Texas Eta (Pi Beta Phi at Texas A&M) Angel News

This past week was Big/Little Revelation week for PC ‘12! Throughout the week, the girls were showered with baked goods, candygrams, and cryptic clues from their unknown Big, but on Thursday they finally got to find out the identity of this mysterious gift-giver. The girls lined up outside of the chapter room dressed in a costume to match their Big Sis for the “reveal.” Once ready, the girls were ushered in one at a time to run in and meet their Big in an epic embrace. The rest of the night was spent taking pictures and hanging out with their new Pi Phi Phamilies!

Two weekends ago, Texas Eta hosted our annual Dad’s Tailgate at General Weber’s backyard before the South Carolina State game! Dad’s Tailgate is an event we always look forward to and this year’s definitely didn’t disappoint! The girls and their families snacked on fajitas and guac and all the Dad’s received a Pi Phi Dad baseball cap as a gift for attending the tailgate! What a fun afternoon for all! Thank you to all the Dads and families who attended; we can’t wait to see you back next year!

NAME: Sarah Stimson

MISS: Universe

Where are you from?

Dallas, TX

What PC are you in?

‘09

What is your major?

Communications with a minor in Art

Outside of Pi Phi, what are you involved in?

haha I’m sorry, but straight up nothing. I have dabbled in other organizations here and there throughout college, but Pi Phi is my main deal now. Between that and my personal studies, I stay pretty busy. Sorry 4 being a L0ser.

Inside of Pi Phi, what have you been involved in?

I was t-shirt chair freshman year, which was really where I peaked. From there I went on to become Vice President of Housing, but I might as well have been “Lice President”, if y’know what I mean (it was a hard year for the house girls. Lotta tears. Lotta haircuts.) No, I really am kidding, being on exec was really special for me. I was also the committee chair for hospitality in recruitment for the past two years, and I got to be conversation chair last year, as well! One year I was head of the Pi Phi book club, and also had the distinct honor of being its only enrolled member!

What is your favorite of Pi Phi value (Honor and Respect, Integrity, Lifelong Commitment, Personal and Intellectual Growth, Sincere Friendship, Philanthropic Service to Others) and Why?

Obviously sincere friendship is a very special value, and one that has affected my life deeply. I think, though, that Personal and Intellectual Growth has been a favorite for me. I have changed and learned so much in college about who I am and how I relate to people. Pi Phi has really guided that. I am also pretty serious about my personal pursuit for knowledge and my studies of human interaction. As a person, an artist, a woman, and as a Pi Phi, I consider it of highest importance to pursue personal and intellectual growth daily.

What is your favorite Pi Phi memory?

Geez, there are a whole lot. For me, living in the house was the best thing. All of it. Laughing a ton, prayers before dinner, staying up too late studying or not studying or eating Fuego or doing puzzles, talking in the mini kitchen and hearing about girls’ lives—who suspected she would get engaged soon, who was having a crummy week and needed to talk, who wanted to have a dance party and look like idiots tryin to work it to rap music. I’ve made a lot of incredible friends and memories and shoot I really have laughed so, so much. Somehow through those little moments of laughing and sunshine and running like mad to catch the bus for class, I learned to care about Pi Phi—its present, its future, and even its history. Come on now, let’s all get tattoos to commemorate!

What is something that you will take away from your college experience?

This: I am different from you. You are different from me. Now let’s love each other really really well.

What are you passionate about?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA everything, man. I am passionate about the confusing and incredible and transcendent love of God the Father. My family, Art, learning learning learning every single day. I’m passionate about words. I’m passionate about hands. I’m passionate about people watching. I’m passionate about big cities and roads to nowhere. I’m passionate about the flickering, neon Velocity sign on Harvey Road. Everything, man.

What is something random/funny fact about yourself?

When I was about 5 I made up an imaginary grandfather whom I named Crying. Both of my grandfathers were alive, I had no need to replace either of them, but I created this fictitious companion anyway. My parents, who thought my tales of Grandfather Crying were hilarious, often asked me how he was doing and what we were up to. Apparently I tired of their constant questioning. Soon, I made up the excuse that he had gone to jail. When this did not stop their interest, I told them he had died. That’s right, I killed off my own imaginary grandfather with my mind.

What are your plans for after graduation?

A big dream for me is to work in retail visuals (window displays) for the store Anthropologie. While this is still a goal for me, lately I’ve been thinking I may go to grad school for a Masters degree in Fine Arts. Before that, I’d like to work for about a year for a woodworker in Dallas whom I worked for last summer. He is way cool, and I think I still have a lot to learn from him before I go to grad school. Ultimately, I’d like to work in a creative field that allows me to use my hands and brain a lot. I’d like to be a really loving mother and marry a superbly sexy man of God.

