Feature Friday: Alison Prejean

This week's #FeatureFriday goes out Delta Kappa Alison Prejean who dedicates her summers to the STRIPES program at LSU. STRIPES is supported by LSU's First Year Experience (FYE) and is designed to assist incoming freshman with their transition to LSU. Prejean volunteered to be our guest blogger this week so that she could share her memorable leadership experience!

"I participated in STRIPES in the summer of 2010 before I came to LSU. It was then that I decided before I graduated I wanted to be a leader. I felt like my leaders at STRIPES were inspirational and helped me come out of my shell. My first year on the STRIPES staff wasn't until the summer before my junior year in 2012, and this year I got the privilege to work with one of my former STRIPES leaders, Kelsi Moore.

I served as a small group leader for a second summer in 2013. I wish I had the opportunity to work for STRIPES this summer since it will be my last year at LSU, but I made the hard decision to get an internship instead. 

I cannot accurately describe my feeling for STRIPES, and I'm sure none of the other small group leaders can. All I can say is it's one of the greatest three weeks you will ever have. Preparing for a program and seeing it come to life is an amazing feeling! You receive your first small group and watch the incoming freshman grow from timid and shy to outgoing and spirited. You witness your students fall in love with the LSU campus just as I did when I first came to STRIPES. It almost feels like a proud mama moment! Plus, the friends that you make with your STRIPES staff will honestly last a lifetime. The people at STRIPES have some of the biggest hearts for this university, and being apart of this program is extremely rewarding.

As my legacy in ZTA is coming to an end, I want our girls to know about this wonderful program and turn in an application next year (because it's too late now for this summer). I encourage everyone to step out of their comfort zones and experience what I have with STRIPES."

Thank you Alison for sharing your STRIPES experience! As a previous STRIPES attendee, I credit the program for my easy transition to college. We're thrilled you had such a memorable experience with STRIPES and know you will mentor the ZTA's who are on the staff this summer!

Zeta Love and Mine,
DK PR and Historian

For more information on STRIPES click here.

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Twitter: @LSU_ZTA
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#ThrowtheCrownThursday: Mardi Gras Mambo

Combining our #tbt with this week's #ThrowtheCrownThursday! Our photo features Louisiana ZTAs celebrating one of New Orleans' best holidays and traditions, Mardi Gras! #LaissezLesBonTempsRouler #FatTuesday #Legacylove

For more things ZTA follow our social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LSUZetaTauAlpha Twitter: @LSU_ZTA Instagram: @LSU_ZTA

Tribute Tuesday: Guest Blogger Kellie Gotangco

Due to the popular requests we've received from our members to share why they love ZTA on our blog, we are implementing Tribute Tuesday! Guest bloggers will have the opportunity to share why they love ZTA and discuss whatever topic they prefer.

Gotangco (Bottom) is pictured with her Big Kirsten Clark (Top) after Big/Lil Reveal 

This week's guest blogger is Delta Kappa freshman Kellie Gotangco who wishes to share what our rituals mean to her.

"Have you ever taken a second to think about what makes Zeta Tau Alpha special to you? Recently, I heard a very inspiring talk from Angela Guillory, the Director of Greek Life at LSU. She was discussing sorority rituals and one thing she said truly sparked my attention. She told us we would never know her rituals and she would never know ours. Have you actually thought about this? It’s natural as a human to want to tell secrets and gossip about things. Now think about how big the Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity is. There are so many sisters that it’s almost impossible to count. It amazes me to think that each one of these women are able to keep their rituals to themselves. This comes to show just how much respect we have, not only for each other, but also for our sorority.

So what makes these rituals special to you? For me it’s the history behind it all. From our nine founders at Longwood University to over 228,000 initiated members around the country, our rituals have stayed in tact, unharmed by the outside world. Everything has changed immensely since 1898, except for our sacred rituals. I love thinking about how I have only been in this chapter since August 24^th 2013, yet I have the utmost love and respect for ZTA and everyone in it. I love our rituals and I cannot wait to learn more about them! Happy Tribute Tuesday!

