Category: Campus Organizations

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Sorority Spotlight: The Sisters of Phi Sigma Chi

Phi Sigma Chi 2019
Breanne Wenk, middle right, enjoying spending time with her fellow sisters of Phi Sigma Chi.

Soon to be pediatrician Breanne Wenk is a current Biology/Health major with a minor in Exercise Science. Breanne is a busy athlete on campus, participating in club Ultimate Frisbee, twirling for the Wolverine Marching Band, being a tour guide on campus, and is an active member of the Phi Sigma Chi sorority. The students who join Greek Life are more than their affiliation, but Greek Life is always interesting to learn about. I sent Breanne some questions regarding her sisterhood. Here are her responses:

How is Phi Sigma Chi unique?

I think our sorority is unique in how diverse we are, yet united.  We are all very different and involved in so many different things on campus, but when we are together, we are all one. Not divided into separate cliques, actually a group that everyone gets along, which I think is pretty rare.

What philanthropy does your sorority participate in every year?

Our main philanthropy event that we host every year is our Phi Sigma Chi 5k “Sunset Sprint.” The benefits go to help the Grove City Medical Center. We also do two annual bake sales for Children’s Miracle Network as well as a kickball tournament for ASPCA.

What was your experience like as a rush (someone who participates in activities to join a Greek group)? How is being an active member of a group?

As a rush, as well as an active, my experience has been great. I never thought I’d join a sorority coming to college, but when I met the Phi Sigs I knew they were different. All of the girls were so real and down to earth, and I could tell they liked me for me. I wasn’t just another number or another girl rushing, I was their genuine friend and I know that they will always be there for me no matter what.

How has your sorority grown you over the past three year?

I have had the opportunity to serve as chaplain for the Phi Sigs for the past year, and it has really helped me to develop in my faith and as a leader. As the spiritual leader of our group, I was pushed to be more confident and outspoken about my faith in God and all of our blessings, as well as pushed to be a better listener and friend when mediating conflicts within the group. Aside from being the chaplain, the group has helped me improve on conflict resolution skills and organization skills for all campus events.

What would you tell a prospective student who is considering rushing?

I would highly encourage any prospective student to Grove City to rush. Even if they do not have any intention at all of joining a sorority, they may find a group that they fit in to, and if not, it is still an amazing way to meet upper classmen students and make friends. After rush, campus felt so much more like home and friendly, because I recognized so many faces and people.

*To attain eligibility to join Greek Life you must have a 2.0 grade point average. You also must be a full time student (at least 12 credits per semester).

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Campus Organization Spotlight: The Crimson Collegiate Investors

When prospective students think about college, many times their minds are drawn to big things like classes, professors, sports, fraternities or sororities, and dining. However, many times the most memorable and fulfilling moments of college happen within the many small organizations and clubs offered on campus.

The Crimson Collegiate Investors (CCI) is a group of roughly 15 students from all walks of life. They partake in fundamental equity analysis by studying stocks, and ultimately investing in those companies approved by the rest of the society. CCI manages roughly $100,000, most of which has been donated by friends of the College. They meet weekly to discuss investment pitches and to learn from one of the senior members of the group.

“We are divided into many sectors,” said CCI President Quinn Peebles, “…covering any conceivable area of business from diamond mining to microchip manufacturing to clothing designers. Each sector is headed by a lead analyst whose job is to make sure that everyone is learning and having a good time, as well as do some teaching themselves.”

The success that this group has had in their investing endeavors is extremely impressive. They have consistently yielded a 30% annualized return, something that cannot be said by many professional investors. However, continuing to grow their sum of investment money is not their main focus.

“Our primary goal is to educate students,” explained Peebles. “Everyone is expected to learn, not to arrive knowing everything already.”

People join the group for a number of different reasons. Some have a personal interest in stocks. Others utilize this group as a career building platform, whether that be by tapping into CCI’s alumni connections or using the time to hone their investing skills. Still others join out of pure curiosity, and end up finding a lifelong passion. However, what everyone ends up learning is that one can take their other passions and integrate them into their investing.

