This past weekend, Kappa Alpha Theta celebrated 147 years of faith, hope, and love. On January 27th of 1870, Bettie Locke initiated herself, Bettie Tipton, Alice Allen, and Hannah Fitch as the founding members of Kappa Alpha Theta. And I don't think any of them truly realized what would come of this 147 years later.

As a legacy in Theta, history is important to me. I value Theta's history and how we got started. But along with that, I value my Theta history within my family. How my grandma and aunt chose Theta which then led to me choosing Theta.

I will never forget the first time I watched Legally Blonde. I was with my very best friend Hailey and we were watching it at her house. I saw all the women of Delta Nu and I knew that is what I wanted one day. I wanted to have a sisterhood like that. I never had any siblings and longed for that connection that shined through the movie.

As I got older, I realized that Legally Blonde sorority didn't actually exist, but I knew I still wanted to join some sort of a sorority. I told my mom about it and she was shocked. Nobody in her family was ever in a sorority and she didn't understand where I got these ideas from. My dad was much more receptive. When I told him, he told me we had a vast majority of Greek houses in my family.

In the 1930's, my grandmother immigrated to America from Saskatchewan, Canada to attend the University of California Los Angeles. When she was there, she met three women: Kay, Kay, and Grace. And these four women together decided to establish the Beta Xi chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. These four women came together and were initiated together on October 17th of 1937.

That date is listed on the back of the pin that my aunt was pinned with on March 19th of 1961, when she was initiated into the Beta Delta chapter at the University of Arizona. My grandma pinned her and my aunt continued our family into its second generation. My aunt also continued our family tradition by serving as President during her time, like my grandmother did.

And once again that date, October 17th of 1937, was the pin that my aunt pinned me with when I was initiated in March of 2016.

I will never forget my search for colleges. I knew I wanted Greek Life and I knew I wanted Theta. I wanted to continue my family's legacy into its third generation and I wanted to have the sorority experience that my aunt always told me about. When I rushed in January, Theta was at the top of my list every day. I felt welcomed, loved, and connected in Theta. I felt like the women actually cared about me and cared about how much I loved Theta already.

When I got my bid from Theta, I called my aunt immediately. She was so excited for me and so excited to go through this process with me.

That next March, she and my dad flew to Washington to attend my initiation. In the ceremony, I saw my Gram's pin for the very first time. It looked like everyone else's pins, but different. It was lined with small pearls which gave it just a little extra something, which was always what my Gram loved. And when I took it off my dress at the end of the night and looked on the back of the pin, I saw it: Oral Robertson, Beta Xi, October 17th, 1937.

My heart swelled with emotions and my eyes swelled with tears. I felt this weird warmth come over my entire body, a feeling I had never had before. I knew in that moment, it was my Gram.

I never met my Gram. Whenever someone asks me that question, if you could meet ANYONE, dead or alive, who would you meet? I always say my Gram. My entire family always comments how well we would have gotten along, and how proud she would be of me, and how much we would have bonded over Theta together. But Oral was a tough lady. Strong, confident, a "hard ass" as my family would call her. She knew what she wanted and she would not stop until she got it. My family always says I would have liked her and I know I would have. And I know I felt her the moment my aunt put her pin on me and every time I put it on now for chapter.

I also never had a photo of my Gram, one of the hardest things about losing a grandparent before you are born. I didn't know what she looked like, I still don't know what she sounded like or smelled like, and I never will know those things. But right after I pledged Theta, my cousins sent me the photo above of Kay, Grace, Kay, and Oral, my grandmother. The four Theta sisters of Beta Xi who started it all. It is a very special photo and one that I will cherish forever because it is my Gram at her best time, with her sisters, a drink in her hand, and a smile on her face.

This past founder's day was a special one. Not only was it my first Founder's Day as an initiated member of Theta (I pledged a day before Founder's Day my freshman year) but it was also the 147 anniversary of Theta. 147 years. I don't think Bettie, Bettie, Hannah, and Alice ever thought that it would become this after all of their hard work, but it did and here we are, 147 years later. But today, I also realized this year would be 80 years of my family's Theta's history. After all, my grandma was initiated in 1937. It may not be the exact date quite yet, but that didn't stop me from being a big bundle of tears on Founder's Day.

Gram,

Today and every day, I am proud to be a Theta. Along with that, I am proud to be your granddaughter. I am proud to be the granddaughter of such a hard ass. I am proud that you came to America and took a chance at UCLA and started Theta. I am proud that you always taught our family to "remember who you are and what you are" because I always tell myself that when I am feeling a little lost. I am just proud. There is so much in the world I would give to meet you. To talk to you, to hear your voice, to have you pin me with your pin. But for now, our special little Theta connection will just have to do. Happy Founder's Day, Gram. 147 year's ago, Theta's history began with Bettie, Bettie, Hannah, and Alice. But just 80 years ago, you, Kay, Kay, and Grace started the history for so many others, including our little line of Theta's that will grow and grow.

Thank you, Gram. Just, thank you.

Theta Love and Mine