the Beta Beta chapter alongside a timeline of world history,” Lorie continued. “It includes photos from the university’s archives and the chapter’s digital archive [through HistoryIT].” Attendees were joined by their U.S. Congresswoman, Elissa Slotkin, who represents the East Lansing area district. She presented the chapter with a proclamation honoring our more than 100 years of leadership on the MSU campus. “The nature of a centennial celebration is that we cannot personally thank the women who started the chapter,” Lorie said. “Clearly, we are indebted to them for their leadership, their philanthropy for personally investing in the chapter house and the future members of the chapter, as well as for establishing the culture of sisterhood for Beta Beta. Yet, it is important to honor them as we celebrate our centennial. The banquet slideshow and the banquet booklet provided foundational knowledge of these influential women. We are grateful that they blazed the path for us. It is also important to recognize three distinguished alums in recognition of their philanthropy, leadership, and sisterhood. These three women significantly impacted Beta Beta for almost 50 years. We are indebted to them for their dedication.” According to Lorie, as they began working on the Centennial Celebration, they wanted to invest in our chapter, much as earlier generations of Beta Betas had invested in us. From the construction of 616 to a significant addition to the chapter house and more recent major renovations, chapter members benefit from a beautiful and well-maintained chapter house. Further, with the investment of several generous donors, Beta Beta members benefit from two endowed educational scholarships. Current Beta Beta members are the beneficiaries of thoughtful and significant investments over the past 100 years. “In honor of our next 100 years, we decided to create a new program for the chapter – the Beta Beta Centennial Leadership Program,” Lorie continued. “Before we came to that decision, we did some research, speaking with numerous corporate recruiters and human resources professionals. We asked them what they would recommend if we offered a leadership program. What kind of program would help our members land jobs? All of them recommended that we help our members discover their strengths to help our members grow and learn more about how they can contribute to the world.” Based on the research, Lorie and the team at Beta Beta decided to make an impact by starting a forward-looking leadership education and strengths development program for all new member class members.
to them, and then annually to new member classes that follow the inaugural class,” Lorie said. Across the country, more than a half million college students participate in the Clifton Strengths development program on an annual basis. Now, members will learn how their strengths shape their approach to work, leadership, decision-making and relationships. “The goal is to give our members a boost in the classroom, in choosing a career and to begin contributing faster to a work environment,” Lorie said. “To fund this, we established the Beta Beta Centennial Leadership Fund in partnership with the Alpha Phi Foundation [to build] something special — enriching leadership and increasing scholarship through an endowment that will benefit the Beta Beta Chapter [with an endowment goal of $50,000].” Additionally, distinguished Beta Beta members received awards for their philanthropic contributions to their chapter and Alpha Phi, including: Karen Abel Kolschowsky, who received the Centennial Award for Philanthropy; Susan Brink Sherratt, who received the Centennial Award for Leadership; and Constance Goldsmith Crittenden, who received the Centennial Award for Sisterhood.
Congratulations, Beta Beta!
“We plan to start with the newest class, offer the program
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