A campus advisor wrote her recommendation letter and stated, “She exudes the ideals and values that every sorority woman should live up to.” Congratulations to Amanda Allegra-please continue to make Gamma Sigma Alpha proud to call you an initiate!

Ashley Sanford is one of six graduate student scholarship recipients awarded by Gamma Sigma Alpha for the 2011-2012 academic year. Sanford graduated with her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She enjoyed her undergraduate time at APSU so much, she has continued there for graduate school. She is currently in her second semester in the Master’s in Corporate Communications program. Sanford is a proud member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority and upholds the fraternal principles in her own life: service, scholarship and sisterhood.

Sanford has been an integral part of many service projects during her time at school. Most notably, she has worked with the Ronald McDonald House, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Goodwill Industries and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. She also spent significant time volunteering as a note taker for the Office of Disability Services at APSU.

Throughout her undergraduate years, she joined many organizations, held numerous leadership positions and was recognized with a laundry list of honors, however her scholarly focus never waivered. Sanford continually made the Deans List and her academic achievements made her an excellent candidate for Gamma Sigma Alpha. Sanford said, “Gamma Sigma Alpha has allowed me to stand with a select few qualified initiates and exemplify the highest ideals of academic excellence in the Greek community. These experiences have made my four years as an undergraduate an experience of a lifetime.”

We wish Ashley continued success in academics and in all future endeavors. Congratulations again!

Marissa Stevens is one of 6 scholars who were honored with a Gamma Sigma Alpha graduate scholarship this academic year. Stevens graduated from Washington & Jefferson College in May 2010 where she was initiated into the Zeta Kappa chapter of Gamma Sigma Alpha. Stevens is currently studying archaeology at the University of Chicago.

When asked what Gamma Sigma Alpha membership meant to her during her time as an undergraduate, Stevens said, “Gamma Sigma Alpha has become the medium through which I can seek academic inspiration.” Her academic inspiration led her to the other side of the globe in the summer of 2009 when she studied hieroglyphics in Egypt.

Stevens is a proud Pi Beta Phi member and joined many other organizations while she was a student at Washington & Jefferson. These included, the Philosophy Club, Student Government Association, Asian Culture Association and Order of Omega. She was also a proud inductee into Phi Beta Kappa in the Spring of 2010.

We are proud that Marissa Stevens chose to join Gamma Sigma Alpha and wish her all good wishes as she pursues her graduate degree.

“Since becoming a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, I have been honored to join the Order of Omega and Gamma Sigma Alpha. That recognition was extremely important since there are many misconceptions about the academic abilities of students in a Greek organization,” wrote Paige Fennell in her scholarship application. Fennell, a graduate of the University of South Carolina was one of our six 2009-2010 graduate student scholarship recipients. She is currently pursuing her graduate degree in teaching at the University of South Carolina. A former professor said, “She is a born educator and a gifted communicator! I am immensely proud of her work and have every expectation that she will go on to distinguish herself in graduate school and beyond.”

Fennell is an outstanding student, but also realized she could learn a lot outside of the classroom and excelled as a student employee, working with the Registrar’s office and the Department of Education. In addition to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, she was involved in many other student organizations and volunteered in the community. She served as a tutor to high school students and was involved as a minority peer mentor.

Gamma Sigma Alpha is proud to support Paige Fennell as she pursues her dreams and hopes that her leadership will inspire a future generation of educators!

Kristine Campbell is one of six scholarship winners for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Kristine Campbell graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham last May with a degree in Biology and high hopes to attend medical school this fall. Gamma Sigma Alpha helped her achieve her goal by awarding her one of the six scholarship designated this year. Campbell was initiated into Gamma Sigma Alpha in 2007 and served as Treasurer and President of the local chapter. In addition to Gamma Sigma Alpha, Campbell was involved in Alpha Omicron Pi, the Student Alumni Society, Catholic Student Ministries…the list could continue.

A recommendation letter was written to support Campbell’s scholarship application. Her reference said, “(Kristine has the) ability to formulate innovative solutions to problem. She was also known as a self starter, able to seize upon a problem, analyze its components and execute a solution with minimal supervision. There is no doubt she has the intellectual capacity and power to make her mark in medicine.”

Campbell felt honored to be a part of Gamma Sigma Alpha and felt it allowed her to work closely with leaders in her organization and around campus. She said, “Gamma Sigma Alpha has shown me that others value academic success of college students and this organization has helped to refine my leadership skills and become more involved on campus.”

Gamma Sigma Alpha wishes Kristine Campbell all the success she can ask for during her first year of medical school at the University of Alabama. She is just one example of the outstanding students the organization initiates every year and we are confident she will make a difference in the world.

Bo is one of the six 2009 scholarship recipients we will highlight on this site over the course of the year.

Gamma Sigma Alpha was pleased to continue the tradition of awarding scholarships to undergraduate members pursuing advanced degrees for the 2009-2010 academic year. Bo Nasmyth Loy, graduated with a degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2005. He will continue his studies at the same institution, enrolling in the Keck School of Medicine with aspirations of becoming a doctor.

Loy was not a typical student leader at USC. He served as President of the Delta Chi chapter, Executive Vice-President of Judicial Affairs for the Interfraternity Council and a leader within the Gamma Sigma Alpha chapter. In addition to these formal responsibilities, he has authored books to help kids suffering with childhood diabetes including, “487 Really Cool Tips for Kids with Diabetes,” and “Getting a Grip on Diabetes.” If that wasn’t enough Loy has traveled to Hong Kong and Beijing on a research grant and is now assisting on a health study working to prevent type II diabetes in the underserved Latino youth of East Los Angeles.

When asked about the value his Gamma Sigma Alpha membership had on him, he stated, “The Greek system at USC, and particularly the Gamma Sigma Alpha Greek Honor Society, introduced me to some of the most influential people in my educational career; for that I will be forever grateful.” Gamma Sigma Alpha is grateful to call Bo Nasmyth Loy a member and we are honored to assist him financially in his post undergraduate studies. Congratulations Bo and good luck!