From coast to coast, our Tri Delta alumnae chapters have been busy! We’ve got the stories to prove it as we round up highlights from the celebrations, service projects, sisterhood events and more that have brought our members together over the past few months. If we missed anything from earlier in 2025, don’t worry—we made sure to include it here in one big seasonal catch-up. Dive in and see what your sisters have been up to!
ARKANSAS
Central Arkansas held its first-ever Alumnae Initiation ceremony at the home of Charlotte Downs, Arkansas. The chapter’s members added two incredible women to Tri Delta—Beth Geohegan, Louisiana Tech (mother of Erin Elizabeth Geohegan, Louisiana Tech), and Kristie Cronkhite, Arkansas (mother of current collegian Kendall Cronkhite, Arkansas). Both were initiated and excited to be a part of the many social, service and support activities held by the chapter.
Pictured (left to right): Erin Elizabeth Geohegan, Beth Geohegan, Kristie Cronkhite, Kendall Cronkhite.
Submitted by: Laura Bradberry Cunningham, Arkansas.
CALIFORNIA
San Fernando Valley provided treats for Beta Beta Chapter’s recruitment. A little bit of sugar can give a much-needed boost after a long day of meeting potential new members.
Submitted by: Risa Fishbein Thomas, Cal State/Northridge.
San Jose donated snacks to the women of Tri Delta’s Omega Chapter at Stanford University for their recruitment event. Kathleen Weatherholt Englert, California/Davis, and Kara Chin Waggoner, Cal State/Long Beach, delivered the snacks!
During their annual philanthropic event, they also delivered 68 new children’s books to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. For this event, hospital staff provides a list of books that are needed and appropriate, generous members buy books on the list, the books are collected at a meeting and, finally, they are brought to the hospital. The hospital staff is warm and welcoming and very appreciative of this remarkable donation.
Pictured (left to right): Karli Spence (Associate Director, Community Programs); Giulianne Pate, Pacific; Kara Chin Waggoner; Kathleen Weatherholt Englert; Jane Harlan Ward, Texas Christian.
And lastly, they collected more than 125 donations for HomeFirst at their February meeting. HomeFirst is a nonprofit that assists homeless people with settling into their first home. The donations consisted of kitchen items, bedding and cleaning supplies.
Submitted by: Jane Harlan Ward.
Stockton Area celebrated its 2025 Pansy Brunch, bringing together more than 20 women from across the country to celebrate milestones, including 10 and 50 years of membership.
Submitted by: Rocci Jackson, Pacific.
FLORIDA
Daytona Beach celebrated 50 years of membership for Renee LeBlanc Garrison, Central Florida, Deena Jones Adelson, Texas/Arlington, and Diana Johnson Grunderman, Florida State, with Circle Degree at Stetson University and welcomed graduating seniors Tory Runckel, Ella Spears and Olivia Yochim, all Stetson, into alumnae membership.
Submitted by: Renee LeBlanc Garrison.
Sarasota Area celebrated Cinco de Mayo Florida-style at a local restaurant.
Pictured (left to right): Linda Hayne Cape (chapter president), Kansas; Cindy Hicks Jeffers (outgoing president), Louisiana State; Retta Burling Meser, Wisconsin; Kathryn Angell Carr, Iowa State.
During the chapter’s annual Pansy Lunch at The Field Club in Sarasota, Golden Circle members were honored, and new officers were installed. One highlight of the event was a talk by Jeri Sedlar, Michigan State, author of “Don’t Retire, REWIRE!” Written with her husband, Rick Miners, Jeri’s book is a guide to planning for retirement and adjusting to all of the changes it can bring. She is a new member of the alumnae chapter and a Golden Circle honoree. Tribute was also paid to outgoing president Retta Burling Meser, and the new board, headed by two-time president Cindy Hicks Jeffers, was installed.
The following Golden Circle honorees (pictured left to right) are celebrating 50 years of membership:
Gwen Forgey Chamberlain, North Carolina; Jeri Sedlar; Mary Miner Couvillion, Missouri; Candace Ferber Hunter, Jacksonville.
The following new Sarasota Alumnae Chapter officers (pictured left to right) were installed at the annual Pansy Lunch:
Susan Duffy Cruzan (vice president), Maryland; Retta Burling Meser (outgoing president); Anne Fross Walker (corresponding secretary), Kansas State; Catherine Hayden Gilgenbach (recording secretary), Wisconsin; Lowie Brannan (treasurer), Ohio Wesleyan; Cindy Hicks Jeffers (incoming president).
Submitted by: Laurie Kohler Halladay, Missouri.
Clearwater/St. Petersburg held Alumnae Initiation for Peggy Maguire, Ohio State, and Marci Edmiston, Alabama.
Submitted by: Heather Albright Hockemeyer, Stetson.
