Meet the Actives

Brandi Branka

Position: President

Year: 5th Year Senior

Major: Health & Wellness

Minor: Coaching and Sport Psychology

Pledge Class: Spring 2009 Stellar Sigmas

Other Activities: Student assistant in the Business Office, Assistant Coach of the McKendree Bowling Team, Former member of the McKendree Bowling Team (4 years)

Reason for pledging: "I came from a small school and didn't know anybody, so I wanted to make new friends. I thought by joining a sorority I would have an opportunity to make new friends. I have made life long friends and wouldn't change them for the world. This is also a great way to get involved! :)"

 Favorite thing about KET: "Spring Formal and making new friends that will last a life time!"

 

 

 

Emily Thole

Position: 1st Vice President & Inter Greek Council Representative

Year: Sophomore

Major: Accounting

Pledge Class: Spring 2012

Reason for Pledging:" I decided to pledge KET because I wanted to be more involved in McKendree and to make life long friendships."

Favorite thing about KET: "I love always having someone there for me! The ladies and gents in KET would do anything for me and I would do anything for them!" 

 

 

 

Caitlin Schlueter

Position: Treasurer, Inter Greek Council Representative,  & Alumni Relations Assistant

Year: Sophomore

Major: Marketing & Management

Pledge Class: Spring 2012

Other Activities: Marching Bearcat Drumline, Student Ambassadors, Residence Life Staff

Reason for pledging: " I pledged KET because I really wanted to be a part of a group of people that I felt I belonged too. I wanted to experience the idea of a lifelong sisterhood, and with these girls I feel like I definitely found that."

Favorite thing about KET: "My favorite thing about KET is how down-to-earth all the girls are. I honestly feel like I could go to any one of them with a problem and they would be there in a second to help me out. They're my family."

 

 

 

Jackie Bassler

Position: Secretary

Year: Junior

Major: Occupational Therapy

Pledge Class: Spring 2011

Other Activities: Student Ambassadors, Inter Greek Council

Reason for pledging: " I chose to pledge KET for many reasons. Besides wanting a group of friends I could always count on, I couldn't resist the welcoming feeling the active girls gave me when I expressed interest in joining."

Favorite thing about KET: "The girls and guys in this organization have shown me what true sisterhood is about. It's not always easy, and many times it can be stressful, but the memories I have with this family are irreplaceable. This is one of the best decisions I have made throughout my McKendree career!"

 

 

 

Holly Weathers

Position: Historian & Alumni Relations

Year: Senior

Major: Organizational Communication

Minors: Business Administration & Art

Pledge Class: Spring 2010 Starstruck Sigmas

Other Activities: Student Assistant at McKendree's Alumni House, Former McKendree Dance team member, Dance Coach at Nashville Community High School

Reason for Pledging: "My older sister, Lindsay Fark '07, was a member of Kappa Sigma Tau when she attended McKendree and she loved it! I joined for that reason and to meet new people and make college memories!"

Favorite Thing about KET: " I love how KET has such a wide variety of people involved and we all click like we are family! From nurses, educators, athletes, etc. I love all of my sisters & big brothers!"

 

 

 

Bridgette Edwards 

Position: PR Social & Fundraising

Year: Junior

Pledge Class: Spring 2011

Major: Organizational Communication

Other Activities: Student Director of Campus Activities, New Student Orientation Mentor

Reason for pledging: "To meet new people and have a good time!"

Favorite thing about KET: "All of the different personalities that KET has brought together to form one big family!"

 

 

 

 

Olivia Osborn

Year: Senior

Major: Sociology (Criminal Justice)

Pledge Class: Spring 2010 Starstruck Sigmas

Other Activities: Student Government Association

Reason for Pledging: "To meet new people and form long lasting friendships!"

Favorite thing about KET: "All of the girls and big brothers, as well as the amazing memories and friendships that I've made."

