Donuts for DVA

On October 5, our Beta Eta Chapter held Donuts for DVA to raise money for The Tallahassee Refuge House. We raised a total of $5,974, and in honor of our PH sister Holly Cummins, we donated half of the money raised to Alpha Phi's philanthropy. We are so proud to be a part of this strong, supportive community at Florida State.

Thank you to our VP Philanthropy Mindy Do, her assistant for Donut for DVA Shelby Young, and everyone who was involved and came out to support this cause!

New Member Ice Cream Social!

Last week, our New Members got together with NM15  for an ice cream social! 

Alë Gonzalez planned the event for the new members to get to know more sisters. The event consisted of an ice cream and topping bar as well as a funny slideshow in which sisters got to show off their goofy sides and open up about what they like to do in their free time.

Overall, the event was a lot of fun and a great way for our Chapter to bond!

Welcome Home NM'16!

Yesterday, we welcomed home NM '16 to Alpha Chi Omega @ Florida State University!!!!! Congrats Savannah Schaler, VP Recruitment, Mckayla Michaud, VP CRIC and the ladies of AXΩ on an amazing week. 281 strong!! 

New Member class 2016!

Alpha Chi Omega Cardinal Health Interns- Summer 2016!

Alex Dering, Marina Cole and Jackie Binder all interned at Cardinal Health this summer. Cardinal Health is #21 out of the top #500 Fortune companies that produces and distributes pharmaceutical and medical products. 

Alex Dering (left), Marina Cole (center) and Jackie Binder (right).

Alex is a Beta Eta and Jackie and Marina are Alpha Omicron initiates!

Sisterhood Retreat: Oprah Style: You get a ticket, and you get a ticket, and you get a ticket ...

What are we thankful for this week? Thinking of others and providing assistance and benefit! #AXOThankful

Remember that time we had our Sisterhood Retreat at Disney's Animal Kingdom and we shared #HeraDay with other park visitors by giving away some day passes? It was Magical.

Thanks Katie Jo, Carrie and Kellie

and as a special treat, we ran in to an alumna from OUR CHAPTER! (Michelle G, Kellie G and #axoyoungalum Kari)

DVA Week!

Domestic Violence Awareness week is here! 

Starting today, the Beta Eta Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega will be holding events throughout campus to spread awareness for the DVA cause and domestic violence prevention.

Today FSUPD will be stoping by the AXO house for a self defense class. This lesson in how to effectively fight off an attacker will be free for sisters. 

The chapter will be holding an event at the house tomorrow, October 27, called "Donuts for DVA." There will be donuts, cupcakes, cookies and other yummy treats for sisters and guests. The event starts at 7 p.m and tickets are $5. 

On Wednesday sisters will be setting up a table at FSU's Market Wednesday in Oglesby Union. Similar to last year's DVA week, there will be a photo booth open to FSU students along with DVA stickers. 

The week will end with our much-anticipated DVA Gala! The gala coincides with parents weekend, so many of our sisters will be bringing mom and dad along for the event. The gala consists of dinner and a silent auction with all proceeds going toward DVA.


Written by Megan Mollan, Publications Chair 2015

Love & Loyalty Scholarship Fund benefiting Sisters

Beta Eta chapter is so fortunate to have endowed our own scholarship with Alpha Chi Omega Foundation.

Many alumnae and collegians donated treasures, time and talent to create the Beta Eta Love & Loyalty fund! We are pleased to read the thank you notes from the many recipients of the fund. Some sisters are finishing their undergraduates studies; one is a PhD student and a #4lifenot4years alumna who also serves as a chapter advisor to Zeta Psi in NOLA; and one collegian participated in National Panhellenic's philanthropy Circle of Sisterhood trip to Nicaragua to help remove education barriers for girls.

See past Love & Loyalty collegians in our blog:  Diana Davenport and Isabelle Wilkins

Senior Spotlight

Senior Taylor Kerns has earned Senior Spotlight this week for the amazing job she did during initiation last week. Taylor and her assistant, Madison Cappeller, organized and delivered a beautiful initiation ceremony with a record number of new sisters being initiated. 

Not only did Taylor put on an initiation ceremony that our new members will remember forever, but she devoted hours of her time rehearsing ritual with chapter members throughout the semester thus far. She did all of this while studying for an extremely important test, the FTCE Content Exam. 

Taylor aspires to be a first grade teacher, a position for which passing this exam is necessary. As we all know she could, Taylor passed her exam with flying colors. 