GEORGIA
Golden Isles honored Diamond Circle, Golden Circle and Silver Circle members during their spring meeting and Pansy Celebration, held at the home of Kim Jones Maupin, Georgia. Honorees included Diamond Circle recipient Carmen Irizarry Ross, Tulsa; Golden Circle recipients Sherry Jones Barrett, Georgia, Ginny Kearns Deal, Georgia, Cathy Knox Fowler, Georgia, and Karen Hodges Tostensen, Georgia; and Silver Circle recipients Casey Viggiano Harris, Emory, and Laura Daugherty Moulton, Georgia. The event was the chapter’s largest celebration of the year, with 24 sisters sharing lots of Delta Love!
Submitted by: Anita Slane Green, Carnegie Mellon.
INDIANA
Indianapolis celebrated with new alumnae at the Butler Pansy Brunch and Purdue Pansy Brunch. Bonus—Lafayette also joined!
Submitted by: Pam Dorner-Saxhaug, Illinois State, and Margaret Hopkins Yarnall, Indiana State.
MISSOURI
St. Louis’ Panhellenic Celebration, held on May 21 at Forest Hills Country Club, honored collegiate and graduate scholarship winners for 2025. Presley Quarles, daughter of Leslie Nail Quarles, both Southeast Missouri State, was honored with this award.
Pictured (left to right): Rhonda Beiter Dart (past president of the St. Louis Panhellenic Association), Oklahoma State; Leslie Nail Quarles; Presley Quarles; Jennifer Moore McCarthy, West Virginia; Dr. Laura Smith, Missouri.
Members of Delta Xi Chapter attended the AAUW Smart Start Program, presented by Dr. Laura Smith, on Feb. 2 at Tri Delta’s chapter house in Columbia, Missouri.
Submitted by: Dr. Laura Smith.
NEW YORK
Long Island hosted Alpha Alpha Chapter’s final ceremony at Adelphi University. Ten women (pictured) received Circle Degree at Pansy Brunch. It was both a marvelous grand reunion and a bittersweet celebration. Many memories, stories and hugs were shared as old pledge books were passed around. Also honored were six women celebrating 25 years and 13 women celebrating 10 years of membership in Tri Delta.
Submitted by: Valerie McLean, Adelphi.
NORTH CAROLINA
Charlotte celebrated Galentine’s Day with game night, featuring fast-paced games for prizes among individuals and teams. The games included “What’s in Your Cellphone,” “Valentine’s Trivia and Word Search,” “Table Talk Dice,” “The Salad Bowl Game,” “The Great Candy Grab,” and “Left, Right, Center.” Sisters who play together and laugh together stay together!
Charlotte also collected books for a book drive to support Aria’s Library, a free library located within Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital, a St. Jude Affiliate Clinic. The chapter is proud to have collected more than 160 books! Aria’s library is free and is often used by pediatric patients, their siblings and caregivers while the patients are receiving medical treatments.
In addition, Charlotte celebrated Pansy Brunch, which was a beautiful celebration of Tri Delta sisterhood! It was a lovely way to end a very successful year. Congratulations to Leslie LeBlanc, Auburn, for answering the call to serve as Charlotte’s alumnae chapter president next year. Members showered Peggy Young Rishe, Illinois, with gifts, kind words and Delta Love for her seven years of volunteering as chapter president. The day was filled with kindness!
Charlotte members Debi Coleman Maxwell, Stephen F. Austin, and Peggy Young Rishe attended Delta Gamma’s Night for Sight Mardi Gras Ball to benefit Metrolina Association for the Blind, contributing to the Charlotte Alumnae Panhellenic Council’s initiative to support each member group’s philanthropy. Guests enjoyed a New Orleans-themed buffet dinner, music from the Soda City Brass Band, king cake, the crowning of a King and Queen of the Ball and raffle drawings. The Ball also marked the 90th anniversary of Metrolina Association for the Blind.
Ronald McDonald House Dinner Crew celebrates each spring by preparing and serving dinner to the guests and staff of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Charlotte. It is such a worthwhile endeavor and an easy way to spread kindness.
Pictured L-R-Lindsey Shrout Aitchison, California/Davis, Sara Smith Nolan, Emory; Peggy Young Rishe, Nancy Adams Erb, Texas; Lisa Van Winkle Fritschel, West Virginia.
Private mahjong lessons? Yes, please! Many members will continue playing this fun game, which involves memory, strategy and a little luck. It’s good to learn new things with your Tri Delta Sisters!
Submitted by: Peggy Young Riche.
TEXAS
Piney Woods held Circle Degree and a Pansy Luncheon for Beta Xi’s seniors this past weekend. This small and mighty chapter had many alumnae attend to sponsor seniors and enjoy the luncheon together.
Submitted by: Kimberly Brimer Baker, Stephen F. Austin.