PI PHI DOES IT BETA. #recruitment2012

Texas Eta claims #1 in grades once again with a GPA of 3.43, the highest in Texas Eta history! #beautyandbrains The chapter found out about the award by racing to put together two puzzles, one reading “#1 in Grades!” and the other “Highest GPA in Texas Eta history!” The girls were ecstatic for their achievements as a chapter and were rewarded with free dinner from the Chef Tai Veritas food truck! Way to go TEXAS ETA!

Below is a guest blog from the lovely Sarah Stimson who spent her summer apprenticing under a carpenter in Dallas! In her own words…

Here are a few photos of me at work during the best summer of my life. 

Last summer I lived in NYC, doing my dream internship with my dream company in a dream city. I teared up constantly at the excitement of it all. The fulfillment. I kind of thought it’d be all downhill from there. I thought every future job would pale in comparison. Little did I know what was in store.

I’ve spent the last 9 weeks working for a custom craftsman. He is a woodworker who makes the most luxurious, breathtaking furniture and carvings I have ever seen. He is truly an artisan, keeping alive a dwindling trade. It has been an immense honor to feel like in a very small way I am learning skills and techniques that have been passed down for centuries. In essence, this is actually very sentimental work. I find it extremely rewarding.

The credit for my enjoyment in my work this summer goes entirely to my boss, though. I have very much enjoyed carpentry and hope to continue learning about it. The idea of it really inspires me very deeply. However, I could’ve learned about carpentry in a lot of different environments and not enjoyed it as much as I have. Ultimately, working with Paul has been the grand hilight of the experience. I can’t really put it into words (I think I might cry). He is a gentle but exciting and unusual person. He is an artist, and he has been generous with me in sharing his knowledge of many crafts and with his resources. He has become one of the best friends I have ever known. I will miss working with him every day and the freedom of sharing my thoughts without hesitation. They don’t really make his brand of cool anymore.

I think my favorite experience, probably, was getting to learn about carving. Rough carpentry was the practical side of what I needed to learn, but carving was the artistic side of what I truly wanted to learn. The tools are so beautiful, the process is tedious but engaging, and the result is gorgeous. I wanted all of it. Paul, my boss, may never admit it to you, but he is truly a master of this craft. Learning how to carve under his instruction was truly a once in a lifetime experience. I hope I’ll never forget it. I hope that I’ll also continue learning how to carve.

On my last day of work, Paul and I did some drawings in a cool historic cemetery that has kind of been our spot this summer. After that and lunch, we did a relief carving of a skull and crossbones into some honduran mahogany. It was the best day. The best summer. And that’s that.

This summer PC ’11 Sophomore Emily Gray had the wonderful opportunity to travel on a mission trip to Haiti with Watermark Community Church. Emily has always had a heart for Haiti, and had gone on the trip last year as a high school student, returning this year with the privilege of being a college leader! Watermark partners with an organization called Mission of Hope in Titanyen, Haiti about 45 minutes away from the capital Port Au Prince. In the mornings, the group led a Vacation Bible School program at the MOH campus, playing with the kids and teaching them about the Bible. In the afternoons, they did a range of activities from painting houses and playing soccer with the villagers to serving families in the community by washing dishes and getting water for them from the well. What an incredible way to serve a community still suffering from the destruction in 2010. We are amazed by your servant heart Emily!

PC ’09 Senior Kara Leaman has spent Summer 2012 working her way through Asia. Kara started her summer abroad in Singapore with her family, then moving to Shangai for 5 weeks taking Chinese and business courses. After that she spent a week sight-seeing in Beijing and for her final 5 weeks will be studying Chinese Language and Culture in Chengdu, finishing up with a week in Hong Kong! WOW! While there, she has also taken weekend trips to nearby small towns. Here is the link to her blog if you want to read more about Kara’s travels: http://thepandamurmurs.blogspot.com

Pi Phi love from the Great Wall!

PI PHI TAKES CAMP OZARK!

This summer PC ’11 members Brooke Gentry, Kourtney Kern, Sarah Page, Laine Stebbins, and Abbie Thames, as well as PC ’09 member Allison Haynie have been rockin’ their chacos and one-pieces working this summer at CAMP OZARK, a Christian summer camp in beautiful Mount Ida, Arkansas. The girls have all served in various ways at camp as counselors or in hands-on work cleaning and preparing the camp for the summer as a part of the SWEAT team. While there they also met some Pi Phis from other chapters from all over the United States, as well as some of our fellow SEC students! WHOOP! PPL from Arkansas!