We could not be more proud of you Taylor. Congratulations on getting one step closer to your dreams.


Written by Megan Mollan, Publications Chair 2015

Senior Spotlight

This weeks senior spotlight is on Heidi Thomas! Heidi has worked so hard these past few months pairing new members with older sisters as mystagogues. All of her hard work paid off last Sunday during the big/little reveal. 

This spring, Heidi will be graduating with a degrees in Retail Merchandising and Product Development. Heidi worked for SPANX in Atlanta over the summer; she meet two other #AXO interns there! After graduation she will be applying for a flight attendant position, but Heidi's long-term career goals include becoming a buyer or visual merchandise coordinator for a large fashion company. 

Written by Megan Mollan, Publications Chair 2015

Senior Spotlight

Alpha Chi Senior Rebecca Epstein had the most amazing summer.

For three months, Rebecca was in Manhattan interning with EMW Music Group at Engine Room Audio. During her internship, she worked with well-known artists and advertising firms to write lyrics and music. She also performed voice overs for commercial advertising.

"Everyday I was surrounded by some of the most creative people in the recording industry that inspired me to write, record, and grow as a musician, artist, and individual," says Rebecca of her time in New York. 

After realizing how hard Rebecca was working and how talented she is, the company gave her the opportunity to write and record her own album. The album's single is called "Forever December" and will be out in just a few short weeks.

To follow Rebecca's bright future in the music industry, follow her official instagram Raemusicofficial. 

Sister of the Week

This weeks Sister of the Week is Junior, Jenn Coats for being admitted into Tallahassee's Guardian ad Litem program! 

In October Jenn will begin training to become one of the many powerful voices advocating on behalf abused and neglected children in the state of Florida. Jenn will be protecting the interest of children as they go through court proceedings in the Second Judicial Circuit. While specific duties may vary from child to child, she will be participating in all stages of each case and will make recommendations to the court according to each child's unique circumstance.  

Jenn is beyond excited to start this journey and can't see what wonderful experiences it will bring. Congratulations, Jenn. You will undoubtedly change many children's lives for the better.

Written by Megan Mollan, Publications Chair 2015

Senior Spotlight

On behalf of all the ladies of the Beta Eta Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega, a big thank you goes out to senior Jessica Botterbusch for all her hard work during 2015 Fall Recruitment! 

As VP Recruitment, Jessica organized an entire week of pre-recruitment festivities and coordinated recruitment with Panhellenic standards while maintaing the character and values unique to our Chapter.

Jessica did an outstanding job leading the chapter in everything from fun games and sisterhood bonding to "stairs" and the technicalities of each party.  Our success during this recruitment season is, in large-part, due to Jessica's efforts and creativity.  

Thank you so much, Jess. We love you!

From Left to Right: Alex Schaler, Jessica Botterbusch, Savannah Schaler

A special thanks goes out to Jessica's assistant, Savannah Schaler, and Alpha Chi President, Alex Schaler. Without these amazing sisters, 2015 Fall Recruitment would not have been the same.

Congratulations, Beta Eta, on an incredible new member class!

Sister Shout-Out

A big congratulations to Meredith Brooks! Meredith has worked on a project all semester called Supervastness of the Reactionary Canary.  Her photographs have been hung up on the second floor of the Oglesby Union and will remain there until April 21^st.  This is Meredith’s first student art exhibition at Florida State University and we couldn’t be more proud of the amazing work she has done!

Written by Megan Mollan, Publications Chair 2015

20 Years Of Miracles

Dance Marathon at Florida State was celebrating its 20^th year of making miracles happen this past weekend! Benefiting the Children’s Miracle Network, Alpha Chi was lucky enough to participate again this year.  Amanda Corin represented Alpha Chi as Dancer Rep this year, motivating all of the sisters participating.  Alpha Chi had about 101 sisters participating as dancers, collectively raising $50,000.  Alpha Chi sister Michelle Goldman received an award for being the second highest fundraiser, raising $5,048. 

Alpha Chi was paired with Alpha Epsilon Pi as well as the Lady Spear Hunters.  Together, we placed 3^rd in fundraising among large pairings.  Alpha Epsilon Pi and Lady Spear Hunters each raised about $12,000.  Dance Marathon raised a total of $1,100,645.52, reaching a new high. Sisters that participated praised the event, professing it was the time of their lives.  Alpha Chi can’t wait for next years Dance Marathon! 

#AXONM14 - The Famous New Member Retreat!

