Alpha Phi: Adventures in Austin Guide

HEY UT ’24,

We know moving to Austin, Texas can be daunting when everything is new. We asked our members: what are your favorite things to do in Austin with your sisters? We hope this guide helps our favorite city feel more like home and gives you ideas for future adventures, and we CANNOT wait to meet each and every one of you in a couple of weeks! Hook ‘em!

Go to coffee shops! I LOVE MONKEY NEST and I get the monkey’s uncle!!! It’s a peanut butter, banana, and chocolate latte! 😻😻  It’s one of my favorite places to study + bring friends to try my fav coffee. I also love going to Jo’s Coffee in SOCO or Mozart’s for the gorgeous lake view.

-Cailin DeCort PC ‘17

Go to the domain! I love walking around and talking with my sisters, and the Domain is the perfect place to find a dress for an event!

- Ella Austin PC ’19

Go out to brunch!  Austin is the best city to try new restaurants.  I look forward to going out on weekend mornings with my friends and going to new places.

-Ally Garcia PC ‘19

I love to go on hikes or runs around Austin with my roommate, Jaci! It’s so refreshing and fun to explore new places. Some of my favorite trails are around Pease Park, Lady Bird Lake, the Barton Creek Greenbelt, and the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve!

-Rachel Horne PC ‘18

On days I want to stay in, I love making charcuterie boards and having a movie marathon at home! I lived in the sorority house last year, so it was so nice to always have a sister to hang out with (and binge-watch the entire Twilight series). Trader Joe’s is the perfect place to pick up everything you need for the cheese plate!

-Carissa Mallory PC ‘17

I love rollerblading and skateboarding with my roommate Taylor at different parking garages or around Lady Bird Lake!

-Caitlin O’Neill PC ‘18

Going on picnics! I love getting takeout from Chick Fil A, Snooze, or Chuy’s and bringing it to Zilker. My sisters and I set up a picnic blanket and can sit and talk for hours!

-Lindsey Cohn PC ‘18

Studying at Lucky Lab Coffee Co. is a staple! It’s located right off of campus, so it’s perfect to stop at right before or after classes. They have lots of great outdoor seating, so it’s easy to find a spot to sit with a sister and get work done. My go-to order is a cold brew with soy milk!

-Jacqueline Johnson PC ‘18

You have to try Cabo Bob’s on Rio Grande Street! It is an Austin classic and worth all the hype. This is my favorite place to go with my roommates to catch up after a long week! I always get a bowl with chicken and veggies, and their mint sweet tea is a must-try!

-Hayatt Rachidy PC ‘19

Getting brunch on the weekend! My sisters are always up to try new restaurants and we have a list on our phones of places we want to try! My favorite brunch spots so far are Tiny Boxwoods, Hank’s, and Cenote!

-Sarah Donnellan PC ‘19

Recruitment 2020 Style Guide

By: Ryane Read PC ‘18, Assistant Director of Formal Recruitment

Hi y’all!

My name is Ryane Read and I am Assistant Director of Formal Recruitment for Texas Alpha Phi. I am a rising junior health and society major with a business minor. My job this year is to plan all the decorations and activities the women going through formal recruitment get to experience - alongside my amazing team. While formal recruitment may look different this year, our chapter is working extra hard to make this experience fun and memorable. As I thought back on my formal recruitment, one of the biggest questions I had was... What do I wear for each round? Finding the perfect outfits can be stressful, so our team is here to help. Below is a day-by-day style guide to help you prepare for virtual recruitment.

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Open House: August 18th

The first round of recruitment, Open House round, will not involve conversations between PNMs and chapter members. Rather, PNMs will record and upload a short, introductory video for chapter members to view. Similarly, PNMs will watch chapter open house videos. When recording your video we recommend wearing something casual that makes you feel confident. For more information on the guidelines for these videos check out the link below. 

Texas Panhellenic PNM Video Guidelines 2020

Philanthropy Round: August 19th and August 20th

During the next round of Recruitment you will learn about the local and national philanthropic organizations each chapter supports and the ways in which they are involved in the community. You will attend up to 10 events via Zoom lasting 30 minutes each. The attire for this round is any UT T-Shirt. Pair this with some comfortable bottoms and simple jewelry and you will be set. 

Sisterhood Round: August 21st and August 22nd

This is one of my favorite rounds of recruitment where you get to learn about each chapter's special sisterhood. Over the two days, you will have up to six events via Zoom lasting 35 minutes each. A colorful daytime dress or a nice blouse will be perfect for this round! Think of an outfit you would wear to church or a nice brunch. Add some fun jewelry that showcases your personality and you’re ready to go.

