Zeta Phi Beta sorority member
Zeta Phi Beta sorority is preparing to celebrate its fifth birthday on campus with noise makers, party hats and of course, cake.
Following its March of Dimes month-long philanthropy, Zeta Phi Beta members will celebrate their Dec. 3 birthday on Dec. 6 with the rest of Baker’s campus.
“We are just going to be in the (Harter) Union and invite all the sororities and fraternities so they can all sing happy birthday to us,” junior Katerra Shackelford, president of Zeta Phi Beta, said. “And everyone, faculty and students, can come by and get a piece of cake.”
The road to the fifth birthday has not been easy for Zeta Phi Beta and its members.
For the 2009-2010 school year, the sorority only had one member, senior Logan Gallardo.
“It’s nice to know that my hard work and the will to not give up on it really paid off,” Gallardo said. “When I do graduate, I know I’m leaving it in good hands because our recruitment isn’t based on numbers. It’s quality over quantity and having good people in it to help keep it going.”
The sorority now has four members, Shackelford, Gallardo, junior Amanda Sams and sophomore Stephanie Nelson, but is still looking to expand membership by the end of this school year.
“We’re really proud of (Gallardo) for her determination because it’s rough being in a sorority by yourself for a whole year,” Shackelford said. “(Sams, Nelson) and myself are proud of her for holding it down before we came along so we can be part of this great organization.”
In addition to the birthday celebrations, the women have been organizing their March of Dimes prematurity awareness throughout the month of November.
“I think it’s great that they’re planning a birthday party and getting the word out about their philanthropy at the same time so everyone can see what they’re about,” Jennifer Letner, fraternity and sorority life coordinator, said.
The women have set up jars outside Allen Dining Hall for the Baker community to donate to the cause.
“All the money that we’re raising this month from the jars goes to March of Dimes,” Gallardo said. “And we also did a little prematurity awareness announcement during a chapel service to let people know some statistics and things like that.”
Zeta Phi Beta members plan to continue growing in their ability to host philanthropy events and hope to use the fifth birthday as a way to create more awareness for their sorority.
“We just really want everybody to notice that we’ve been here and we’re really proud of our accomplishments,” Shackelford said.
