Page 1 - Sigma Star - Spring 2016

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From the Alumnae Jo Ellen Karr Campbell ’64
Spotlight:
Sigma Housing
Corporation Editor’s Note: For this edition of the newsletter we’re shining the
Spotlight on Sister Jo Ellen Campbell ’64. From the hometown
Hello Sisters, of Paxton, IL, Jo Ellen graduated from UI with a degree in Social
Studies Education. After graduation, she continued her education
Wo w ! at the University of Michigan for a Master’s degree in Reading,
That’s and then for a Master’s in Guidance and Counseling at Eastern
all I can Michigan University. As an active Sigma member, Jo Ellen served
say as I reflect as House Manager. Her dedication continued while volunteering
back on the past with the Foundation for four years. Now retired after working for
year on the Housing Corporation 28 years as a Junior High School teacher and Counselor, Jo Ellen
board at Sigma. We have had some and her husband of 50 years, Larry (a Mechanical Engineer Grad
serious challenges presented to us of UI) enjoy working on their farm in Tennessee. She is also a
in the past year and if I’m being member of the Tellico Village Women’s Club, the Knoxville ADPi
really open and honest, there has Alumnae group, and of her church. For fun she enjoys participating
been more than one occasion in horse shows and travel.
when I have wanted to throw my
hands up in the air and walk away. What was the rush process like for you back How did you stay involved with ADPi as an
But of course, that’s not what in school? Alumna?
families do and, time and time
again, one thing has been made I was a freshman at Southern Illinois University When I graduated in January 1966 and
very clear to me this past year. in Carbondale, IL, when I decided to transfer to the married two weeks later, I moved to the Detroit,
We are family. We are sisters. U of I. I went through a formal rush(Recruitment) MI area. My husband, Larry, was an automotive
We’ve got each other’s backs on a weekend in late May. Each rushee went engineer at Ford, so we lived in the western
because we really do LIVE FOR through all 26 sororities. The second round was suburbs of Detroit for 33 years. I taught 28 years
EACH OTHER. And our house - 10 and finally three. I didn’t find out the results in Garden City, MI. I joined the Detroit West
the physical structure - is STILL until late June, when I received a telegram with Alumnae Association and was a member for
a home for us ALL and the time a bid from Alpha
we invest in maintaining it is a Delta Pi! Since I was 10 years. When we built a new home
most valuable asset to protect our a sophomore, I was and moved, I joined Detroit North
legacy on the U of I campus. fortunate to move into and was a member for 20 years.
There are REALLY exciting the house in the fall of I served both groups as President
things happening for the Housing 1963. I knew that I had and in other offices. Each of these
Corporation right now. Our new made the best choice associations gave me many new
House Director Nancy Leavitt with Sigma! sisters that I worked with on events
moved in and started work on and also a bridge group. I enjoyed
April 1st. This culminated a sisters from many different chapters
nearly year-long hiring process How do you stay Jo Ellen with her Pledge Mother and geographical areas.
but I’m so happy to say that in touch with your Jan Kellogg.
Nancy was well worth the wait! I Sigma sisters today? What do you enjoy most about
am confident that we have found working with the Foundation?
a caring and loving individual to I have stayed
oversee things at the house and I in touch with my I had the honor of being
am excited about what the future Pledge Mother, Jan International Vice President of
holds with Nancy. If you stop Kellogg Feaster ’63, Philanthropy for the Alpha Delta
by, please be sure to introduce through the years. It Pi Foundation from 2009-2014.
yourself to her and thank her for has been mostly by I represented the Foundation at the
taking on such a unique job! Christmas letters and International Ronald McDonald
To that end, we also owe an an occasional visit to House Charities Conference in
enormous debt of gratitude to her home in Northern Chicago. I was proud to see all of
sister Kaylee Barron ’11, who Illinois. Jan was a the money raised (over a million
served as our interim House great mentor for me at Sigma and getting me dollars a year now) and all of the other events
Director while also wrapping up more involved in sorority and campus activities that chapters and alumnae groups sponsor to
her graduate studies on campus (ILLIO and Campus Chest). Another sister is support RMH. Some of the chapters are raising
Housing (Continued on Page 4) Mary Lou Fisher Reisch ’63 who will visit us over $50,000 on one event, but every event is
in April on her way home to WI. Rita Ritcher important. We can all be proud of Alpha Delta
Roderick ’63 has also kept in contact over the Pi’s commitment to our philanthropy.
years. We visited her in Colorado a few years ago.
Campbell (Continued on Page 4)

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