greek community have a lot to be proud of. The total amount of money fundraised this year was $35,440.40 that will be donated to the make a wish foundation. This year’s Greek Week was a huge success and had many new ideas and some changes. This year there were two new events added to the week. The first was a Casino night, instead of trivia night, on Monday where people donated money and got play money to use in games like Texas Hold ‘em and Black Jack. Your winnings were transferred into raffle tickets and then placed in drawings for various prizes! There was also a “Sperry Strut off” at this event where one member per chapter chose a pair of Sperry’s and modeled them across the stage. One man and one woman with the most crowd support got to keep the pair of Sperry’s they chose. There was also a new event on Friday night called the Amazing Race. Each chapter had 4 members participate and each had a booth as well. These new events were great additions to Greek Week.

The women of Ohio Kappa made great efforts this Greek Week to show how strong of a chapter we are. We participated in all the events and placed in many! With our Remember the Titan’s themed step performance we took second place with the other sororities. Our routine was intense and exciting with skillful moves and enthusiastic girls! Our Greek Sing and Lip Sync performances were great as well. The Greek Sing performance show cased the great voices that women of our chapter possess.  Sticking with the Hollywood theme of Greek Week there were many old Hollywood songs showcased and some with modern twists.  Our Lip Sync performance also incorporated many different Hollywood themed segments. Our chapter also placed third in the dodgeball tournament and first in the volleyball tournament. Our participation in all the other events did not earn us a place but brought our sisters together helped and helped develop our sisterhood!

With the week ending there was an awards ceremony held on Tuesday April 24^th to honor those Greek Week winners and many other various accomplishments. The women of Pi Beta Phi were honored to receive many accolades and have women tapped into organizations. Our chapter received runner up for outstanding academic excellence for Panhellinic Council and first place for outstanding event for our first annual philanthropy event, Pi Phi Fright Night. We also won runner up for smart risk management and runner up for recruitment. What Ohio Kappa is most proud for was being named the winner of the overall premier chapter for the Panhellinic Council. Six of our women were chosen to be Rho Gammas for the next fall recruitment and these women were Kenzie Austin, Alyssa Banister, Vanessa Gut, Mia Jacobs, Bethany Maynard, and Elizabeth Rochford. We also congratulate Jordan Keysor for being selected for Order of Omega and to Brittany Moore for being tapped into Cincinnatus. Greek Week 2012 was an overall success for the women of Ohio Kappa and we thank everyone who donated and helped out in this process!

Written by: Courtney Hochman

Spending Spring Break Abroad

OH Kappa's Vice President of Communications, Tori Roser, and Fall Class 2010 Member, Ariel Miller, spent Spring Break studying abroad in Paris and Brussels. Visiting corporations such as Unilever and Rosy Blue, as well as government offices including the US Embassy and the European Union, these Angels had the opportunity of a lifetime.

As Kolodzik Business Scholars, Tori and Ariel studied abroad once before. Last year, Montreal, Canada was the destination. This year, they ventured across the globe with 20 other students to 7 companies and major college campuses outside of Paris.

Meeting students studying International Business in the Masters Program at UCL was once of Tori's favorite moments. "They all had such a different stance on businesses and globalization. It really opened my eyes to cultural awareness. Many of the students were eager to hear about life in the States. We are actively involved in organizations and huge supporters of University sports, where they don't really see the same opportunities. It's a completely different world."

Cincinnati Dance Marathon!

Teaming up with Sigma Chi Fraternity, OH Kappa took Cincinnati Dance Marathon by storm. The 24-hour dance marathon was held over the last weekend of February, and had over 850 dancers registered to attend. Pi Phi and Sigma Chi brought in over 60 dancers to enjoy the night.

Throughout the evening and in the morning, families who are benefited by the money came to share their stories. Powerful, Peyton Stevens, stole the show with her tale. All proceeds go directly into the Children's Miracle Network which funds Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and many like it.

The team raised almost $900 dollars for the event. Sophomore Tori Roser said, "We had an amazing time getting to know each other. There is always going to be a weird sense of camaraderie once 5am hits. We danced like fools and listened intently to what the families had to say. Overall, CDM was an experience to remember."

Pi Phi has two chapter members who have sat on CDM's exec, Devon Stansbury and Brittany Gunther. OH Kappa is beyond proud to have such close ties to this event. The Morale Team, a.k.a. the CDM Cheerleaders, also had four Pi Phi's on it's team: Kenzie Austin, Alyssa Vah, Hannah Foureman and Tori Roser.

We're looking forward to our involvement in the planning and participating of next year's Cincinnati Dance Marathon.

Mother-Daughter Brunch

Pi Beta Phi hosts their 2^nd Annual Mother Daughter Brunch on February 12 in Stratford Heights!

“My favorite part of the event was seeing how similar my sisters looked and acted like their mothers,” said Beth Morand, a second-year member.

Ocer 140 mothers and daughters enjoyed waffles and eggs while catching up with each other and meeting new people. Some members enjoyed the opportunity to show their mothers what Greek life was all about.

“My mom really enjoyed meeting everyone and seeing exactly why I am in Pi Beta Phi,” said Morand. “This event helped my mom realize why I chose to be in a sorority.”

During the event raffle tickets were sold for a chance to win various baskets including: Mrs. Clean, Sweet Tooth, Spa Day, Brain Challenge, UC Spirit and All About Feet. Ticket sales totaled $190, which was donated to the Pi Beta Phi Foundation.

“I love the idea of the Mother Daughter Brunch,” said Megan Eastman, a first-year member. “You can spend quality time with your mom and with your sisters. There is nothing better than that!”

The event’s popularity has grown each year and Pi Phi plans to continue to expand on it. A larger venue and more fundraising possibilities are being considered for next year.