Legacy Sisterhood

Hello DG Sisters!

My name is Hayley Vitale! I’m currently entering my Sophomore year, pursuing my bachelors in Photography . I went through recruitment last fall, and found it to be one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life.

I'm not going to lie, at first, I knew I was curious about Panhellenic life, but didn’t want to commit to go through recruitment. One of the reasons I decided to give it a try was because of my parents who were both Greek while in college, but especially my mom, a Kent State Delta Gamma alum. She always told me stories of her fond memories as a DG sister and the many long-lasting friendships she has carried with her all these years later. While going through my recruitment, and meeting the sisters of Delta Gamma here at Kent State, I fell in love with the women and the values this sorority had to offer. I then decided that I wanted to carry my family’s Delta Gamma tradition and become a legacy.

Although the stigma of being a legacy can have its positives and negatives, I joined Delta Gamma because I felt that sister-connection that many people may never have. The sisterly bonds my mother Jody Eber Vitale told me about, showed me the ways in which girls could lift one another up, allowing them to become independent, strong women. It may be cliché, but becoming a DG has only made me stronger and helped me find the self-worth I've been looking for.

One of the friendships my mom has held onto is with her DG sister April Higley Lewis, who was in the same 1989-member class as my mother. They’ve been friends ever since and still share stories about their time together in Delta Gamma.

Now, 31 years later, I became a member and can reflect on one of the girls who truly made my time so far in the chapter so memorable, my big Madison Lewis, April Higley Lewis’ daughter! Having her as someone I can look up to and talk to about anything and even more, sharing the same kinds of memories our mothers made many years ago.

Being a legacy does not put anyone on a higher level than anyone else. But it has made me appreciate the types of true friendships that I can create, since I have seen them with my Mom and her experience. It has shown me how to respect the values and morals of being a Delta Gamma. But most importantly, it’s taught me that we have been doing good since 1873, I too want to continue the DG tradition of being a good person,and being kind even when you’re not in front of a camera.

LITB,

#ItAllStΔΓtsHere

Hayley Vitale