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Getting it all started... As president of the University of Pittsburgh chapter of the Society of Women Engineers, Charlene Brashear received an email in the Spring of 1999 from Tai Pimpukar with the National Expansion Committee of Phi Sigma Rho. The email provided information on the sorority and asked if there was interest in starting a colony at Pitt. Charlene asked her fellow SWE members Cases Hetrick and Tori Morgan if they would be interested in beginning this new endeavor with her. The National Council placed Charlene in contact with Angela Bartiromo and Nicole Williams, two Phi Sigma Rho alumnae living in the Pittsburgh area/ Angela and Nicole later became pledge educators to the Alpha Class and Alumnae Advisors to the Chapter. Casey, Tori and Charlene worked with Angela and Nicole throughout the summer to learn about the sorority and to understand the requirements for petition as a Colony. At the start of the 1999-2000 school year, Casey, Tori, and Charlene posted fliers in Benedum Hall to solicit members of the Alpha Class. Informational meetings were held in September based on response to the fliers and a contact list was started. In mid-September, Charlene also met with Joe Cavalla, Director of Student Activities, and Sharon Malazich, Greek Advisor. During the meeting, Charlene was provided with the material necessary to establish a recognized student organization. Angela and Nicole continually provided support and served as a link with the National Council. Through the National Council, the Ohio State Chapter was asked to be the sponsor chapter for Pitt. The girls of Ohio State served as Pearl Sisters and came to Pitt for the Induction of the Alpha Class of the Zeta Colony of Phi Sigma Rho in October 3, 1999. The ceremony was held at noon in the William Pitt Union. Bids were given to the following members of the Alpha Class:
Charlene Marie Brashear Zeta insignia... A lock in was held on Sunday, October 24, 1999, during which the chapter colors, motto, song, cheer and faculty advisor was chosen. Plans were also made for a fundraiser and community service project. Dr. Anne Robertson, a Mechanical Engineering professor, was chosen as the faculty advisor. The chapter colors were chosen as navy blue, gold, and white. The color white encompasses all of the colors of the spectrum and symbolizes unity through the inclusion of all the family colors. The colors navy blue and gold symbolize price in the University of Pittsburgh and are also the colors of the night sky, thereby corresponding to the chapter motto: “Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars” –Les Brown. For the chapter song, words were written to the song “Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel, renamed “Phi Rho Girl”. For the purpose of sisterhood, the Alpha Class participated in a variety of events. As a class fundraiser, programs were sold before Pitt Football games. The money was used in part to purchase class T-shirts and to find a social at Color Me Mine where each girl painted a ceramic piece. The Alpha Class also participated in a mixer with Triangle Fraternity and walked together in the Campus Classic, a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House sponsored by Greek Affairs. Work continued on establishing the colony and chapter and the chapter by-laws were passed on December 12, 1999. The Alpha Class traveled to Columbus, Ohio, and to the Beta Chapter house for Initiation on January 8, 2000, following a week of I-Week events. Pins were given in the following order: Charlene Marie Brashear – President Casey Jo Hetrick – Vice President Victoria Gene Morgan - Secretary Sara Elizabeth Engle - Treasure Liza Marie Bodistow – Publicity and Favors Rachelle Lee Craig - Historian Monica Kaelene Falgoust - Fundraising Nicole Marie Garzone - Social Kristy Marie Grobe – Sister-at-Large Lisa Marie Kosareo – Student Organization Christina Gail Massimino – Sister-at-Large Kerry Foy McNulty - Spirit Dana Marie Shingle – Service On September 30, 2001, Casey Hetrick, President of the Zeta Colony, received the Chapter Charter from the National Council at an installation ceremony held at the Ohio State University. Eighteen members and alumnae of the Zeta Chapter attended the ceremony, which was the beginning of a beautiful future. |