ZLAM,

Kellie Gotangco"

Thank you Kellie for your insightful commendation! We're thrilled you wanted to share what ZTA's rituals mean to you and can't thank you enough for inspiring Tribute Tuesdays!

Next week, on March 2-8, ZTA recognizes their National Rituals Celebration Week to honor the core values and rituals that binds ZTA sisters to one another and forms the chain linking our chapters. We invite our ZTA sisters to share their reflections on the values of ZTA with us at deltakappablog@gmail.com and encourage everyone to wear their ZTA badge on Monday, March 3 for International Badge Day!

Zeta Love and Mine,
DK PR and Historian

*Click here to be directed to the ZTA Fraternity National Ritual Celebration Week page for more information.

For more things ZTA follow our social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LSUZetaTauAlpha Twitter: @LSU_ZTA Instagram: @LSU_ZTA

Sister Shannon Cantlay Scores Traveling Leadership Consultant Position with ZTA

Shannon Cantlay (Right) posed with Mississippi State ZTA Julianna Salyer (Left) prior to their TLC interview where both girls were offered the position!

We'd like to congratulate Delta Kappa sister Shannon Cantlay for being selected as a ZTA Traveling Leadership Consultant (TLC) for the 2014-2015 academic year! Cantlay assumes a full-time position with the ZTA fraternity* where she will spend the next year training ZTA chapters across the country. Her responsibilities include assisting chapters with officer education, leadership development, supervision of membership recruitment and assistance with new chapters.

Cantlay (Right) celebrates Bid Day with ZTA's Lauren Gear (Left) and Lauren Hulin (Middle)

Cantlay was selected for meeting the qualifications for TLC which include officer experience at the member's ZTA chapter, membership recruitment ability, enthusiasm, creativity, the ability to work with different types of people and loyalty to the ZTA Fraternity.

Cantlay (Right) and ZTA Danni Frank (Left) hold up Breast Cancer ribbons in honor of their mothers who are both Breast Cancer survivors

Cantlay has immersed herself into Delta Kappa since she joined. She's held numerous PC positions including House Manager assistant and Membership/Recruitment assistant, and was on Delta Kappa's Executive Council as House Manager. She's also held leadership positions in multiple ZTA committees including New Member Group leader, Founder's Group Leader, Songfest Chair and more. She's an advocate for ZTA's philanthropy Breast Cancer Awareness and Education, and credits her strong mother and breast cancer survivor Denise Alexander for the enthusiasm she has towards ZTA's Cause.

Shannon, we're certainly going to miss you at Delta Kappa, but we can rest easy knowing you'll be sharing your love for ZTA to other chapters across America. We're so proud of you and what you've accomplished!  Don't forget about your biggest fans here in Baton Rouge!

Zeta Love and Mine,
DK PR & Historian

Shannon and ZTA love the Tigers!

*Zeta Tau Alpha is known as a fraternity, not as a sorority because ZTA has no "brother" fraternity. Our Founders wanted ZTA to be distinguished from other sisterhoods that were organized in connection with men's fraternities, called sororities. 


For more things ZTA follow our social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LSUZetaTauAlpha Twitter: @LSU_ZTA Instagram: @LSU_ZTA

#ThrowtheCrownThursday: Louisiana Saturday Night

ZTA sisters threw the crown on Saturday at our date function "Louisiana Saturday Night"

Happy #ThrowtheCrownThursday! This week's photo features ZTA sisters at last Saturday's "Louisiana Saturday Night" date function! We had a fantastic time dancing to the John King Band and throwing a cajun party! #bayoufun 

Feature Friday: Elena Kousoulas

Kousoulas poses with a cupcake during a recent photo shoot 

This weeks #FeatureFriday goes out to Delta Kappa member Elena Kousoulas who started her modeling career for Apricot Lane! Kousoulas' modeling vocation began at 5-years-old, when she was approached by Wilehlmina Modeling Agency. However, her parents decided she was too young and turned down the agency's offer. Kousoulas didn't return to modeling until the summer of 2013 when she acted in the Louisiana-filmed movie Left Behind. Soon after she immersed herself into the filming and modeling industry, Kousoulas applied for Apricot Lane's open casting call and started modeling for the store in October. Currently Kousoulas models for nine Apricot Lane stores, and Delta Kappa loves to see her smiling face on display at the Mall of Louisiana!

