Michigan Gamma House Updates

The 2012-13 school year is fast approaching and the ladies started moving into the house earlier this week.  With all this in mind, Michigan Gamma's Chapter Housing Corp worked all summer to make updates and repairs to the house.  The list of updates and repairs that were completed include:

• overhauled all landscaping
• painted front door
• new knobs and pulls on basement cabinets
• new range hood over stove
• removed tub in 2nd floor bathroom
• sanded and refinished all day room doors
• removed and replaced carpet in 2 day rooms
• new formal room carpet
• painted all day rooms
• painted some hallways
• fixed front walkway stone
• expanded sidewalk to parking lot
• fixed a broken window fixed stretched carpet in laughing corner

Interview with Alumna Missy Kupper

Spring is here and so is the next installment in the Alumnae Interview Series!  While at Michigan Gamma our next interviewee, Missy Kupper, served as Philanthropy Chair and since college has continued to participate in many philanthropy and community events!

Initiation Year: 2000

Offices Held: Philanthropy Chair & Greek Week Chair

Did you live in the house? How many years?  Yes- 2 years

What did you enjoy about living in?  Having a parking spot when I was on EC :)

Favorite Pi Phi memory?  Formals- all of them, with my best friend, Stacey (also in Pi Phi)

What are you up to now?  Special Education teacher in FL- still doing philanthropy events with Autism Speaks and taking post grad classes.

How has Pi Phi influenced/affected your post-college life?  I made some fantastic friends and helped me to continue on with philanthropy and community involvement.

What do you wish you had known when you were in college?  To enjoy every single minute of it!  Being an adult and having a "real job" is great but not as fun as college :)

Giving what you know now, what advice would you give to your college-age self?  Relax, enjoy and work towards exactly what YOU want to do..... not what anyone else wants.

Do you have any resume pointers or interview skills to share?  Confidence, confidence, confidence.... for interviews. For resumes, always go for that experience that is different and sets you apart from your competition... For me, it was working in Bermuda for part of a year.... Not as glamorous as some places, but definitely different.

What is something you wish you were better at?  Time management (Sometimes I get distracted :))

Do you have a personal motto?  Work smarter, not harder.

Do you have a favorite quote?  "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are"

Favorite TV Show and or Movie?  Gossip Girl, The Voice and any Spartan sports!!

What is something on your bucket list?  Half marathon-- hoping to do the Disney one next year!!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?  Working as a behavior specialist, married, kids, etc...

What is something people may not know about you?  I work with kids with Autism, and they are the light of my life... always rewarding, sometimes difficult, but my favorite group of kids to work with.

Thanks Missy for participating and sharing the great work you do with kids with Autism!  Best of luck to you when you participate in the Disney half marathon!

Spring 2012 Big Sis Reveal

At the end of February the new members of the Spring 2012 pledge class participated in the always special event, Big Sis Reveal!  The new members received their Big Sisters and all the families had a great time.  Check out the Big Sis/Little Sis pairs and the family photos below!

Interview with Alumna Hilary Huston

When you lived in the Pi Phi house did you ever go on a ghost hunt?  Our next interviewee, Hilary Huston, counts that as one of her favorite Pi Phi memories! 

Initiation Year: Spring 2002

Offices Held: Standards Board (2 years)

Did you live in the house? How many years? Yes, I lived in for one year, my junior year in Room 9. 

What did you enjoy about living in? Living with so many great girls. There was always something going on and someone to have fun with or study with.

Favorite Pi Phi memory? I have so many great Pi Phi memories it’s hard to pick just one favorite.  Some of my favorite memories come from sitting around telling stories or talking to alumnae about their experiences.  Big Sis Revealing and Initiation are always special memories.  One of my favorite memories from living in the house was going on ghost hunts! And of course tailgate at the Rock and Greek Week! 

Hilary (right) with her Pi Phi Big Sister Marisa

What are you up to now? Currently I am living in Lansing and working for MSU! I am a Dining Service Manager at The Gallery (located in Snyder-Phillips Hall) and have worked on campus full time for 6 years now!

Are you involved officially as alumnae (Alum Club, AAC, House Corp)? What chapter? I was on House Corp for a little over two years at MI Gamma, but currently am not involved. I wish Lansing had an Alum Club, heard it’s in the works though!

Giving what you know now, what advice would you give to your college-age self? To not take anything for granted and just make the best of all the experiences good or bad!

Do you have any resume pointers or interview skills to share? Spell check your resume and take time to tailor the resume to the job position. As far as interview skills; dress to impress and watch your body language. Be confident and be prepared to speak about both your strengths and weaknesses.

Hilary (far left) with MI Gamma Alumnae Erin and Marisa

What is something you wish you were better at? I really wish I was better at keeping in touch with friends from college!

Do you have a favorite quote? "Women should be two things: Classy and Fabulous!"~ Coco Chanel

Favorite TV Show and/or Movie? Right now my favorite TV shows are 2 Broke Girls, The Big Bang Theory, and New Girl. One of my all time favorite movies is The Wedding Date.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Married with a couple kids and a dog :)

What is something people may not know about you? I would love to own a bed and breakfast some day with a winery and tasting room!

Thanks Hilary for sharing your advice and memories with us! We look forward to visiting that bed and breakfast someday!