Preference: August 23rd

Preference will be the most formal round you dress up for. You may attend up to two events for 50 minutes each this round. The attire for this round is a cocktail dress - and this year it can be any color! We want to continue to see your personality throughout this round so think of a dress you would wear to a formal or banquet! Pair the look with your favorite jewelry and get ready for a night full of sisterhood, friendship, and traditions!

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Coming to UT and going through recruitment as someone from a small town was a bit overwhelming, but after being welcomed into Alpha Phi, I didn’t feel so far away from home anymore. I found my best friends in Alpha Phi who constantly make me feel loved and valued. 

I hope that this guide helps take some of the stress out of recruitment this year! Remember that no matter what you wear it’s important to be your authentic self throughout each round. If you ever have any questions, feel free to DM me on Instagram @ryanenicole or @texasalphaphi. We can’t wait to meet you in August!

Ryane Read PC ‘18

Assistant Director of Formal Recruitment

Leading in Alpha Phi

By: Alex Steele PC ‘19

Going into college I, like many of you reading this, was excited about the idea of joining a sorority. So many of my older friends loved talking about their sisters, the joy of big/little, the fun of date events and so much more. I would be lying if I said I didn’t go through recruitment with that in mind, but I also knew I wanted so much more. When I walked into Alpha Phi, I remember talking with a member of PC ‘18 on the first day of Open House and seeing her eyes light up when she talked about the authentic and empowering friendships she found through A Phi. I also remember seeing on her name tag the title “Assistant Director of Sisterhood.” It was so inspiring to hear about all of the great friendships and opportunities she found here at Alpha Phi.

After my first year as an Alpha Phi, I couldn’t be more grateful for that conversation. The friends and memories I’ve made are incomparable and made my freshman year amazing. However, as I experienced all of the love and fun of sorority life, I found another blessing that I never expected: opportunity. As a new member, I assumed that I would take the role of sitting back and listening, but in Texas Alpha Phi, your voice matters, and your sisters encourage you to use it in so many ways. 

Before getting involved in Greek life, I believed that the only leadership positions within the chapter were the executive positions like the President and Vice Presidents of key functions like Recruitment and Philanthropy. I had no idea that there would be exec positions that would align with my business education like the VP of Finance and VP of Marketing. Even after these introductions, I assumed only upperclassmen could lead given the experience needed for these positions. Thankfully, I was very, very wrong.

In addition to the eight amazing women that serve on the executive board, there are 28 women who hold officer positions for the 2020 year. These roles come in every shape and size and I’m very happy to have been appointed to one that suits my passions and skills. Along with PC ‘19 Cate Naukam, I’m working on our biggest philanthropy event of the year, Red Dress Gala, under the position of Red Dress Co-Chairman. Every Alpha Phi chapter hosts this event in an effort to raise money to support women’s heart health initiatives. Our chapter celebrates RDG during our parents’ weekend and it’s guaranteed to be a good time. To make it happen Cate and I (along with our amazing VP Jacqueline Johnson and our chapter advisors) have to book the venue, caterers, entertainment, and organize all of the fundraising incentives like auction items. Holding this position has exposed me to leading and planning on a new level, and it has connected me with other people who are driven to make a difference. Of course, we can’t do that alone, so we create committees that any A Phi member can join to get a taste of leadership and a chance to help the chapter. Alpha Phi has several committees that fall under every department so all members can easily get involved with the chapter. Our Red Dress Gala Committee is extremely helpful when it comes to setting up and decorating the event, checking our members into the venue, and making sure the event runs smoothly. Committees were the first way I got involved in Alpha Phi because I was able to join one right away. I love how you can discover more about yourself, your sisters, and the chapter through them.

Before you join a sorority, it’s easy to assume your experience will be contained to your college campus. However, In the best way possible this isn’t the case. Alpha Phi is an international organization, and they are there to help you. One of the ways they are helping me is through the Alpha Phi Leadership Institute. This brand new program brings members of Alpha Phi together from each chapter to better our leadership skills at Walt Disney World under the instruction of the Disney Institute. As someone who is passionate about ethical leadership and management and has always admired Disney’s methods, I can’t think of a more exciting way to better myself and my chapter. If that style of leadership isn’t for you, there are so many other local and international programs like visits to Capitol Hill, leadership conferences, or the chance to sit on committees for the core leadership of the sorority. 

