Chapter History
The Zeta Gamma Chapter of Delta Gamma Fraternity was established in the first sorority rush at the University of Richmond, which began on February 7, 1987. Pref was conducted by women from the Delta Rho Chapter at Virginia Tech. The first meeting of the Richmond colony was held on February 17th. The Executive Board was elected with Missy Sadler as President and Dawn Bethea as Vice-President: Programming. During the first spring semester, the Delta Gamma’s at Richmond held their first Pledge Retreat and participated in Greek Week, Derby Days, and a Panhellenic Semiformal Dance, which was organized by Delta Gamma new members. On May 2, 1987, 87 women of the Zeta Gamma Chapter of Delta Gamma Fraternity were initiated into sisterhood. The following January, the chapter members carried out the first Rush and initiated 54 members of the Alpha pledge class on April 16, 1988.
Throughout the thirty-five years that Zeta Gamma has been a chapter of Delta Gamma Fraternity, it has been honored with many awards. In 1990 it received the Nancy Critchett Rose Desire Award for Excellence within Province III and the Citation for Scholastic Programming Award from the University of Richmond. Zeta Gamma received the George Banta Award in 1992, the All Campus award in 1993, and the Parnassus Award three years later in 1996. In 2002, Zeta Gamma was awarded the Outstanding Collegiate Chapter in Division 1 after being declared Runner-Up the previous year. Over the past 25 years, Zeta Gamma has won the Patricia Peterson Danielson Award numerous times, most recently in 2009, 2010, and this past summer at our biennial Convention in Indianapolis. The PPD is an award highlighting our exemplary campus involvement. Throughout the chapter’s history Zeta Gamma has reached incredible heights. At Convention 2012, Zeta Gamma was awarded the Spirit of Sisterhood Award for Region 2, Outstanding House Corporation, and recognition and a limited edition personalized TOMS poster in recognition of our contribution to the Great Fight for Sight.
Scholastically, the Zeta Gamma Chapter constantly strives to support one another in our academic endeavors. We consistently rank in the top of Panhellenic GPA on campus. Most recently, Delta Gamma received the highest Panhellenic and high new member GPA averages for the Spring 2015 semester!
Zeta Gamma has continued to excel at the University of Richmond especially through our internationally recognized philanthropy, Service for Sight. For the past few years, we have been actively involved with the local chapter of the Lion’s Club, assisting in their local events including an eyeglass drive this past fall. Every year the Zeta Gamma chapter sells milk and cookies, and gives away lollipops with eye facts on them to raise money and awareness for Service for Sight.
We also have a close relationship with the Richmond chapter of Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Every year we host service events to create toys and treats for the guide puppies, who in return visit us on campus when the stress of finals approaches! As the 2015 Frankie Ladley Wakefield Parnassus Award runner up, the Zeta Gamma Chapter made a donation of $1,200 to the local Guiding Eyes for the Blind chapter in order to thank them for their support and involvement with our chapter.