Just a few photos from the fantastic time our new members had with some of our seniors and New Member Education Committee at Camp Indian Springs, Crawfordville, FL.

(part of) Our devoted NME committee! Molly - Orientation Retreat Chair; Heidi - Mystagogue Coor.; Emma - Asst VP-NME; Nicole - the head chica - VP-NME

some did yoga ...

while some went paintballing!

#TBT #FSU National Championship Game 2013 - alumna perspecitve

Thanks to young alumna Danielle Sandoz-Osmus ('05) for this fun recap of her and her (now) finance's trip to the National Championship game and the celebration in Tallahassee!
Best Wishes Danielle on your nuptials!

Tailgating reunion at a home game (preparing for championship!) with besties BH alumnae: Carly ('06), Danielle, Christy ('06), Monique ('06) and Jenna ('07)

Jacksonville, FL to Charlotte, NC, Charlotte, NC to Los Angeles, CA.  That is the path my boyfriend, Adam Mason, and I took to travel to Pasadena, CA to see the undefeated 2013 Florida State Seminoles play the number two Auburn Tigers.  Adam and I made a mini vacation out of this trip, and got to meet many interesting Seminoles along the way.  We saw tons of garnet and gold as we traveled the Doak to Dena path.  From the man on our first flight who wore his full head-dress with two foot long feathers in first class the entire way to Los Angeles, to the numerous other fans in the airport wearing their Seminole gear as they boarded their planes to Pasadena, there was garnet and gold everywhere we turned.  An excitement seemed to fill the airport, from terminal to terminal, plane to plane.  Seminoles everywhere were getting ready to take over the city of Pasadena, California. 

Adam and I were both so excited to travel to this game, as we had not missed a 2013 home game leading up to the national championship game, and had traveled to several away games as well (Clemson, Gainesville).  We are both die-hard FSU fans, and we both bleed garnet and gold.  Our passion for FSU goes so deep, it lies in our bone marrow. 

When we got to Pasadena, we immediately put our FSU flags on our rental car and tried to share our pride with the city.  The city was filled with FSU fans, and unfortunately Auburn fans too.  When it was game time, we cheered the loudest we had ever cheered.  We screamed the loudest we had ever screamed.  Our blood pressure sky rocketed, and then it would settle.  Our veins were bursting, and then they would return to normal.  During the last two minutes of the game, Adam and I stood there, quiet as a mouse, watching and waiting for Fameis Jameis to do what he does best.  I cannot even begin to describe in words the joy and happiness that came over me when we beat the Tigers.  Singing “We Are The Champions” with thousands of other Seminole Fans brought tears to my eyes.  The game was such a memorable roller-coaster of an experience, and one that I will remember for a lifetime. 

At the game - waiting for their big t.v. moment!

My boyfriend Adam and I traveled over from Jacksonville the morning of the celebration, flying our BCS National Champions flags  on our car the entire duration on I-10.  When we arrived in Tallahassee, there was a feeling of pure excitement in the air.  

We visited the new Indoor Practice Facility (IPF).  What a great facility Jimbo has built.  And to think, Jimbo won a national championship the first year he had this facility built, now that is just remarkable.  We walked by the sod cemetery as well.  What a funny site to see, we had actual small coffins built for all of the sod we collected this year.  There the poor, poor little pieces of sod sat in the coffins.  The actual set of a funeral had been set up, fake sod, chairs and a tent sat outside the plots of the newly rested pieces of sod.  

at the Doak for the celebration in Tallahassee!

The actual celebration ceremony was quite remarkable.  There were fireworks, the band, the cheerleaders, the new championship football team, President Barron and numerous other people that had come to celebrate with us.  It was later announced that over 20,000 Seminoles had come to the celebration.  Can you believe it?  That is a quarter of our stadium that can hold 82,300 people!  During the ceremony, highlights were played from the game, and this sent chills down Adam’s and my spine, as Adam and I were able to relive the moments we shared in Pasadena, right there in Doak Campbell Stadium.  They also showed a video of various other people around the country watching the game, and the same emotions during the game were felt by Seminoles everywhere. 

 After the celebration was over, we were allowed to go on the field and meet the players.  We definitely did not let this opportunity pass us up.  We did not get to meet Jameis, for he had to leave early for baseball practice, but we got to meet numerous other players and congratulate them on such a wonderful season.  I even took a selfie with Timmy Jernigan, who I got so close to for an autograph, but he got pulled away in another direction and I didn’t get to get his signature.  I cannot wait to do this all again next year!!  What an exciting time it is to be a Seminole!  The National Championship Celebration with the Seminoles was an experience I will certainly never forget.