As a Texas Alpha Phi, there will always be a place for you, and more importantly, Alpha Phi will be a place that gives you the room and resources to grow. No matter your interests or gifts, you can find a position in chapter leadership that excites you. If you find opportunities to lead in other organizations on campus, your sisters will be first in line to cheer you on and support your journey. Our International programming is designed to help you grow in whatever direction you need. With so much unknown, the one thing I can promise you is this: Alpha Phi will be everything you need and everything you didn’t know you needed. To this year’s PNMs; we can’t wait to talk to you about who you are, who you want to become, and how Alpha Phi can get you there.

Alpha Phi's Role in My Journey of Becoming Miss Texas

By: Jacqueline Petescia PC ‘18

My Junior Year, I moved from San Diego, California to Southlake, Texas. It was an emotional whirlwind that I had never expected. Suddenly my plans of spending the rest of my life on the beach had been demolished in a matter of days, and I had been ripped from the friends I had grown up with my entire life. I was now living halfway across the country from any sort of social comfort.

I struggled so hard to make friends arriving junior year in a place where everyone had gone to school together since kindergarten. Throughout my junior and senior year, my friend groups seemed to change so often. I felt as though I was being passed along from friend group to friend group trying to find my home. I was a floater, an outsider looking in on what I had once had in San Diego.

Although so much had changed with the move, I had one constant in my life that I knew would be there no matter which state I lived in; The Miss America Organization. Although my love for this scholarship organization was able to thrive in my new environment, something was still missing. People at school would treat me as though my passion for volunteering through the Miss America Program was something to be seen as a disgrace. I felt as though I was constantly defending myself against “Toddlers in Tiaras” remarks and how if I compete in pageants, (which the Miss America Program is NOT a pageant but a scholarship competition) I must be dumb and incapable of achieving a higher education from any university. Especially one as prestigious as The University of Texas at Austin.

I was really and truly deeply hurting. Not just from the ignorant remarks of people who didn’t take the time to get to know me or what the Miss America Program is really about, but also from the assumptions they had made about me based upon those stereotypes. I remember seeing everyone’s posts on Instagram and snapchat with their friends and my heart would begin to feel so heavy. I would bawl to my parents about how I wish I could have that. How I wish I had a group of girls who would support each other, rely on each other, and protect each other. It sounds so silly to say it out loud now, but I would pray each night for just a few friends to help me not feel so lonely. My dad kept telling me that I just needed to be patient and that my time would come. That the universe was going to make up for what it had taken away from me and add even more to my life. I didn’t believe him but in typical dad style, he proved me wrong.

By the middle of my senior year, my luck started to turn around. I was beyond ecstatic to have been admitted into my dream school, The University of Texas at Austin with not one but two majors in Health & Society/ Pre-Med and Government/ Pre-Law with a minor in Nonprofits. The people I had gone to high school with, who had told me I was too dumb to ever get into UT, suddenly realized that their close-minded outlook had affected their own future more than mine. While rushing for a sorority, I had felt a strong connection to one house in particular. Although all of the houses had great girls, there was one house that was ​A PHI​nominal one. There was no need to pretend to be something I was not. Just raw and unconditional love from Alpha Phi.

They embraced the fact that I compete through the Miss America Organization and wanted to know and learn more. They were the first people to cheer for me when I won Miss Austin and constantly ask how they can help support me in my endeavors towards Miss Texas. As I compete for Miss Texas this year for the second time, I know that their unconditional love and support is going to make all of the difference between when I stepped out on that stage in previous years, and when I do it in again at the end of June.

Rather than grieve over the fears I have around facing social isolation, I’ve decided that I’d rather place that energy into helping others who face discrimination and isolation every day, by creating a nonprofit foundation called “Friendship for All Abilities- Creating Inclusive Friendships”. The focus is to help kids with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities become involved inside of their community and create friendships. An idea I came up with thanks to the Miss America Program because being involved inside of my community through it was, and still is, a way for me to make friends.

I finally feel truly happy again, like the girl I was before the move. For my Alpha Phi sisters, how people viewed me in high school doesn’t matter. They love me for who I am and support what I do. Which is the only thing I could ever ask for from my sisters and want to give in return. It’s so cheesy but I wish that I could thank them every day for the love and joy that they have brought back into my life. They fill me with drive, help me to see the purpose in the work I am doing in school and towards Miss Texas, and add meaning to each day of my life. They boost my ego but also humble me. They lift me up when I’m down and help me to get out of my head when I’m having anxiety. They are always in attendance at every major event I have and are there ready to help the second I need it. Because of Alpha Phi, I know there are 60+ girls in my membership class alone that I could go to for whatever reason at any time.