“Your interests outside of the investing world drive your interests in the investing world,” explained Peebles. “Know a lot about the gaming industry? There are tons of publicly traded companies out there just for you. Do you like gold? Perfect. Gold mines await you. The possibilities of the investing world are endless. If you can think of it, there is a way to trade it and to make money off of it. People often think of what we do as boring and uninteresting, but that is only because they have not grasped the scope of possibilities and the ability to be driven by what you already think is cool or interesting.”

The Crimson Collegiate Investors is a friendly, fun, and knowledgeable group that helps equip students with the right tools to become successful investors. They hope that in the years to come, more and more students will become educated on the ins-and-outs of investing, and that the $100,000 will continue to grow.

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Campus Organization Spotlight: Roundtable

When prospective students think about college, many times their minds are drawn to big things like classes, professors, sports, fraternities or sororities, and dining. However, many times the most memorable and fulfilling moments of college happen within the several small organizations and clubs offered on campus.

Roundtable is a sophomore men’s service honorary here at Grove City College. It is a group focused solely on helping serve the campus and local community. Each year, the group participates in different service projects in areas around the campus and community. Whenever and wherever members see a need, they meet to discuss how they can solve that need and then they get to work.

“So far this year,” said current Roundtable President David Hutchison, “we have done 10 different projects for faculty members, churches, and others in the community. This includes things like helping churches set up and tear down after conferences or big events, raking leaves, painting, and setting up a wheelchair ramp, among other things.”

One of the unique things about this organization is that every year the entirety of the group is comprised of new members, as this group consists of only sophomore men every year. With 23 current members serving this year, they will be replaced next year with current freshmen. Freshmen males maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or above are invited to interview toward the end of the spring semester.

Hutchison explained, “Roundtable always is focused on helping serve our campus and community, but each year the group takes on a different focus, depending on where God is leading us.”

Each year, the current Roundtable members develop their own mission statement. This year, the mission statement they have chosen is “…to serve the needs of our Grove City College professors and our local churches, while being open to wherever else help is needed.”

While participation in Roundtable is all about helping others, it can also have a big impact on the Roundtable members themselves.

“[Roundtable] has impacted who I am as a person. It helped get the focus off of myself. So often, we go through college, and life for that matter, thinking about what we need to get done, usually with only ourselves in mind. Doing service projects with these guys has really helped me step back and put things in perspective. It has been a humbling experience. Beyond this, it has made me very grateful for all the good things that I have been blessed with in my own life. It is easy to take so much for granted, but when you see the needs of others, it helps you to see the gracious gifts that God has bestowed upon us,” said Hutchison.

Roundtable is just one of the many organizations at Grove City College that is focused on serving others. However, prospective male students will have to wait until late in their freshman year to be eligible to join this honorary.

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Swimming and Diving: An Inside Scoop

The swimming and diving program at Grove City College is centered on competing for each other and for God’s glory. We all work hard together to build each other’s strength, skill and faith to pursue our best selves both in the pool and in the classroom.

Here at Grove City, we are a Division III team. What that means for the program is that the athletes cannot be paid to train, and the program has restrictions on how much it can train the athletes, but what it means for us as swimmers and divers is that our motivation goes beyond money or status. When we chose to come to Grove City for swimming, we came looking for a community of people striving for two goals: success in the classroom and success in the pool. The entire team then strives to build each other up to achieve these goals.

We achieve success in the classroom by putting studies first. When freshmen first come to Grove City, we require them to attend study tables twice a week for their first semester. This helps them build solid study habits for the rest of their time here. However, it is not just the freshmen that go to these work nights. The entire team makes an effort to come and study alongside each other. The juniors and seniors often are scholastic support systems to underclassmen that are going through the same courses they once went through. In addition to study tables, classes and exams always come first before practices and swim & dive meets. Whether it is an interview for a job, a big exam, or an extra lecture, practice will always be second.

Our success in the pool stems from our dedication to push each other in every training aspect we pursue. At lifting, dryland workouts, and swim or dive practices, each member of the team is pushing themselves to make every set count. When each individual is dedicated to pushing themselves, they can push their teammates that are working right alongside them. Since both the men’s and women’s team trains together, the entire team works together and builds an amazing community. We get meals together, study together, go on fun outings together, join other groups together, and even room with each other. All of the bonding we do through our sports in the pool helps create a community of people who care for each other and pursue greatness together.

