Aspire, Seek, Attain: Alpha Sigma Alpha’s One Year Anniversary at Flagler

By Julia Corrie

On March 26, the Iota Lambda chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha celebrated its one-year anniversary at Flagler College. Current members, alumnae, and the national president, Kelly McGinnis Beck, were on campus to celebrate. 

The Iota Lambda chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha (ASA) was installed at Flagler College on March 27, 2021. The first national panhellenic organization on campus, 43 women found their new home in ASA.

The first talks of ASA being brought to Flagler began in fall 2020 when some of the first virtual recruitment events in the organization’s history were kicking off. Sierra Burton, the inaugural president of Iota Lambda, saw the organization grow from the ground up.

“ASA came to Flagler when our wonderful leadership consultant, Jaime Logan, began reaching out to women on campus through Instagram,” Burton said. “Once we all got to meet in person for the first time, I instantly knew that I wanted to be a part of this powerful and loving group of women.”

On the national website for ASA, the “Why A?A?” section details reasoning why potential members may want to join the organization. Some of the reasoning includes fostering friendships among members known for their character and concern for others and cultivating an inclusive environment where all members feel a sense of belonging.

Joining any new organization can be nerve-wracking, and Scarlett Nichols felt that firsthand before joining ASA in fall 2021.

“Coming into college, I was so nervous about moving away from home,” Nichols said. “I remember going to club night and meeting some ASA girls and I just knew right away that it was an organization that I wanted to be a part of.”

Since Club Night, Nichols has joined the executive board as Vice President of Membership Education. 

“My responsibility is to help guide our new members through their first semester,” Nichols said. “The most rewarding aspect of my position is building stronger relationships with the new members and watching them flourish over the course of the semester.”

Baylee Zimmerman, elected for the following presidential term, learned more about chapter operations and being a team leader during her time on the executive board.

“I act as the liaison between the chapter and Flagler, as well as national headquarters,” Zimmerman said. “I make sure all is running smoothly with events, volunteering, and between chapter members … This position has been a great opportunity for me to strengthen my communication and leadership skills.”

Some of ASA’s core values include generosity, integrity and responsibility, which can be seen through every position, whether it be a general member or as a part of the executive board. 

Zimmerman was also elected as the inaugural public relations chairman last year, where she was able to highlight the sorority’s upbringing on social media while spreading awareness through events on campus. 

“With October being breast cancer awareness month, we passed out pink ribbons and information for students to learn more about how breast cancer affects many people around us,” Zimmerman said. “In November, we raised awareness for Alzheimer’s disease with ribbons, information and a way to donate to Alzheimer’s research.”

At the celebration on March 26, the program consisted of speeches from members of the chapter’s executive board and the national president, Kelly McGinnis Beck. Beck traveled from the national headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind. to celebrate the special day with members. They also recorded a new episode of the national podcast, “Alpha Connect Sisterhood Series,” to discuss the occasion.

Alpha Sigma Alpha has open recruitment for new members to join at any point during the year. 

Follow @asa_flagler on Instagram for more information on recruitment and upcoming events.