Kappa Phi
Friends University
Chapter members of Friends University.
The Kappa Phi Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas has won the Certificado de Honor y Mérito twelve times (1992, 1995-2001, 2002, 2003, 2007-09 and 2010). Extraordinary student leadership from various executive councils has created a formidable energy resulting in successful projects both on campus and in the Wichita community. For example, in 2008 the officers included Co-Presidents Lindsey Alexander and Hallie Graham, Vice President Leslie Edwards, Secretary Brandi Fox, and Treasurer Dan Camacho. Under their excellent leadership, Kappa Phi won the Certificado de Honor y Mérito for 2008-2009.
Members participate in all activities on campus including Homecoming, the Christmas Tree decorating and the annual Chili Cook-off, often winning the top prize in these competitions. Kappa Phi chapter is recognized for its willingness and ability to collaborate with other clubs and organizations on campus such as the Psychology Club, Ballet Club, and The Group to fundraise and to plan campus-wide social and service events. The newly elected Executive Board consists of a dynamic group of campus leaders who will most assuredly take the Kappa Phi Chapter to new heights. They are Co-Presidents Nathan Nonhof and David Alley, Vice President Denisse Mayen, Secretary Amy Lucas, and Co-Treasurers Nicole Thompson and Benjamin Kropf.
In 2006, Amy Rogers was selected to receive a national scholarship from Sigma Delta Pi to study in Bolivia. Kappa Phi is proud that she was able to participate in the program, and she continues to benefit from that experience in her work with Spanish speakers in Wichita.
In 2007, members of the Kappa Phi chapter were invited by the Mayor of Wichita to serve as translators at a Town Meeting in the Latino community. Members were able to provide consecutive and sequential translation for the question-and-answer activity between the Mayor and the local Spanish-speaking community. It was an honor to be asked to serve the community in this way.
Members of the Kappa Phi Chapter are active in the Wichita community in other ways as well. They have served as tutors and volunteers at various local elementary schools, the Hunter Health Clinic, the La Familia Hispanic Senior Center, and at North High School, which has a very high percentage of Hispanic students and partners with the AVID program in a determined effort to encourage students of promise to continue their studies at the university level. Over the past few years, Friends University has also begun to partner with North High to encourage students to consider higher education as part of their future. The partnership with North High is spearheaded by Professor Megan Hughes-Zarzo and involves combining high school and university-level conversation classes in order to establish a dialogue between these two groups of students. Many Sigma Delta Pi members have participated in these conversation exchanges, and in doing so have enriched their own understanding of the local Hispanic community while also serving as a unique connection to university life for North High students.
Kappa Phi continues to be active both on the Friends University campus and in the many future projects in Wichita. The chapter’s newest members along with the other active members will participate in service projects with the Salvation Army, The Lords Diner (for the homeless), USD #259 (public schools tutoring), and the La Familia Hispanic Senior Center during the 2011-2012 school year. Kappa Phi is hoping for continued success in these rewarding activities.