As we close out 2025, our alumnae chapters across North America have shared so much to celebrate! In this edition of Alumnae Chapter News, you’ll find stories that remind us of Tri Delta’s enduring impact. Let’s reminisce on inspiring Founders’ Day celebrations, milestone anniversaries, service efforts supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, alumnae achievements, book clubs and events that showcase the depth of our sisterhood.
Thank you to every alumnae chapter for the energy, creativity and love you bring to Tri Delta. Your commitment keeps our sisterhood strong, vibrant and deeply connected.
Here’s to a beautiful end to 2025—and to the continued joy of being part of something bigger.
CALIFORNIA
San Jose Alumnae Chapter joined Tri Delta collegians from the University of San Francisco to participate in the Greater Bay Area St. Jude Walk. It was a remarkable day for all.
Members also attended a book signing for Elizabeth Kennedy Kemp, Southern California, featuring her thriller, “Tread Lightly.”
Elizabeth warmly welcomed her sisters.
Pictured left to right: Kara Chin Waggoner, Cal State/Long Beach; Jennifer Davis, Whitman; Marsha Schlegel Burlingame, California/Davis; Elizabeth Kennedy Kemp, Beth Pritchett Bordelon, Texas; Giulianne Pate, Pacific.
Submitted by: Jane Harlan Ward, Texas Christian
Stockton Area Alumnae Chapter gathered for a Trivia Night. The club is always looking for meaningful ways to stay connected and support each other, and this night was a perfect reminder of the strength and joy in our sisterhood.
Submitted by: Rocci Jackson, Pacific
FLORIDA
Sarasota Area Alumnae Chapter celebrated its 65th Birthday and Tri Delta’s 137th Founders’ Day! The luncheon was a double celebration for members who observed the two milestones. A successful membership drive resulted in nearly 60 dues-paying members (the greatest increase in recent years). Membership Chair Madeline Risica Joy, Rhode Island, and past President Retta Burling Meser, Wisconsin, were recognized for spearheading the effort.
Pictured left to right: Becky Pollak Reder, West Virginia; Laura Thomson Walters, Pennsylvania State; Jennifer Strodtz DeRuwe, Washington State; Pamela Cook, South Florida; Pam Rea Harding, Northwestern.
A special thanks and a donation to Tri Delta’s Foundation were made in the names of Chrys Grafrath Hyde, Coe, and Kathryn Angell Carr, Iowa State. Chrys delivered a heartwarming talk about Tri Delta today, and Kathryn hosted the event at the Field Club.
Pictured left to right: Alumnae Chapter Vice President Susan Duffy Cruzan, Maryland; Chrys Grafrath Hyde; Kathryn Angell Carr; Alumnae Chapter President Cindy Hicks Jeffers, Louisiana State.
Submitted by: Laurie Kohler Halladay, Missouri
GEORGIA
Golden Isles Alumnae Chapter celebrated Founders’ Day on Nov. 13 at the Retreat Clubhouse at Island Club on St. Simons Island.
Seated in the first row (pictured from left to right): Margot Mallory Henson, Louisiana/Lafayette; Anita Slane Green, Carnegie Mellon; Jeanne Bosserdet Warwick, Oregon; Cathy Knox Fowler, Georgia.
Standing in the second row (pictured left to right): Mary Anna Maupin Morrison, Georgia; Marcia Hilliard Dabkowski, Auburn; Casey Viggiano Harris, Emory; Karol Summers Pfister, Georgia; Virginia Atchley Higgins, Brenau; Beth Martin Carpenter, Brenau; Ginny Kearns Deal, Georgia; Debbie Hewitt Maloy, Clemson; Lorelei Odom Shipp, West Georgia; Wendell Squillario, Auburn.
Submitted by: Anita Slane Green
MARYLAND
Baltimore Alumnae Chapter’s “Lunch Bunch” met on Sept. 24 at The Valley Inn in Timonium, Maryland, to share a wonderful meal and catch up with Tri Delta news and travels! The new Treasurer Elizabeth Foley, Miami/Florida, brought her daughter Addison to join the group of members who graduated from various schools, including Miami/Florida, Wyoming, Pennsylvania State, Maryland and Carnegie Mellon.
Pictured: Mary Anderson Linkous, Pennsylvania State; Janet Westover Hogle, Carnegie Mellon; Janet Harvey Lannon, Maryland; Barbara Gundersdorff Weaver, Maryland; Jocelyn Cenna, Carnegie Mellon; Olive Reber Mongelluzzo, Pennsylvania State; Jennifer Buran Aist, Maryland; Mary Sleichter Chiapparelli, Pennsylvania State; Jill Jacobsen Ashman, Wyoming; Stacey Chen Carroll, Maryland; Elizabeth Foley and Addison Foley.
