ALPHA UPSILON CHAPTER

MISSISSIPPI STATE ORGANIZATION (ZETA STATE)

THE DELTA KAPPA GAMMA SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL

2016-2017 Projects

Alpha Upsilon Chapter Members

Picture taken in front of the Friendship Oak at USM-Gulf Coast Campus.

Pay-It-Forward Project

In August, Louisiana was hit hard by flooding.  Many members of our sister chapters lost their homes. To help our fellow sisters we adopted Beta Gamma Chapter in Walker.  Ziploc bags filled with kitchen towels, gift cards, and personal notes of support were collected at our Christmas meeting.

Marilyn VanCourt, Membership Chair; Linda Jackson, Beta Gamma; Brenda Batey, President

Update: Walker, in Livingston Parish, was one of the worst-hit areas in the August 15, 2016 floods, that devastated several parishes in South-eastern Louisiana. On Wednesday, December 14, 2016, twenty-five Gift Bags filled with Christmas kitchen towels and gift cards, along with personal notes were delivered to Beta Gamma long-time member, Linda Ruth Jackson, of Walker. After the gift bag rendezvous, Linda was going to deliver the bags to sister members of the Beta Gamma  Chapter. Several of her Delta Kappa Gamma sisters had flooded homes, and all experienced damage of property or business, but unfortunately, none had flood insurance. Linda has been serving for eight years as the Epsilon State (Louisiana) Treasurer; she was asked by Judy Rongey, Louisiana State President, to coordinate the adoption of a chapter by our chapter. 

SEE:  Supporting Early Career Educators

In order to share the vision, Leading Women Educators Impacting Education Worldwide, and strengthen our Society, the Educational Excellence Committee established Supporting Early-career Educators (SEE) as its second international project during the 2012 International Convention in New York City.


TEACHER SUPPLY BASKETS

This year we will support two early-career educators: Rachel Hall is a third grade math and science teacher at Quarels Elementary School in Long Beach.  Lindsey Lee Bounds teaches third grade at West Hancock Elementary School in Hancock County.

Silent Auction

The Professional Affairs Committee and World Fellowships Committee organizes an annual Silent Auction to raise money for our chapter Kathy Pair Grant-in-Aid, the Zeta State Emergency Fund, the International World Fellowship Fund, Schools for Africa, and our general fund.

Update: We had a great time with our Silent Auction this year!  With wonderful items to choose from, we raised $728!! 

The break-down of the funds are as follows: World Fellowship-$25, Zeta State Emergency Fund-$278, Kathy Pair Grant-in-Aide-$208.50, Schools for Africa-$139, and Chapter General Fund-$69.50.

Red Rose Recipient

Dr. Carrolyn Hamilton of Long Beach received our 2017 Red Rose Award.

She worked as the Band Director in the Bay St. Louis schools before coming to Long Beach. In the Long Beach School system, Carrolyn served as Jr. and Sr. High band director.  She entered administration as an elementary school principal at Harper McCaughan, served as Junior High principal, and later, as High School principal. In 2003, she began her thirteen-year tenure as Superintendent of Long Beach Schools where she served until retiring in 2016. An interesting note is that Carrolyn's father, Thomas L. Reeves, was Superintendent of Long Beach Schools for 31 years.