Our motivation outside of our individual and team success is the desire to put our best out for the glory of God. Alongside our training together and studying together, both the men’s and women’s teams host Bible studies. These studies are lead by juniors on the teams and help to encourage each other throughout the season. Whether the team has a tough practice, a big meet, or a big paper due, we all remind each other that God will carry us through.

While we are very dedicated to our time in training and studying, we do not forget to have a little bit of fun on the side! The team does all kinds of traditional fun things outside of work. We go on annual outings to corn mazes, bowling, and Chipotle. On the weekends after meets or practice we will have game nights, movie nights, or just time to hang out and laugh together.

The Grove City Swim and Dive Team are a support and a family that come together to do a sport we love, study as hard as we can, and love God with all our hearts.

Check out our feature video below!

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Inside Grove City College: A Transfer Student’s Perspective

 

The process of selecting a college is stressful, with its seemingly endless applications and interviews and paperwork. For transfer students, the excitement of going to college for the first time has worn off, and going through this process twice can seem overwhelming. It can be intimidating to think about leaving a school, a friend group, and familiar studies to start fresh somewhere else. However, seeking advice and learning as much as possible about potential schools is crucial.

Hannah, Larisa, Gab, Julia, and Tara have stepped in to make your transfer process as easy as possible. These ladies, all first-year Grovers, have offered to give you a peek into what it was like for them to join the Grove City College community as a transfer student. Their advice is an insider’s perspective on things like how to make friends as a transfer, how they chose their roommates, and how to get involved on campus.

Larisa Steiner, a sophomore, transferred from Indiana Wesleyan University and enjoys studying Management with an HR concentration. Finding a school with this specific field of study and a reputable business program was key in her transfer search. Also a sophomore, Hannah Kaufmann, an English major, was interested in Grove City because it aligned with her Christian values. Tara Pierce, as a junior, finds herself in the rare position of being an upperclass transfer student. She previously studied at a local community college, and enjoys the new Social Work major at Grove City. Julia Helmich will graduate in 2021 as an Elementary/Special Education major. She enjoys the on-campus preschool, where Education students are able to get hands-on work experience. Gab Capaldo, a sophomore, studies Communication and edits for The Collegian, the campus newspaper, in her free time.

Though none of these ladies would say that being a transfer student anywhere is easy, they are adjusting to life as a Grover and getting involved on campus. Intramural sports, Greek life, and Orientation Board events are just some of what they mention as ways to find friends and make connections at Grove City College.

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Confessions of an Orientation Board Member

Orientation Board (OB), the group of overly excited upperclassmen clad in crusty white T-shirts. Whether it was a question brought to the info booth, the screaming madness of move-in day, or the connection group “parent,” every student has encountered the infamous OB member. It seems that the reactions to OB can be very polarized, some feeling energized themselves by these people while others do everything in their power to avoid this group.

So, what is this group and what is its mission? This is a group of around 100 students who apply to be a part of Orientation Week at Grove City College. This diverse group forms in the spring, where the members prepare and pray for the new students even before they commit to Grove City College. The mission statement of the group is as follows:

Our mission is to show Christ’s love to new students on campus through relationship, service, and prayer.

The mission of OB is simple and has Christ at the focus, which drew me to want to apply along with how fun loving and outgoing this group was. The first year I applied, I was so excited and nervous to find out if I would be accepted and which of the five committees I would be placed on. I was lucky enough to be selected, which was surprising to me because it was a selective group due to the numerous applications OB receives every year. I was placed on the Religious committee, which I was not expecting, but has turned out to be one of my biggest blessings.

Being a part of Orientation Board for the past three years was a huge part of my experience at Grove City College, but I will not pretend that it was always easy. As energetic and crazy as the OB members may be in the first two weeks, the down time we have is cherished greatly. Many members of Orientation Board are extroverted, but many are more introverted in their personalities. Either way, it is impossible for anyone to be on the top of their game when so much is asked of the OB members over the first two weeks of school. From planning, setting up, executing, and cleaning up each of the events, things can get hectic pretty easily. The amount of running around and planning that happens behind the scenes is typically underappreciated. As a member of Orientation Board, I can testify to the fact that this is a hard job, but it is also so rewarding.