I’d like to give a big thank you to my sisters who not only support and love me unconditionally but who do it for each other each and every day. We may not always recognize it or see it, but we know that the connection and love we have for each other is always there. Thank you to my sisters who help me to work towards my goal of becoming Miss Texas. Each and every one of you is my inspiration to help spread my message of inclusion. But most importantly, thank you Texas Alpha Phi for giving me my sisters who made me myself again.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

By: Sarah Scribner PC '17

I’ve always been told that I resemble my mother. From the tone I use to answer the phone to the organizational style of my agenda, there’s no doubt that I am my mother’s daughter. We use animated gestures whenever we talk, we eat spoonfuls of peanut butter out of the jar, we dance around the house singing along to Michael Bublé, we use the same words at the same time to describe the most random things, we laugh until tears prick the corners of our eyes, and, most importantly, we tell each other everything. But who knew, by the start of my freshman year, we would turn out to be sisters, too?

I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go through recruitment. The summer before college, I was sitting at the kitchen table one night with my laptop in front of me, staring dejectedly at the blank recruitment application with the deadline looming over my head. My mom was tinkering around in the kitchen, silent but attentive, waiting to see what I would do. After scrolling through, I spotted the question asking me why I wanted to join a sorority. I looked up at the ceiling to reflect and then found myself directing the question to my mom, curious for her answer. She paused for a moment, and with a warm smile, shared that she met her best friends through Alpha Phi. My mother’s maid of honor and my godmother are both Alpha Phis, and she has kept up with them all these years. She went on to say that Alpha Phi was an instrumental force in making her feel comfortable and welcomed at UT throughout her college career, especially when the workload was overwhelming and the process of adjusting to college was daunting. The connections and memories she made through Alpha Phi ultimately made all the difference in her college experience and beyond and she felt she couldn’t be more grateful to Alpha Phi after everything the organization gave her. Moved by her words, I finished the application that night and submitted it, excited by the prospect of what was to come.

At the start of recruitment, I was nothing short of dazed and confused. The first wave of the chanting, the conversations, the clothes, and the cuts came in an absolute blur. I was paranoid, insecure, awkward, and sweaty for the duration of Open House—writing everything down so I wouldn’t forget the houses and praying the houses wouldn’t forget about me. The calm amid the chaos came when I arrived at Alpha Phi’s doorstep. There, I met wonderful girls who shared my interests and made me feel welcome. Toward the end of the visit, my cousin Allie tapped me on the shoulder to give me a quick wave and it brought a huge smile to my face to know that she was there, looking out for me. It wasn’t until the next round that I felt completely more at ease with the process, because by then, I just had six houses left. While I enjoyed my time in the other houses, for the second day of Philanthropy, I only had Alpha Phi and I was elated. For the craft, each prospective new member took a paper heart and wrote down the name of someone she looked up to. Without hesitation, I wrote down my mom’s name and proceeded to have a wonderful conversation with Alpha Phi actives about having close relationships with our moms. On Preference Night, as emotions were running high, Allie led the ceremony where we all put on our ivy crowns. She looked out over the rows of girls as she spoke and near the end of her speech, she made eye contact with me, smiled, and said, “You belong here”. And that’s when I knew I was home.

A (happy) tearful phone call with my mother followed thereafter in my dorm room as I relayed what happened and we were both desperately hoping that I would see Alpha Phi on my Bid Day card the next morning. And sure enough, once I opened the envelope and saw the Alpha Phi crest peeking through the top, I couldn’t contain my joy. I raced home full of adrenaline with my new sisters, not knowing that several of my new sisters were already there waiting to surprise me. My mom wrapped me up in her arms, crying and laughing, while my godmother, her daughter, Amanda (also an Alpha Phi), and Allie came over for more hugs and photographs.

Flash forward to sophomore year, and here I am, proudly serving as the Director of Alumnae Relations and writing this post in Room 5, where I currently live and my mother used to live during her time in the house.

I owe more to Alpha Phi than I will ever be able to return, because it’s given me the ability to find new ways to grow closer to my family. From attending Bid Day and Initiation to giving me suggestions for engagement events to coordinate for alumni, my mother, my godmother, Amanda, and Allie have been there through it all and shared in some of my favorite college experiences in an incredibly special and meaningful way. They are also direct links to Alpha Phi’s past, so I know there’s much for me to learn about Alpha Phi that I haven’t already discovered and I’m sure there’s a wealth of stories about their experiences that have yet to be shared with me.

As our Constitution states, “We have banded ourselves together to improve our minds and hearts, and we seek to aid each other through a constant watch-care always given in love.”

And I’m lucky enough to say that this is another thing my mom and I have in common.

Thanks, Mom. I love you most.