#GammaIS Having a Blast at the International Conference

Elizabeth and her friend Brittany at the International Conference

I could not wait to get to Dallas, TX for Gamma's 3-day International Conference. Excited to see old friends, meet new friends, present for the Bower’s Awards, and to bond as a chapter. First thing when we arrived at the hotel on Thursday, I saw my friends Brittany from St. John’s University and Andrew from Olivet College.  From that moment, I knew the weekend was going to awesome!

Thursday, the first night, was a chance to see old friends and to meet new friends. At the opening banquet, I got to hear about what other Gamma chapters are doing, and got to chat about school and our future career paths. It is amazing to hear that many of the people I met the previous year have job offers for the next year or have interviews at the conference with their dream companies. Once the banquet was over it was time to practice and prepare for the Bower’s Award presentation. It was a long night, but in the end, we felt like we had truly captured why Gamma was so important to us and how Gamma had changed not only our lives but also the lives of everyone in our chapter!

Friday morning rolled around and we started our day off with breakfast and a seminar while looking forward to Bower's Award Presentations. Even though we were completing against three other chapters, it did not feel like a competition because we were competing with friends and people that had supported each other along the way. In the end, we found out that we had not won the award. As I sat and listened to our chapter win many awards Friday night I still knew that we had accomplished so much. Though at the time it starting our chapter seemed like dream, all of us together as a chapter accomplished the goal to be a Superior Chapter. I could not have been more proud that night of the entire Chi chapter!

The Chi Chapter contingency at the International Conference

Saturday my pride for the Chi chapter continued as I watched Mike, Emily, and Chipo present during the break session and as they helped many new or small chapters work on building their chapters up. We also won a Black and Gold award for Compliment’s Week thanks to Larry’s ideas. My conference experience concluded with the AT&T Stadium visit. It was a blast getting to hang out with everyone and was a reminder of how Gamma is one big family! 

I loved every minute of the conference. I am so happy that I had the chance to help bring Gamma back to Drake’s campus to share all the amazing opportunities that it holds. I hope that in the future I can attend the International Conference again as an alumnus!

Fraternally Yours,

Elizabeth Cokel