Julia M. Snyder

Managing Editor 

 

Tuesday, April 11, Alpha Sigma Alpha celebrates their 30th year anniversary of the founding of the Epsilon Kappa chapter on Millersville’s campus. To celebrate, the sorority organized an event the previous Sunday, April 9, to celebrate their history throughout the years.

With the help of her sisters, Jessica Rubin, ASA’s Vice President of Alumnae and Heritage, planned a luncheon for the currently active members of the sorority as well as alumnae of the chapter. The sorority formed a committee and also had help from their Recruitment Advisor, Paula Foreman. For Foreman, the returning alumnae were all familiar faces, due to the fact that she has been the advisor for the sorority since it’s inception.

“[We] met and communicated throughout the semester to plan everything properly. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to successfully plan the event as well as it went,” said Rubin.

The largest attraction of the luncheon were all 30 of the composites that feature pictures of every sister of the Epsilon Kappa Chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha. Casey Colsher, Editor and Historian of the chapter, also put together a scrapbook with more personal pictures of chapter events throughout the decades.

“Being a part of ASA is something I’m really proud of,” said Colsher. “We were actually the youngest chapter ever to win the Crown of Excellence, which is a national honor for our sorority.”

The overall purpose of the event was to connect with alumnae and talk about the shared love that each sister has for the chapter. There were approximately 40 alumnae who attended the event, including six or seven previous presidents of the chapter.

Among the alumnae were also Roseann Gambino-Kolgan and Linda Hamlin-Catalani, who were charter members, or the women who founded the chapter.

Mrs. Paula Foreman poses with ASA charter members Roseann Gambino-Kolgan and Linda Hamlin-Catalani and the first composite picture ever taken of the chapter. Photo courtesy of Casey Colsher.
Mrs. Paula Foreman poses with ASA charter members Roseann Gambino-Kolgan and Linda Hamlin-Catalani and the first composite picture ever taken of the chapter. Photo courtesy of Casey Colsher.

Alpha Sigma Alpha has a large presence on Millersville University’s campus. According to Colsher, the sorority was largely popular 30 years ago, and although all of greek life experienced a lack of interest in the early 2000’s, membership numbers have been increasing. Currently, there are 49 sisters in Alpha Sigma Alpha.

“We were the first chapter [on Millersville’s campus] to have recruitment shirts. It would be exciting to get that excitement back… It’s always good to be growing as a chapter,” said Colsher.

For the thirty years that ASA has been a fixture on campus, the women within the organization hold themselves to their eight core values; integrity, generosity, enjoyment, learning, balance, responsibility, growth and relationships.

They fundraise and advocate for their four philanthropies, which include The Special Olympics, Girls on the Run, The S. June Smith Center and The ASA foundation.

Overall, the sorority is a home base for young women on Millersville’s campus. Both Colsher and Rubin agree that within this national organization they have found a family to stand with them as they move through college life.

“ASA means my family away from home. I have met my best friends through ASA and the sorority has given me countless opportunities and experiences that I will have with me for the rest of my life,” said Rubin.

“It’s amazing to be a part of something bigger than yourself,” said Colsher.

Looking forward, ASA hopes to continue increasing the number of active members in the chapter while remembering to Aspire, Seek, and Attain.