As much as OB works to serve the incoming students, the way this group works, also, has been able to pour into the other members of OB. Within the five committees of the organization, there are many opportunities to meet and invest in the lives of people you may not have met before. It provides a way to work with people towards a common goal. You meet people who care about you and your well-being, and that is seen from the time the committees form through the rest of your time at Grove City College. While some of the work is tiresome, I would apply to be a part of this every year I would be able to. Orientation Board has been a valuable and integral part to many students at Grove City College, and that is my confession.

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Fully Known, Fully Loved: Relational Ministry through Young Life

Grove City College is host to a variety of different ministries and service opportunities. Being a Christian campus, there is an emphasis on looking past your own circumstances to help others in any way that you are equipped to do so. Young Life is one of many ministries that has found its way to campus, with 54 leaders currently involved, it is only looking to grow.

Young Life is based on relational ministry, the premise is that leaders go out into high school or middle school communities and build relationships with kids. By being a part of their lives and gaining genuine friendships, leaders earn the right to share the gospel with kids.

Young Life is based on the “five C’s” which are Contact Work, Campaigners, Club, Camp, and Committee. Each has an integral role in the ministry and work together to create positive experiences for kids. Contact work is what takes up the bulk of the leaders’ time, it could be something as simple as attending football games every Friday night to doing intentional discipleship with a high schooler. Ultimately, this is how relationships are built, by showing up and being present in high schoolers’ lives. Campaigners is a bible study for boys and girls who have a desire to campaign on behalf of Jesus in their schools. They do a lot of the ground work in getting people to Club, which is “controlled chaos.” It is an environment where kids can let their guards down and have fun, the program breaks down walls and prepares them to hear a gospel message each week. At the end of the year the hope is that kids will go to Young Life camp and experience Jesus even more potently during the best week of their lives. All of these endeavors are supported by Committee Members, adults in the community who have a heart for high schoolers and are willing to give in various ways to make sure the ministry thrives.

At Grove City, Young Life is a community in and of itself, leaders meet each week to share about their struggles and triumphs, joys and challenges. It is an amazing opportunity to put into practice the Christian values that are instilled in us each day. Senior Kristen Bishop, a leader at Hickory High School, has been a part of Young Life in the area since she was a student at Grove City High School. Her favorite aspects of leading are the “lifelong friendships made between kids and leaders, the way being a leader pushes you in your faith, and how much fun it is, so much laughter and good memories.” Being able to do ministry alongside your peers in a relational way is a unique opportunity afforded to Young Life leaders. There are currently five high school ministries up and running with many more on the way.

 

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SGA Homecoming

Grove City College’s annual Homecoming was Oct. 6, and brought thousands of alumni and families back to campus, along with the families of current students. While many students and alumni attend these events to connect, whether from their fraternity, sorority, or housing group, Student Government Association (SGA) partakes in the festivities due to their wide-reaching network on campus. Regardless of other commitments as a student, SGA is one that can be held concurrently with many other positions, which creates a unique opportunity to get a wide range of students involved with the organization. As a result, SGA has a tent on upper campus for fellow SGA alumni to stop by, while the current members mingle.

Current student members also participate in the Homecoming parade each year. Apart from decorating their truck and float, they also throw candy into the crowd as they drive through the parade. With all of the children on campus for this event, this is easily one of the best parts, getting to see the smiles on all of their faces getting candy. Once the parade is over, SGA members take a shift at their tent to hand out caramel apples for attendees.

SGA orders 600 apples to hand out and hundreds of bottled waters, which worked out well because this year the weather was warmer than usual. The caramel apples are always a hit with attendees, as SGA usually runs out before the entire duration of the event is even over.

Each year, it is always interesting to hear stories from alumni that were on SGA during their tenure as students. Even the College’s own President McNulty served as the SGA Vice President of Social Affairs while he was a student here. These stories would most likely not be heard without the opportunity for SGA to participate in the Homecoming festivities each year.

