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Jackie Robillard
Position: Recruitment Captain
Hometown: Flower Mound, TX
Major: Marketing, with a minor in Advertising
Follow me on Insta: @imbringingsexy_jack
What do you do as Recruitment Captain?
As Recruitment Captain, I am responsible for new member recruitment and chapter retention. I work with my team to lead all recruitment efforts, including meeting potential new members, planning the logistics of each day of formal recruitment week, and connecting with active alumnae. I am continuously working to promote the sisterhood of Zeta Tau Alpha, as well as continue its legacy, pledge class by amazing pledge class.
What are some of your likes & favorites?
Golden Retriever puppies. Chick-fil-A fries. Christmastime.
What makes you wildly happy?
Surprises! I’m not typically an impulsive person myself, so I love, love, love the spontaneous and exciting aspects of surprises.
Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?
Blake Lively, hands down. She’s beautiful and talented and married to Ryan Reynolds.Okay, maybe I just want to be her.
Any tips for rush?
Take lots of pictures!! Trust me, you’ll love looking back at pictures of you on Open House. The girls you barely know on Bid Day will soon become your best friends.
Jordan Nash
Position: Area Recruitment Chair
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Major: Corporate Communications
Follow me on Insta: @nash_potato_
What do you do as ARC?
As ARC, I focus on collecting information about the potential new members and organizing it so I can share it with the entire chapter! With the help of my lovely assistants, we are responsible for presenting the chapter with all the information they need about potential new members from all different areas.
What’s a hobby of yours?
I love cooking! Watching Tasty videos on Facebook is my guilty pleasure. I recently made mozzarella stuffed onion rings and they might have been one of the best things I ever tasted.
What are some of yours likes & favorites?
I just started watching Game of Thrones and I am currently on season four, if that says anything about how much I love it.
What do you love most about Zeta?
I am the first one from my family to go to UT (everyone in my fam went to A&M), so I was absolutely terrified when I first got here. I was relieved when I realized how loved I felt at the Zeta House. Everyone treats each other like family here.
Any tips for rush?
Stay open minded!!! Seriously, do it. People are going to tell you their opinions of certain houses, but I would really suggest focusing on what you like and dislike, and not take in the thoughts and feelings of others around you.
Morgan Mendicino
Position: Entertainment Director
Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Follow me on Insta: @ _morgaritaa_
What do you do as Entertainment Director?
As Entertainment Director, I oversee all of the…(drum role please)...eNtErTaInMeNt! I am essentially in charge of all the amazing talent you see during recruitment. My assistant and I work to hold tryouts and practices for all the performers in our chapter. We perfect the showbiz and logistics portion of rush.
What’s one of your major pet peeves?
Making instagram captions. We all know this is a struggle.
What makes you wildly happy?
Nothing makes me happier than seeing my border collie pup! We do everything together, from running and swimming, to shopping and movie watching.
When do you feel most confident?
What makes me most confident is when I nail a hard a test. Nothing feels better than doing well on an exam after pulling an all nighter.
Any tips for rush?
Wear shoes that you’ve worn in the past! Putting the cutest new pair of wedges on and ending the first of many days with blisters is the worst.
Collyn Robison
Position: Database Chair
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Major: Accounting
Follow me on Insta: @_coll_me_maybe
What do you do as Database Chair?
As Database Chair, I get to appreciate all the pretty folders sent to Zeta. Yes, someone actually does read the packets, and it’s me. I organize all the information from the alumnae about each potential new member before recruitment!
What makes you wildly happy?
Brunch at 24 Diner! Seriously, if you haven’t been to this restaurant, put it on your list. 24 Diner is my favorite place in Austin, especially their breakfast menu.
When do you feel most confident?
Accomplishing a goal. I am very motivated by setting a goal to achieve. Nothing feels better than working so hard to reach your goal and actually following through with!
What does your perfect day look like?
A day out on the lake with some country music!
Any tips for rush?
Have fun with it! Rush seems much scarier than it actually is. You get to do what every girl loves to do - talk for hours!
Rachel Jones
Position: Star Team Manager
Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Marketing
Follow me on Insta: @cool_rach_doritos
What do you do as Star Team Manager?
I manage the data and the voting process during rush.
What’s a hobby of yours?
I LOVE baking and cooking, especially French pastries and French dinners.
What’s one of your major pet peeves?
Slow walkers! For being a really short person myself, I tend to walk pretty fast and I can't stand being stuck behind slow walkers.
What is the most valuable life lesson you have ever learned?
A little smile goes a long way.
Any tips for rush?
Bring a battery-operated hand-held fan! It literally saved my life from the scorching heat. I promise you won't regret it.
McKenna Nard
Position: Assistant ARC
Hometown: Winston Salem, NC
Major: Speech Language Pathology
Follow me on Insta: @workhard_playnard
What do you do as Assistant ARC?
Along with Jordan, Kara, and Elisa, my job is to get the word out to the chapter about our potential new members and get everyone excited to rush our next PC!
What’s a hobby of yours?
I love coloring. Ever since the adult coloring book became a thing, I've been hooked (and I think I own every single one in existence).
What makes you wildly happy?
Traveling the world! I have such wanderlust. Something about a change of scenery and the beauty of different cultures makes me extremely happy. Out of all the places I've been, I would recommend Machu Picchu. It definitely lives up to its title as a wonder of the world.
When do you feel most confident?
When people laugh at my jokes. I'm a goofball and I typically say a lot of stuff that only makes me laugh, When other people actually think I'm funny, it's a total confidence booster.