An advertisement with Kousoulas (Left) was on display at Apricot Lane in the Mall of Louisiana

Elena, you're an absolute class act and a wonderful ZTA lady! Keep up the hard work, we're super proud of you!

Zeta Love and Mine,
DK PR and Historian

PS- HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We hope it's a wonderful day!

Kousoulas throwing what she knows!

DK Sisters Helen, Cherie and Randi (Featuring Guest Blogger Katie Silva)

Guest blogger Katie Silva shared what three ZTA sisters are doing for LSU's Ambassador program:

"ZTA sisters Helen Frink, Cherie Walter and Randi Kirk are all on the Southern Regional Orientation Workshop (SROW) committee for LSU's Ambassadors. The highly selective committee prepares and presents seminars on how to improve your university's orientation program at the Southern Regional Orientation Workshop. This year's SROW will be held at Clemson University on the weekend of March 15th. It's a big commitment and honor to be able to go, and they're working hard on their presentations and leadership ability! 

Walter was also recently selected for this year's Summer Orientation Leader Team for LSU! She had to apply within LSU's Ambassadors to get it, and looks forward to meeting the upcoming LSU students going through summer orientation. Walter will be able to grow as a leader and serve our university with this position. In the past, ZTA women have also represented Greek Life at LSU on the Summer Orientation Leader Team including myself (Silva) in 2013 and Kirk in 2011. It's a fantastic opportunity to advocate for LSU Greek Life and displays ZTA's leadership involvement throughout the LSU community!

Kirk is also the Membership Chair for LSU Ambassadors, and organizes the recruiting and selections process for the new Ambassadors in the fall. She also monitors the activity status of every single Ambassador! It's a big job, but she's great at it!"

Cherie Walter (Left) poses with Randi Kirk (Right) 

Katie Silva (Left) hugs Helen Frink (Right)

Delta Kappa would like to thank these diligent ladies for their tireless efforts in promoting the LSU community and assisting future Tigers with their transition to college! We'd also like to thank Katie Silva for being our guest blogger!

Keep up the hard work ladies! We understand how big of a time commitment your leadership roles are, and support y'all every step of the way! 

Zeta Love and Mine,

DK PR and Historian 

For more information on LSU ZTA visit: http://lsu.zetataualpha.org/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LSUZetaTauAlpha

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LSU_ZTA

Welcome!

ZTA sisters throw the Crown at Louisiana ZTA Day
Top(left to right)- Rachel Levine, Meghan Martin, Taylor Wainwright
Bottom(left to right)- Paige Bownds, Nikki Ferdows, Brandi Cormier

Welcome to the Delta Kappa chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha's blog! The Delta Kappa chapter at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has over 300 members who are actively making a difference within the local community. Our members come from across the United States with interests and extracurriculars that are as unique as the places they call home. Nationally, ZTA's philanthropy is Breast Cancer Awareness and Education. Our chapter hosts and assists numerous Baton Rouge events to raise funds for Breast Cancer Awareness and Education including the 12-hour Pancake Breakfast, Pinktoberfest, the New Orleans Saints "A Crucial Catch" Game, the Etta James Memorial Gymnastics meet and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Along with these events, each of our members volunteer with various organizations around town, as well as participate in multiple fraternity philanthropy events each semester.  We want to share with you the outstanding women within our chapter and the incredible things our ZTA members have done throughout the nation!

For more information on our chapter please visit: http://lsu.zetataualpha.org/ or email us at: deltakappapresident@gmail.com

Also, be sure to follow us on social media by clicking the links below.

Have a great day and Geaux Tigers!