First Day of School, Fall 2014 with Beta Eta of Alpha Chi Omega

We are starting the year off with a flashback to our magazine The Lyre when they highlighted Caryn Beck-Dudley (Beta Xi, Utah State). Caryn is the Dean of the College of Business, an attorney, our school advisor and the mother of our Beta Eta sister and young alumna, Stacia Dudley. We are so proud to call her our sister and thankful for all she does to advance FSU.

#TBT Recruitment in the 1960's at @AXO_FSU

This fabulous photograph was shared by one of our chapter's most devoted and FUN alumnae:  Linda Sanford. Linda moved to California years ago, but loves visiting Tallahassee often for football and sisterhood. She stayed involved with alumnae chapters and advised at collegiate chapters (SDSU, Gamma Nu) in the San Diego area, and of course Xi Omega Xi!

Of this photo Linda wrote, "Thinking of [recruitment] reminds me of the “ice water teas” on the first 2 days.  We wore long white formals, long gloves, & red & green sashes in the 60’s.  That’s me in the photo."

Re-blog from #AXOGSI and our Sister Chelsea Hogan!

Chelsea served Beta Eta as the vice president of ritual and fraternity appreciation in 2013. In 2014 she is serving as the date function chair. Below is the blog entry she wrote for the Alpha Chi Omega Blog about #AXOGSI:

http://axoete.blogspot.com/2012/05/alpha-chi-omega-global-service.html

http://blog.alphachiomega.org/2014/05/a-stronger-foundation/

A Stronger Foundation

by axoGSI

by Chelsea Hogan
(Beta Eta chapter, Florida State University)  

What do you know, yet another amazing day in Jamaica with my Alpha Chi sisters. As night two came to a close all eighteen us of were in the Night Heron’s cabin playing the game signs. I’ve never laughed so hard with girls that I had just met three short days ago. This morning when everyone went to the work site at the Ketto School, the vibe seemed different. Everyone seemed so eager to finish what we had started in hopes of making Ketto an environment where the children would enjoy learning.

Today at our service site, it was our job to repair the foundation of the building which had cracked earlier this year. This was a crucial part in our service trip because if the foundation was not fixed soon the government was going to shut down the school, taking away the great opportunity of education which we in America seem to take for granted. The day felt long as we had a lot to do in a short amount of time. I have never seen anything near as powerful and resourceful as I did today. Unlike in the United States, the great people of Jamaica make their own concrete. Sifting through dirt to separate rocks out of the sand, carrying buckets of concrete and water, and laying bricks in the cement to build the foundation was one of the most physically enduring tasks I have ever been a part of.

The sense of teamwork we all shared was a feeling of accomplishment, and one of love. I never thought that in just three days I would share an inseparable bond with these amazing women from Alpha Chi Omega chapters all over the United States. As the day ended, I think I can speak for everyone when I say that we were all sad to leave and that we couldn’t serve the Ketto School anymore. This school, the teachers, and especially the children have made such a life altering impact on us. I couldn’t be more thankful that I have been given this opportunity to give other people joy, learn about myself, while growing in the process. Thank you Alpha Chi Omega for the amazing opportunity, and thank you to all my Alpha Chi sisters that I cannot wait to continue to bond with over the next four days.

Isabelle Wilkins ('10) served in #AXOGSI as well!

Unmasking Domestic Violence Gala

Did you know that 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime? October is domestic violence awareness month, and the ladies of Alpha Chi Omega are doing everything they can to share this with the world. As a way to shed light upon their philanthropy, Alpha Chi Omega held their first Unmasking Domestic Violence Gala, in which the turnout was nothing short of a success!

Taking place this past Friday night, friends, family, faculty and alumnae all gathered together in the University Club for the big event. The night kicked off with a piano performance by a fellow sister, followed by a Jazz band that got people on their feet. Dinner and dessert were provided, and the drinks were continuously flowing. Meanwhile, the bidding was never ending in our silent auction, making for a remarkable turnout. By the end of the night, Alpha Chi Omega had the honor of presenting a grand total of $11,887.73 to the local woman’s refuge house! This increases the total donations of Alpha Chi Omega at Florida State University to a new cumulative total of $87,019.24! With the help of Darley Aquino, VP Philanthropy, and Ashley Strawser, VP Membership Programming, Alpha Chi Omega put on just the kind of night they had been hoping for.