Any tips for rush?
Don't sweat (no pun intended) the small stuff.
Kara Hurley
Position: Assistant ARC
Hometown: Spring, TX
Major: Biochemistry, Pre-Med with a certificate in Business Foundations
Follow me on Insta: @karahurley
What do you do as Assistant ARC?
As Assistant ARC, I focus on helping the rest of the chapter meet potential new members and get organized for the whole recruitment process! It’s super important and helpful to hear thoughts from the chapter.
What’s a hobby of yours?
I love to sleep. I could take a four hour nap during the day and still be out for the night by 10.
What’s one of your major pet peeves?
Dirtiness. I am such a germophobe, especially when it comes to my bed. I used to make my friends wash their feet before they got in my bed, but I’m happy to say that I’ve gotten past that.
What makes you wildly happy?
PANCAKES! I’m definitely a healthy eater, but pancakes are my weakness. And chocolate. Needless to say, chocolate chip pancakes are my jam.
Any tips for rush?
I know it’s harder to do than to say, but just relax! I promise you nobody is going to notice if you forget to brush your hair or reapply your lipstick before you go into a house. Be yourself, have fun, and you will no doubt find your people.
Elisa Carpenter
Position: Assistant ARC
Hometown: Potomac, MD
Major: History for Pre-law, with a minor in French and a certificate in Forensic Science
Follow me on Insta: @elisacarp
What do you do as Assistant ARC?
As Assistant ARC, I work under Jordan to help my pledge class find their Rush crush. Along with McKenna and Kara, we work with smaller area recruitment captains and database to help organize all the information that comes in.
What’s a hobby of yours?
In college, I took up cycling. There’s a great place called Cyc FItness in West campus that was beside my freshman dorm. There was a time where I would go at least once, maybe even twice a day (call me addicted). And I’m working there this summer!
What is the most valuable life lesson you have ever learned?
“Life’s too short to let the little things get to you. Just smile and move on because in 5 minutes it won’t matter.” -my mama!
What do you love most about Zeta?
It’s my home away from home! On the first day of Open House, I felt like I belonged with those group of girls I barely knew. I’ve met so many amazing girls through Zeta and even know who will be my bridesmaids (lol still single though).
Any tips for rush?
Go with your heart and trust the system. It’s cliché, but it works out in the end. Oh, and bring a mini fan!! It will be 110 degrees.
Caroline Purtle
Position: Assistant Entertainment
Hometown: Texarkana, TX
Major: Journalism, Pre-Law
Follow me on Insta: @purtle_party
What do you do as Assistant Entertainment?
I help Entertainment with the pizzaz of rush. Any of the small details with the performers, music, logistics, or sparkle you see during the recruitment process is handled by me.
What’s a hobby of yours?
Freestyle rap. Jk. veggie wraps.
When do you feel most confident?
When I see the waiter sit the pizza down in front of me.
How would your friends describe you?
Fun(ny)
Any tips for rush?
A good sense of humor and confidence will get you far, but of course, ~be yourself~
Hailee Strong
Position: Assistant Database
Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Human Development & Family Sciences (HDFS)
Follow me on Insta: @haileestrong1
What do you do as Assistant Database?
I get to go through all of the packets that are sent to the house and learn all about each and every one of you!
What’s a hobby of yours?
I’m really good at eating when I’m bored and not actually hungry.
When do you feel most confident?
When I’m hanging out with all of my friends. We don’t even have to be doing anything, we could be sitting in someone’s house without makeup on and watching movies and I would love it.
What is the most valuable life lesson you have ever learned?
God shows you who you are by the people he places in your life.
Any tips for rush?
Don’t freak out! I promise everything will be fine because no matter what, you’ll end up where you belong in the end. Also, BRING A FAN!!! Also, don’t be afraid to eat/drink at houses.
Emily Ballard
Position: Assistant Star Team
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Major: Mathematics
Follow me on Insta: @embal01
What do you do as Assistant Star Team?
The truth: whatever Rachel wants me to do. In broader terms, I get to meet a ton of potential new members, organize them each day of recruitment, all the while hiding upstairs in sweatpants and using excel sheets. It’s a great gig.
What are some of yours likes & favorites?
Mornings, trying new things, queso, cats, and buying shoes I don’t need.
What makes you wildly happy?
Making other people happy. If you can turn someone’s day around then you are something special.
What do you love most about Zeta?
Our sisterhood is unlike anything I could’ve ever dreamed. Really. You expect to make friends but you never expect to be a part of a large loving family.
Any tips for rush?
BE YOURSELF, everyone is sweaty and nervous and has 12 blisters, don’t let that bother you. Be yourself and you’ll attract the right people.
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To learn more about Zeta Tau Alpha, visit www.texaszetataualpha.com.
Also, follow us on Instagram and Twitter @texaszta, and on Tumblr at texaszetataualpha.tumblr.com!
Tune in here, at texaszeta.blogspot.com, for more upcoming blogs this summer about all things recruitment, written by Rush Team! More information about recruitment can also be found at http://www.texaspanhellenic.com/.
The second I landed in Austin, my new whirlwind of a summer began. Within the first twenty-four hours, I was moving into my new apartment, starting class and work and feverishly working hard to prepare for recruitment in the fall. While overwhelming, it was still exciting. The rush of 8 girls living in one apartment never left me with a dull moment. I feel like my phone is constantly ringing with texts in our group chat asking who wants to tan, go to the movies, try a new restaurant, or paddle board on the lake. This for sure is going to be a jam-packed summer.
