Zeta Days, Zeta Love

And the room filled with over 1,100 Zeta Tau Alpha collegiate and alumni chapter members shouted in unison, “Love, the greatest of all things!” The annual Zeta Days Leadership Conference gathered Texas ZTA members the weekend of February 21^st at the Westin Dallas Park Central. Our executive and program council members anxiously made their way up to Dallas with the anticipation of sisterhood bonding, within our own chapter and with those around the great state of Texas.

            To kick off Zeta Days on Friday night, all Zetas gathered for a pajama party and runway show extravaganza. From lip-syncing acts to continuous laughter, it was your typical Zeta girl’s night focused on Texas-wide sisterhood. In addition, the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation presented Collegiate Chapter Awards, including Chapters of the Year, Zeta Ladies, and recognized the Best Sisterhood and Best Philanthropy projects in Texas. Our Kappa chapter was awarded the “Outstanding Philanthropy Event” for the Z-Factor! What a fantastic way to begin the weekend.

The Zeta love and excitement continued on Saturday, beginning with more chapter awards and alumni recognition. Our Kappa chapter was presented with the “Texas Rituals Award,” which we were honored to receive. We were also pleased to meet one Zeta alumni who has attended over 30 Zeta Days – now that is Zeta love! Later in the day, we were inspired to take excellence back to our chapter after hearing from our Texas ZTA sisters and other guest speakers. One speech in particular sincerely caught the attention of many of our ZTA sisters: Ms. Tara Storch shared the story behind her family’s organization, Taylor’s Gift Foundation. The Storch family tragically lost their thirteen-year-old daughter, Taylor, in a skiing accident in 2010. Honoring Taylor’s memory and legacy, however, Tara and Todd Storch started Taylor’s Gift Foundation to encourage others to “outlive yourself” and consider organ donation. Taylor herself has saved five people through organ donation, while every ZTA sister has the potential to do the same. As we state in the Zeta Tau Alpha Creed, we must “think in terms of all mankind and our service in the world.” Each speaker left us with something to think about as Zeta Days came to a close and we made our way back to The University of Texas at Austin that evening.

Reflecting on my first Zeta Days Leadership Conference, I am touched to know that Zeta Tau Alpha is a true sisterhood among active and alumni chapter members alike. In fact, I was able to share this special experience with my own mother, an alumni member of the Kappa chapter! Looking around the ballroom to see each and every woman wearing the ZTA pin was a simple reminder that we are all sisters for life. Zeta Days is a true representation of Zeta love.




PC'14 Jackie Robillard

Feasting with Faculty

On February 16, the Zeta house was decorated elegantly for the Professor Dinner held each semester. I wasn’t able to attend last semester, so I was especially eager for this big night. This event was created so that members of Zeta could extend an invitation to their favorite professors, or just those that they may want to get to know better, to join them for an evening at the Zeta house. Professor Dinner gives the girls a great opportunity to show the professors their accomplishments in Zeta, to tell them about our philanthropy and what we’re about, and to get to know their professor on a deeper level. For many girls, this is a great way to set themselves apart from the 200 other students in big lecture classes, or an opportunity to make a connection for a reference letter. When it really comes down to it, that extra time spent with the professors can really make a difference!

Personally, my experience at the event was very enjoyable. I invited one of my CMS professors who teaches Language, Culture, and Communication. We really did not know each other at all before that night, but once it was over I knew so much about where she was from, what she’s passionate about, and her plans for the future. We got to discuss school, sorority experiences, and just life in general. I learned that she was also in a sorority in college. S

he even told me that she would email her friend in order to get me an internship opportunity for the summer. This is just one of the few benefits gained from taking advantage of the Professor Dinner! It seems like having dinner with a professor would be something very awkward and uncomfortable, but it actually was an enjoyable, easy thing to do.

Aside from the conversation, the food at the dinner was amazing (as usual). The menu featured a delicious chicken saltimbocca, balsamic roasted mushrooms, mixed greens, fresh baked bread, and baked polenta with grana padano. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The desert was a delicious apple tart with vanilla ice cream and salted caramel, which all enjoyed during an entertaining speech by the keynote speaker, a UT finance professor named Mary Lou Polosky from the McCombs School of Business. She talked about the importance of being involved in and networking through sorority life, while also giving tips on how to have fun in Austin and in college. She described her role in the business foundations program and encouraged us to look into it.

Overall, the dinner was a great success. Many girls attended and the professors seemed to have a great time while enjoying a great meal. We are so lucky to have had the opportunity to get to know our professors in an easy and fun way!

ZLAM,

Amanda Fees

Crazy for Chicken Fingers- And Sisterly Love

It was Friday the 13th, also known as Black Friday. Following the common Western superstition, many people feared this day to be unlucky. However, this Friday the 13^th was unlike any I’ve ever experienced. This Black Friday fell the day before Valentine’s Day. Grocery stores were flooded with red roses and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, and love was in the air. But most importantly, the smell of chicken and macaroni was in the air at the Zeta house. The long awaited Chicken Finger Friday was upon us, and what better way to spend Galentine’s Day-the day before Valentine’s Day, when you celebrate your love for your lady friends, single or not-than with your sisters and comfort food? 

            I walked into the house—okay, okay, I actually ran into the Zeta house. Every Zeta received a beautiful carnation and goody-bag at the front door as a reminder of the sorority’s love on this Valentine’s Day.  I continued my journey through the house, pushing through the crowds to the food line. With my carnation in my mouth and my backpack still on, I filled my plate with chicken fingers and macaroni, completely skipping over the peas—not because they were any less delicious, but because this was a special occasion. I rushed to the table where my sisters were sitting and we began to enjoy our food while discussing our plans for the upcoming weekend. I was most surprised to find out how many chicken fingers I could eat in one sitting…and now that I think about it, that number is not a number I should disclose.

            Friday the 13^th was quite possibly one of the luckiest days this year. It was a day of friendship, sisterhood, and true love—whether it was love for your boyfriend who accompanied you, love for your Zeta sisters, or love for chicken and macaroni. I look forward to the next Chicken Finger Friday and hope that even more people will come next time to experience Zeta love—the greatest of all things.

ZLAM--Mackenzie “Nugget-Lover” Beldon 

Black, White, and ZTA All Over

The anticipation for our first date event of the semester was definitely buzzing, especially after the socials announced the details for it at chapter. The theme would be black and white, something we hadn’t done before (or at least since I’ve been a member), and we would get to celebrate the night with Tri-Delta. There were rumors that some people would take the theme in a funny way and dress up as penguins, but there was a general consensus that none of us wanted our dates to look like waiters. We were also told that the occasion would be at Coppertank Events Center, a place that was a little different than the environment that we usually held our functions in. Because of these cool new additions everyone seemed even more excited than usual!

            My favorite part of the event was the dance floor: it was HUGE. Everyone managed to shake their groove thang at least once or twice; even the girls that you wouldn’t normally see out on the floor. Aside from the large area for dancing, there was plenty of space to go if you needed a breather from busting a move or a quiet place to talk with friends. There was also a photo booth set up that I unfortunately did not get to partake in because I was too busy spending my night on the dance floor. Ugh.

            Overall, I’d say that the event was a great success and an even better time. It was an awesome place to hold our first time all back together after winter break and it definitely set the stage for a super fun semester. I hear there are some great ideas in the mix for our formal, but it will sure be hard to top this. My only regret is that I did not get any pictures taken in the photo booth because they all came out oh so cute. I can’t wait to see what our socials have up their sleeves next!

ZLAM- Hannah Matula PC '13