 

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Omicron Xi: NBA Jam

It is that time of the season again. Rush! The Omicron Xi fraternity (Okies) is hosting its very first rush event infamously called the NBA Jam. So put on your biggest jerseys, hike those ankle socks up, and come to jam. This great event gives students a way to get to know one of the many fraternities on Grove City Colleges campus. The night is packed full of games, laughter, and much more.

The night is for those interested in rushing a fraternity on campus. Even if you do not know what a fraternity is, still come! It is a guaranteed good time on campus to get away from the busyness of homework assignments one might have. The NBA Jam is an event where students get to face off against each other and current actives in the Omicron Xi fraternity. The game was first produced in 1993 and is played on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, otherwise known as the SNES. It is fun playing on ancient technology!

Through heart pounding rounds of playing people to move up on a bracket, the excitement never ends. If you do not want to participate in the NBA Jam game or unfortunately lost, fret not. There are plenty of other rooms on the Okie hall for entertainment. Matt Demember, located in room 361, is hosting a game of Gang Beasts and other activities. Ryan Motta and Robbie Weaver plan on hosting their weekly board game night in their room 353. There are plenty of rooms to stop in and say hello! Each member of the Omicron Xi fraternity welcomes every rush to join them in hanging out. With this all said, there will also be complementary food to indulge in on the hall aside from socializing and playing video games.

In all reality, the event is not like any other. It holds value to gaining friendships and spending quality time with one another. Each active in the fraternity holds this event highly to meeting new people and expect to take their time to enjoy being with rushes. So, even if a fraternity is not for you, the Okies want to welcome all to join them for a night of amusing entertainment.

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Big Man on Campus 2018

Big Man on Campus is an event that has been happening at Grove City College every fall for the last 27 years!  Big Man is a male pageant show that raises money for the American Cancer Society.  One of Grove City College’s sororities, Sigma Theta Chi (Sig Thets), has been spearheading this fundraiser since it started.  The Sig Thets also work with the American Cancer Society in the spring semester by putting on Grove City College’s Relay for Life.  Both of these events raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society and the Grove City College community.

This year, I am the Chair and main representative for Big Man on Campus.  This fall, the event will be held on Friday, November 2nd from 7 to 10 p.m. in Crawford Auditorium.  Ten to 15 male student volunteers, usually ranging from sophomores to seniors, participate in the pageant show.  Every girl in the sorority is responsible for reaching out to friends and spreading the word that the Sig Thets are looking for guys to participate.  We try to recruit guys that are upperclassmen and in a Greek group on campus.  They attract larger crowds to the event like their own fraternity brothers or housing groups.

The event encompasses multiple portions throughout the night.  There is a formal wear, swimwear, talent, and question portion that each contestant goes through during the competition.  The talent and question portion come after intermission.  The ‘Big Men’ usually have to be pretty confident for these segments of the show.  Talents have ranged from playing musical instruments, singing, building a tent, to coloring a picture.  The audience usually prefers the more humorous talents (like coloring a picture).  Every year we have three to four faculty members here on campus judge the ‘Big Men’.  Once every boy has gone through all of the portions of the show, a Sig Thets collects the judges’ sheets and tallies up the points each boy earned.  The audience also gets one ticket when they come to Big Man and can use this ticket at the end of the show to vote for their favorite Big Man participant.

The winner receives a sash, crown, the title of “Big Man on Campus”, and a $50 Sheetz gift card.  All of the proceeds from the pre-sale and the ticket money we collect the day of the show go directly to the American Cancer Society.  Speaking on behalf of the Sigma Theta Chi sorority, we love doing this fundraiser every year.  It is good publicity for the sorority and the second biggest fundraiser on Grove City College’s campus (Relay for Life being the first).  For the freshmen, it is a great event to attend.  It gives students something to do on a Friday night and exposes them to upperclassmen and members of fraternities on campus.  We always hope for a large crowd to come out, watch the fun event, and participate in supporting the American Cancer Society and the Sigma Theta Chi sorority.