Tri Deltas have a way of showing up for each other—from big milestones to little adventures and everything in between. This month’s Tri Deltas Around Town captures those moments when sisters connect and celebrate together, making the experience that much better because they shared it. Read the stories that remind us how strong and far-reaching our bonds really are.
Trip to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
From Oct. 7 to 9, our St. Louis Alumnae Chapter sisters traveled to Memphis for a Tri Delta tour at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Pictured, from left: Alumnae Chapter President Grace Retiro Jones, Arizona; Sonia Childs; Michelle Christian Matava, Southeast Missouri State; Panhellenic Representative Jennifer Moore McCarthy, West Virginia; Alumnae Chapter Vice President Laura Smith, Missouri.
They also saw the musical “A Beautiful Noise” at the Orpheum Theatre (featuring Alumnae Chapter President Grace Retiro Jones’s son Spencer Jones), saw ducks at the Peabody Hotel, shopped, dined and danced on Beale Street. What incredible memories they made together!
Submitted by: Laura Smith
A Gala for a Tri Delta Sister’s Charity
Sisters from our Charlotte Alumnae Chapter donned their cocktail attire to attend the charity gala for Give Hope Global, a 501(c)(3) organization that fosters health and education initiatives in Haiti and Ghana.
Pictured, from left: Leslie LeBlanc, Auburn; Angela Braswell Quinn, South Carolina; Peggy Young Rishe, Illinois; Madison Wilder Gobbell, South Carolina.
Submitted by: Madison Wilder Gobbell
Theta Alpha Alumnae Celebrate Their 60th Birthdays
University of Washington alumnae (initiated ’83) celebrated their 60th birthdays and 42 years of friendship on Orcas Island, where they never stopped laughing and it didn’t feel like decades had already passed. They left with full hearts and pledged to make this an annual tradition.
Submitted by: Diana Dearmin, Washington
Florida State University (FSU) College of Business Hall of Fame
Every year at the FSU College of Business Hall of Fame event, Nan Casper Hillis, Florida State, is able to bring one guest (usually a Tri Delta student in leadership and the College of Business). See below a picture of Nan with Britton Byrd, graduating spring 2026, and Laura Krueger Brock, pledge class ’75—all Florida State
Submitted by: Nan Casper Hillis
Delta Eta Alumnae from the Class of 1990 Donate to Collegiate Chapter
Delta Eta class of 1990 alumnae returned to Coe College for Homecoming 2025 with a purpose—to support their chapter. Their commitment to supporting the Delta Eta Chapter and strengthening the collegiate experience lives on years beyond their own graduation. Five current members joined the alumnae for the photo, standing behind their 1990 sisters. Delta Eta alumna Betsy Fischer Rice ’75, who just wrapped up 10 years as president of the Rochester Alumnae Chapter, was also honored. To celebrate Betsy’s service, members of her alumnae chapter made a gift in her honor to her collegiate chapter.
Submitted by: Judy Baldwin, Coe
Doctors in the House
In May 2025, Rhema Dai, Ed.D., Texas/Dallas, proudly walked across the stage at the University of Southern California and graduated as a Doctor of Education in K-12 School Leadership—with a 3.9 GPA!
She was inducted into two of the most elite honor societies in higher education—Phi Delta Kappa International (a premier professional organization dedicated to excellence in education) and The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (one of the oldest and most selective honor societies, recognizing only the top 10% of scholars across all academic disciplines).
“It’s humbling to stand among such esteemed educators and leaders and to know that all those nights of studying, writing and pressing forward really bore fruit,” Rhema reflected.
Today, she serves as a Professor of Educational Leadership, as well as the Program Director of a post-master’s certificate program that prepares future school leaders to sit for the state exams to become principals (School Building Leaders) or superintendents (District Leaders).
Submitted by: Rhema Dai, Ed.D.
A New Game Show with Host Deborah Norville
This summer, a new game show titled “The Perfect Line” was filmed in Fayetteville, Georgia (just south of Atlanta), where two Tri Delta alumnae met. Shooting the show’s entire season over two months brought together two television veterans, relocating from their homes for the summer. The show’s host, Deborah Norville Wellner, Georgia, a renowned television journalist and personality from the East Coast, found herself collaborating with Risa Fishbein Thomas, Cal State /Northridge, a script supervisor and associate director from the West Coast.
Pictured: Deborah Norville Wellner and Risa Fishbein Thomas.
Submitted by: Risa Fishbein Thomas
Traveling Tri Deltas in Menorca, Spain
What fun to have a group of Tri Deltas travel together in such a picturesque location! See the photo below of Tri Delta sisters on a Ritz-Carlton cruise stopping in Menorca.
Pictured, from left: Chelsey Seiders Bryant, Texas Christian; Sarah Caldwell Smith, Baylor; Anya Stepcick Lucas, Baylor; Anne Higginbotham Howard, Baylor; Gina Privett Waco, Texas/Arlington.
Submitted by: Anne Higginbotham Howard
55 Years of Friendship
In May, 14 Alpha Phi alumnae from Pennsylvania State University returned to campus to celebrate 55 years of Tri Delta sisterhood! After so many years of friendship, it’s lovely to see their college sisterhood remaining so strong.
Submitted by: Honey Yost, Pennsylvania State
Chance Meeting in Scotland
While touring Scotland with the Clan Irwin Association, Peggy Young Rishe, Illinois, spied a member of the group carrying a pansy purse. Peggy asked, “Are you Tri Delta or Theta?” Tiffiny Ferrell, Drury, replied, “Tri Delta.” Both women recently stepped down from serving as alumnae chapter presidents and discovered that they share many loves, including Tri Delta!
Submitted by: Peggy Young Rishe
Theta Gamma ’83
Several pledge class sisters from Theta Gamma ’83 gathered at the Tri Delta house to check out all the improvements that have been made and agreed it looks awesome! The women in the house were welcoming, and it brought back some wonderful memories for the alumnae. Though they live in different states, these pledge class sisters try to get together each year. The bonds of sisterhood keep them close.
Pictured Oklahoma sisters (Aileen Dunn Jackman, Shari Archer Macfee, Kelli Katz Hurst, Stacey Mairs Rauscher and Liz DeLany Nelson) visiting the newly renovated Theta Gamma house in Norman, Oklahoma.
Submitted by: Liz DeLany Nelson
Tell us about your Tri Delta adventures to be featured in an upcoming Tri Delta’s Around Town! Share your story!