Submitted by: Jocelyn Cenna
MINNESOTA
On June 7, 45 alumnae sisters from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Alumnae Chapter gathered in Eden Prairie for the 2025 Pansy Picnic, where Pearl, Gold and Diamond Circle Degrees were conferred. Joan Melberg Fredsall, North Dakota, initiated in 1950, received the Diamond Circle Degree. Joan felt truly honored to receive this degree and treasures the beautiful Diamond Circle Degree pin from Tri Delta.
Pictured here is Joan Melberg Fredsall (center, seated) with (left to right) Diamond Circle Chair Bernie Mathiowetz Amberg, Minnesota State, incoming President Alex Albrecht, Colgate, and outgoing President Dawn Pries Hakanson, Wisconsin.
Submitted by Carol Brown-Mills, Montana
MISSOURI
St. Louis Alumnae Chapter’s luncheon group met at the Willows, sponsored by Mary Ellen Lodholz Meyer, Washington/St. Louis, and collected $150 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital from their “Book Exchange.”
Pictured left to right: Jolly Ann Lowther Whitener, Southeast Missouri State; Doris Koehler Johnson, Millikin; Carol Ruegge Powell, Southeast Missouri State.
Standing: Jane Rudolph McLaughlin, Missouri; Tish Cleaveland Kienker, Missouri; Dacie Cowles, Missouri; Susie Warner Kramer, Southeast Missouri State.
Seated: Mary Ellen Lodholz Meyer; Nancy Stough Hillhouse, Missouri; Eleanor Hawkins Behrend, Millikin; Loris Burnette Clifford, Millikin.
Next up, on Aug. 11, Distinguished Sisters of Service alumnae went to Southeast Missouri State University for a “Conversational Workshop” to help the collegiate chapter practice for recruitment rounds.
Pictured: Amy Cook Ellinghouse, Southeast Missouri State, and Dr. Grace Retiro Jones, Arizona.
On Sept. 13, the chapter raised over $1,900 for the St. Jude Walk at Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park in St. Louis and sponsored a mile marker for this walk. Kathleen Watkins Tallis, Clemson, is a speaker and volunteer for the St. Louis Area St. Jude Organization.
Pictured left to right: Jennifer Moore McCarthy, West Virginia; Leslie Nail Quarles, Southeast Missouri State; 2025 Tri Delta scholarship recipient Presley Quarles, Southeast Missouri State; Dr. Grace Retiro Jones; Alumnae Chapter Vice President Laura Smith, Missouri; Kathleen Watkins Tallis.
The chapter participated in a “Glennon Card” shopping event at Story Seven Boutique, owned by Tri Delta sister Melanie Scott Bennett, Kansas State. 100% of the cards sold went to benefit hospitalized children at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.
And lastly, on Nov. 22, the club celebrated Founders’ Day at Greenbriar Hills Country Club with our speaker, Kim Jenne, Southeast Missouri State. Reverend Jenne is an advisor for Tri Delta’s Delta Xi Chapter on Rituals and ceremonies, and she serves as the Director of Connectional Ministries for the Missouri Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Submitted by: Laura Smith
NEW YORK
Long Island Alumnae Chapter celebrated Founders’ Day, joined by Tri Delta visitors from Maine.
Submitted by: Melanie Marcial, Adelphi
NORTH CAROLINA
Charlotte Alumnae Chapter held a book drive for Aria’s Pride, collecting over 150 books for the local nonprofit, which stocks a free library for patients, siblings and caregivers at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital, a St. Jude Affiliate Clinic.
On Oct. 11, members of Tri Delta’s Charlotte Alumnae Chapter, alongside members of the Charlotte Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club, walked and ran in the St. Jude Walk—Charlotte. With the support of Pi Beta Phi and Delta Gamma, the Charlotte Tri Delta team surpassed its fundraising goal. Great things happen when Greek women work together!
Members had the privilege to discuss bestselling novel “The Women” by Kristin John Hannah, Washington, who graciously shared her time with the club via Zoom. Tri Delta sisters joined the discussion from Arizona, California, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The ReaDDD Between the Wines book club has read and enjoyed several of Kristin’s bestselling novels, which inform readers about strong women accomplishing extraordinary things during difficult times.
Submitted by: Peggy Young Rishe, Illinois
On Nov. 2, 22 sisters gathered for a Founders’ Day celebration and held a raffle of Tri Delta-themed items, with the proceeds benefiting Tri Delta’s Foundation. It was a beautiful afternoon for sisters to gather and be thankful for 137 years of sisterhood.
Submitted by Madison Wilder Gobbell, South Carolina
CANADA
Toronto Alumnae Chapter had a busy fall celebrating with their Hot Chocolate Social before the Santa Claus Parade, Founders’ Day and Canada Alpha’s 95th Anniversary Dinner.
