Letter from the President

Welcome to the Sigma Tau Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi here at Washington College! I am so glad that you’re taking the time to learn more about our sisterhood.

When I came to Washington College a little over two years ago, I had no intention of joining a sorority. To be honest, I didn’t know much about how sororities worked or the purpose they served on campus or in the community. Greek Life on this campus is unique, due to many factors. Each organization is unique in their members and assets, however they contribute to the campus, community, and Greek Life as a whole. We are united in the support of each philanthropy and interwoven within our friendships.

I went through recruitment in the Spring semester of my freshman year, like many freshmen do. I signed up with a few of my friends and thought nothing of it, figuring that nothing bad could come out of at least attending each event and being open to a new opportunity. I went through the whole week with an open mind however, I was able to narrow it down pretty quickly. Even as a Potential New Member, AOII made me feel like I could be myself. I did not feel pressured to be anyone but my true self and I felt that out of all the girls, I could surely relate to someone at any given time. These women are unique in all they do both on campus and off, and that was evident. My conversations were genuine and the relationships I built, even during recruitment, were foundational to my development in this chapter. These women have invested more in me than they will ever know.

My favorite thing about my sisters is that they are constantly striving for more, academically, extracurricular activities and throughout their personal relationships with others. Our chapter is made up of 50 women from all across the country. We have 9 athletes representing WAC Swimming, Tennis, Softball, Rowing, and Trap and Skeet varsity teams. Outside of varsity sports, nearly half of our sisterhood is involved in club sports, including Club Field Hockey, Volleyball, Sailing, Dance, and Lacrosse. A handful of sisters are serving on the Student Government, including Student Body President May Kiros! If there is an event for one of our sisters, I am sure you can find 3 or more AOIIs in the crowd. One of our favorite things is raising money for our philanthropy, Juvenile Arthritis by funding research through the Arthritis Foundation. By hosting campus-wide events, selling raffle tickets, and simply raising awareness, AOII sheds light on a debilitating disease. Every dollar counts and this year we have raised nearly $4,000 already! In terms of service on campus, sisters are connected through various clubs: Animal Impact, Rotaract, Student Environmental Alliance, TCAP, American Marketing Association, and the Writer’s Union (to name a few). You can also find our sisters in on-campus jobs as we have tour guides (6), bloggers, newspaper contributors, and bookstore employees. Whew, we’re busy!

I hope that after catching a glimpse of how our sisters are involved you can see the diversity and inclusion of AOII here on campus. I have no doubt that going through recruitment will be an incredible experience, and you will find your home just like I did. There is no way to explain the magnitude of personality this chapter holds, thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about all we have to offer!