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CURRENT EDITION: Issue 2 2009
Julie Anderson Beta Tau ’94 is the Secretary for Policy, Planning and Evaluation at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs in the Obama administration. A recipient of the Florence Hood Miner Award and the 1997 Truman Scholar, Julie earned a Master’s of Public Policy from the University of Chicago and an MBA from Duke University after graduation from Nebraska Wesleyan University. She has served on the President’s Transition Team and has worked at the Department of Veteran Affairs since the inauguration. Her grandfather’s service during World War II inspired her interest in veteran’s issues.
Emily Aquila Xi Iota '04, an alumna of Muhlenberg College, and her sister, Kimberly were one of 32 finalists in the national CMT (Country Music Television) Music City Madness singer/songwriter competition. The Aquila Sisters grew up at the Jersey shore and were active in the arts at a young age and often sang together. Kimberly began writing songs after receiving her first guitar on her 16th birthday. Soon after, she and Emily began harmonizing and collaborating on original music which they performed at local coffee houses. They have since progressed to a variety of venues. They serve their community by performing at local retirement homes, hospitals and charity events.
Above: Emily Aquila Xi Iota '04, and her sister, Kimberly.
Astrid Beltran Epsilon Omicron ’06 (Western Illinois University, received the 2009 North American Student Personnel Association Region IV-West Graduate Rising Star award. Astrid is in the Higher Education Administration program at the University of Kansas. She is a graduate intern in the Student Involvement and Leadership center and an advisor to the Kansas National PanHellenic Council and the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations. She is also the current president of the Higher Education Student Association.
Judy Schubert Bono Gamma Alpha ’66 (Baldwin-Wallace College) was featured, with her husband Richard, in the Punk Rock Gardens blog entitled, "Couple Forges Path to Native Plants." Judy and her husband made the transition to country life 20 years ago in Owl Valley in York County, Pennsylvania and now protect and rescue native plants in the area. In 1995, the couple founded the Nixon Park Native Plant sale with the Susquehanna Piedmont Preservation Society to hold fundraisers for preservation. Judy is a leading native plant expert in York County and has her own business,The Gardener of the Owl Valley, which offers landscaping services while preserving native plants. Read more about the Bonos’ journey at
http://punkrockgardens.com/2009/07/couple-finds-woodland-path-to-native-plants/.
Traci Kennedy-Brockfield Alpha Rho ’98, Alpha Rho’s (Ohio Wesleyan University) College Chapter Director, received the Outstanding Chapter Advisor award from the Order of Omega, the Greek honor society.
Source: Connect2 OWU
Lori Valladingham Butler Iota Upsilon ’84 (California State University/Fullerton) was named Executive Director of Girls Incorporated of San Diego County. The non-profit organization serves up to 1,742 girls a year with programs that inspire girls ages 6-18 to be "Strong, Smart & Bold!" She is the incoming President of the Kiwanis Club of Sunrise Vista, a Director of the Scottish Highland Games and Festival of San Diego and a founder of the ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Association of San Diego County. "It's such a full circle experience this year receiving my Silver Certificate from the Sorority, and now 25 years later using the leadership skills I gained in Delta Zeta to lead another all-girl organization." Learn more about Girls Incorporated at http://www.girlsinc.org.
Colleen Drazen Delta Sigma ‘02 (Truman State University) received the 2009 North American Student Personnel Association Region IV-West New Professional Rising Star award. Colleen is the Assistant Director of the Student Involvement and Leadership Center at the University of Kansas. She has been instrumental in the creation of the leadership development program and advises both the Interfraternity Council and Dance Marathon. She also serves in a volunteer capacity for the Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA) and is a Regional Director for the organization.
Lynda Esselstyn Drews Zeta Omicron '71
(University of Wisconsin/La Crosse) recently gave
the commencement speech at her college alma mater. One lesson she shared was “to journal your life.”
When Lynda, an IBM marketing executive, made
the decision to retire after her thirty-year career,
she returned to an earlier passion: writing. “Run at Destruction” is the outcome. This true story, about Lynda's best friend's death, occurs within Green
Bay's close-knit running community. A number of Delta Zeta sisters read the earlier manuscript, providing helpful critiques. More information is available at http:/lyndadrews.com.
Lynda Drews
Karen Starner Jacobson Iota Theta ’67 (Mansfield University) received the Elsie Burke Jacobson award for outstanding leadership, loyalty and service to Mansfield University. Karen is the College Chapter Director of the Iota Theta Chapter at Mansfield University. She has also served on the Alumni Board, the Undergraduate Scholarship Selection Committee and has volunteered for the annual MU Phonathon and the community chorus. In 2005, Karen retired from her job at First Citizens National Bank in Mansfield and resides with her husband, Charles.
Above: Karen Sterner Jacobson Iota Theta '67 (left) with Mansfield University President Meravene Loeschke.