The University of Cincinnati is home to 10 amazing and well-rounded sororities. Each week, a chapter from UC will be highlighted along with their accomplishments, valuable women and sisterhood they have achieved as a whole.
The Theta Phi Alpha Epsilon chapter at the University of Cincinnati was installed on June 15, 1919. The Epsilon chapter moved into their current house in 1955 and have remained there ever since. In 2019, the women of Theta Phi will be celebrating 100 years on UC's campus.
Theta Phi Alpha is symbolized by a penguin, compass and sapphire. They are embodied by the colors blue, gold and silver. Their flower is a white rose. They live after the values of justice, wisdom, loyalty, faith, truth and honor.
The Epsilon chapter supports a local and a national philanthropy. Melissa Dysinger, president of UC's Theta Phi, explains that their national philanthropy is "The House That Theta Phi Alpha Built." This philanthropy aims to help the homeless community in their area. One of their sisters, Katie Arce, created an organization called Feeding Our Family, where Greek chapters donate containers and Ziploc bags, so Theta Phi can package leftovers cooked by their chef and take them to homeless shelters.
Their local philanthropy is The Dragonfly Foundation. "We focus on bringing comfort and joy to kids, young adults and their families enduring cancer and bone marrow transplants," Dysinger explains. Each year, they hold two philanthropy events where all of the proceeds go toward this organization. In the fall, there is Pumpkin Fest, where there are many games and activities that the entire community comes out for. They even had a petting zoo this past year. In the spring, there is Theta Phi Bowl. "The day consists of bowling, raffle prizes, pizza and probably too much fun." In the past few years, the Epsilon chapter has been able to raise more than $11,000 for The Dragonfly Foundation.
Dysinger explains that this past school year alone, the Epsilon chapter has accomplished so much. "We started our own organization, Feeding Our Family. We took first place during Greek Week. During the Greek Excellence Awards, we received the award for Philanthropy and Service. [And] we had 96 percent retention when our New Members were initiated." Just to name a few!
The Epsilon chapter takes pride in the fact that all of their sisters come from very different backgrounds and experiences. This allows them to be a strong and well-rounded chapter at the University of Cincinnati. Aside from different backgrounds, all their women have different personalities.
"Within our house alone, last year, we had 17 different majors out of 20 women." Dysinger says. She continues to say that what really brings them together is their values. While every chapter has their own values they live by, she says each of the 150 women you call your sister will be by your side, no matter what, which is a perfect embodiment of their value of loyalty and honor.
Aside from their diversity and love for philanthropy, Theta Phi looks for fun and unique ways to get their sisters out and studying with each other. Stephanie Koch, their academic officer, books study rooms on campus with pizza and cookies to motivate girls to come to hang out and study.
A lot of sorority women at UC enjoy studying abroad and doing mission trips. Theta Phi is no exception. Their sisters have studied abroad in places including Australia, Italy, Brussels, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Spain and France, to name a few. They have also done service trips in Mexico, South Africa, Appalachia and New Orleans. This August, Theta Phi has also organized a service trip to Haiti for 20 of their women.
Dysinger leaves us on this note: "Here at UC, I think the best part about our Greek life is how welcoming each chapter is. We are never rivals. We are always one big community no matter what. It makes me proud that the Epsilon chapter of Theta Phi Alpha is puzzle piece within this great community!"