 

 

Whitney Laur

Year: Senior

Major: Business Management

Pledge Class: Spring 2012

Other Activities: Assistant Resident Director Suites/Walton Hall and Student Ambassador

Reason for pledging: "I pledged because I wanted to branch out and meet new people on campus! It was a great decision!"

Favorite thing about KET: " My favorite thing about Kappa Sigma Tau is that it doesn't matter if you just met these ladies, or if you have known them for years, you have the special bond with them that is going to last forever!!"

 

 

Lora Kern

Year: Junior

Major: Business Administration & Accounting

Minor: Finance

Pledge Class: Spring 2011

Other Activities: Whiteside Tutor, Phi Beta Lambda

Reason for pledging: "Making new friends."

Favorite thing about KET: "All of the memories made and to be made in the future."

 

 

 

 

Susy Monteith

Year: First Year - MBA Program

Major: Business Administration

Pledge Class: Spring 2009

Other Activities: Lady of Alpha Delta Gamma

Reason for pledging: "To build relationships with some extraordinary women."

Favorite thing about KET: "My favorite thing about KET is the people and friendships. I already have so many great memories and stories with girls and boys I would do absolutely anything for."

 

 

 

 

Mandy Aoieong

Position: Treasurer Assistant

Year: Freshmen

Major: International Business

Pledge Class: Fall 2012

Other Activities: McKendree University Pom Cats, New Student Orientation Mentor

Reason for pledging: "I knew that KET was a smaller group of girls and I love that. I wanted to get to know each and every single one of my sisters without leaving one out. I felt like with a smaller group, we would get closer and I would be able to open up way more with my sisters."

Favorite thing about KET: I love the fact how we all have so much love to share with each other. I enjoy the fact that we can all get along and even if we do have problems, we work it out together. We are either always all happy or all in tears, never just one of us.

 

 

 

Britani Beasley

Position: Recruitment 

Year: Sophomore

Major: Speech Communications - Public Relations 

Minor: Journalism

Pledge Class: Fall 2012

Other Activities: Campus Activities Board-Special Events Coordinator, Center for Public Service Scholar, New Student Orientation Mentor

Reason for pledging: "My reason for pledging was to know a new area of McKendree that I wasn't familiar with, and to make friends with a group of people that would be there for me through anything and everything."

Favorite thing about KET: "My favorite thing about KET is that we are real. We don't try to put on faces that make us seem perfect, we all have issues and aren't afraid to admit them. I also like that we are also very well rounded in our involvement on campus, we have many things that define us as individuals as well as a group."

 

 

 

Alayna Gillespie

Year: Sophomore

Major: Undeclared

Pledge Class: Fall 2012

Other Activities: McKendree Community Action Team, Center for Public Service Office Worker, New Student Orientation Leader, Emerging Leaders Program

Reason for pledging: "I decided to pledge KET because it looked like a lot of fun. The girls were welcoming during Greek Week and made me feel like a part of the group. I knew immediately that KET was the sorority for me."

Favorite thing about KET: "My favorite thing about KET is having a group of friends that I can always turn to whether I need to talk or just want someone to hang out with. We even go to Applebee's once a week just to catch up and relax. I love that we make time to build individual friendships in addition to the time spent building the organization."

 

 

 

Kellsei Tate

Position: Historian Assistant

Year: Sophomore

Major: Art Education

Pledge Class: Fall 2012

Reason for pledging: "I joined to find a sense of belonging in a group and to have people for support and friendship."

Favorite thing about KET: "My favorite thing so far is that I have become very close to a few people."

 

 

 

 

 

Kourtney Huelskamp

Year: Freshmen

Major: Business Administration

Pledge Class: Fall 2012

Other Activities: McKendree University Cross Country & Track

Reason for pledging: "I pledged KET because it's an amazing way to meet new people and get involved!"

Favorite thing about KET: "My favorite thing about KET is no matter how different each of our lives may be, our sisterhood and friendships are strong."