Famous Kappa Deltas

Kappa Delta was the first sorority ( a social group of ‘sorrors’- Latin for sisters, just like a fraternity is a social group of ‘Fraters’Latin is for- brothers). Represented by Greek symbols, and headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, −  Kappa Delta is one of the four sororities’; Farmville Four’ the other three being Alpha Sigma Alpha, Sigma, Sigma, Sigma and Zeta Tau Alpha. Kappa delta was founded on October 23, 1897 at the State Female Normal School which is now Longwood University. Its founding members are; Lenora Ashmore Blackiston, Mary Sommerville, Sparks Hendricks, Julia Gardiner, Tyler Wilson and Sara Turner White. Soon after it petitioned to joined, Kappa Delta was the first sorority to be accepted into National Pan-Hellenic Conference (NPC), to share with many other women organizations. Founded in 1902, NPC is an umbrella organization on 26 international sororities. Each member is autonomous ,social, Greek ”œletter society of college women and representing over 620 college and university campuses in the United States and Canada with over 4 million sorority women members. Its symbols are Nautilus Shell, Dagger, Teddy Bear and Katydid. Kappa Delta flower is white rose and colors are olive green and pearl white.

1. Pearl S. Buck

Pearl Sydenstricker Buck, also known by her Chinese name ‘ Sai Zhenzhju, was born to Caroline Stulting and Absalom Sydenstricker in Hillsboro, West Virginia, US on June 26, 1892 and died in Denby, Vermont, US on March 6, 1973 at the age of 80. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa (honors society) in 1914 and was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority from 1914 to 1933. The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society and inducts ‘the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities. She was one of the most famous writers of her time and won Pulitzer Prize in 1932 for her best selling novel’ The Good Earth’. Pearl S. Buck was awarded Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938 ‘for her rich and truly epic descriptions of peasant life in China and for her biographical masterpieces.’

2. Georgia O’Keeffe

Georgia O’Keeffe was born to Francis Calystus O’Keeffe and Totto O’ Keeffe, in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, US on November 15, 1887 and died in Santa Fe, New Mexico, US on March 6, 1986 at the age of 98. She is one of the most famous American artists and recipient of the highest national honor ‘The Medal of Freedom’ awarded to her by President Gerald R. Ford on January 10, 1977. She was educated at Chatham Episcopal Institute, Virgina and School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She also attended Teachers College of Columbia University. Later on, she taught at Columbia College, in Columbia, South Carolina. She worked in charcoal, pencil, oils and water colors. Her abstract art in charcoal was considered the most innovative work in her time. The area where she worked is now known as ‘O, Keeffe Country’.

3. Joan Lowery Nixon

Joan Lowery Nixon was born in Los Angles, California, U.S on February 3, 1927 and died of pancreatic cancer in Houston, Texas, United States on June 28, 2003 at the age of 76. She received her Bachelors degree in Journalism from University of Southern California (USC) in 1947. At USC, she became a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. She was a famous author specializing in fiction and mystery for children and young adults. She had written more than one hundred books and is four times winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Awards.

4. Bonnie Jeanne Dunbar

Bonni Jeanne Dunbar is a former astronaut and she is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. Bonnie Jeanne Dunbar was born in Sunnyside, Washington on March 3, 1949. She received her early education at Sunnyside High School. She graduated from the University Washington and worked for Boeing Computer Services as a system analyst. She conducted research on Ionic Diffusion for her Master’s thesis. Dunbar has spent more than 1208 hours (50 days) in Space. She is one of the most experienced female astronauts in the world. Her space missions include; STS-89, STS-50, STS-71, STS-32, and STS-61. She had won five Space Flight Medals. Bonnie Jeanne Dunbar was inducted into the Women In Technology International (WITI) Hall of fame .She is one of only five in the world holding this honor.

5. Claudia Kennedy

Claudia Kennedy was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany on July 14,1947.She attended South western, now Rhodes College, Memphis., where Claudia Kennedy became a member of Kappa Delta Sorority and earned her degree in philosophy. In 1969 and the same year she was commissioned as second lieutenant in the US Army. Now retired, she is the first female to reach the rank of three star general in the US Army. She held various command and staff positions during her career.

6. Kathleen Babineau Blanco

Kathleen Babineau Blanco was born to Louis Babineaux and Lucille Fermin, in New Iberia, Louisiana, US on December 15, 1942. She received her early education at Mount Carmel Academy. She received her bachelor’s degree in business education from University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She was a member of Kappa delta sorority. She was the 78th Governor of Louisiana and the first female elected for this position. In her inauguration speech she said, ‘Today marks the first time that an honor such as this has been earned by a daughter, a wife, a mother, a grandmother.’

7. Margret Holland Sargent

Margret Holland Sargent also known as Mag Sargent was born in Hollywood, California on December 30, 1927. She was one of the most famous Portrait artists, based in Los Angeles. She has painted more than 300 oil portraits including portraits of Tennessee Williams, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Margret Thatcher. She has also painted portraits of many army officials. She is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. She painted the first female midshipman at Annapolis, the first woman to graduate from West Point and the first woman Chaplain in the Armed Forces. Margret Holland Sargent was honored with Kappa Delta’s Woman of Achievement Award in 2005.

8. Trischa Zorn

Trischa Zorn was born in Orange, California, US on June 1, 1964. Zorn studied at the University of Nebraska and teaches the fourth graders with special needs in Indianapolis. She is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. She is blind by birth and is a champion swimmer. She has won 55 medals in Paralympic games, being more than won by any other athlete in that category in the world. Out of the 55 medals, 41 are gold medals. Zorn says, ‘It is my passion to affect people’s lives in a positive way, to show them that anything is possible’. She was honored with Kappa Delta’s Woman of Achievement Award in 2005’.

9. Debbie Maffett Wilson

Debbie Maffett Wilson was born in Cut and Shoot, Texas, US on November 9, 1956. She graduated from S.P. Walt rip High School. She was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. She was crowned ‘Miss America’ in 1983. She was also crowned ‘Miss California’. She is an Emmy Nominated National Television Broadcaster. She has written, produced, and acted as host for thousands of net work hours.

10. Ali Landry

Ali Germaine Landry was born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, US on July21, 1973. She received her early education at Cecilia High School and graduated from the University of Louisiana, majoring in mass communication. She is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. Ali Landry was crowned Miss USA in 1996.

Conclusion:

Kappa Delta sorority is generally known to comprise of beautiful girls, spoiled by wealthy parentage, who wear and drive only the best. It is however the intrinsic nobility of their motto ‘Let us strive for that which is honorable, beautiful and highest’ and their philanthropic objectives, which have kept them, unified since long and will keep them so for even longer.