The Emerald Newsletter | Kappa Delta Chi Sorority Winter 2016 | Page 34

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Congratulations

By Kayla Worthy, Alpha Sigma Alumnae, Leadership Conference Officer

This year at the 2017 National Leadership Conference, sisters have the chance to do something truly extraordinary! Sisters will visit Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, Florida on the first day of conference to serve the community and celebrate what makes our sisterhood so special.

GKTW was established in 1989 and is a 79-acre, nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides weeklong, cost-free vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.The Village and its community partners provide children and their families accommodations in fully-furnished villas, transportation, tickets to theme parks, meals, daily entertainment and much more. Each year 27,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Half of all children eligible for a wish through a partnering wish-granting organization choose to visit Central Florida and its collection of theme parks and other attractions.

Sisters who attend conference will embrace the “Be Extraordinary” theme of the event by becoming “Everyday Heroes” to the children and families they serve. We will be given a tour, eat lunch, and be a part of the Winter Wonderland event on Thursday, July 13th. All the families and children will be engaged

in various activities and YOU will have the opportunity to learn their stories and make a magical impact during their trip to Florida. This

event is close to the heart of our sisterhood and the National Conference team is excited to kick off this annual event with an act

of service to bring our diverse sisterhood together.

One of the most important pieces of feedback the National Conference team received last year was a desire for a more impactful and organized service project. This need for including a well rounded service initiative during conference created the Service Director position held by Sarah Ortiz. She is an Addictions Counselor and 2013 initiant of the Delta Alpha Chapter with a passion for service who has seen first hand the difference face to face interaction and contribution to the community makes. Service Director, Sarah Ortiz says, “Service isn't just a passion for me, it's part of who I am. Having the opportunity to coordinate this project for my sisterhood is being able to share my love for service with the added bonus of sharing my home state. My hope is to be able to share a once-in-a-lifetime service opportunity with sisters from across the nation. Give Kids the World is chance to give families a memory that will last beyond a lifetime.”

As we approach conference please look out for more information regarding the service project via the conference website and social media. Prior to the event there will be a webinar held with more specific details. For now, please note transportation will be provided to the event and lunch will be served at the village. More information is to come and we look forward to having everyone there!

First-Generation Beta Zeta Alumnae Aims to Help Community's Future Generations

UT Dallas senior Diana Rodríguez has a plan for almost everything. And with her commencement approaching, her post-graduation plan involves helping immigrant children who may not have a lot of resources — a situation that she knows firsthand.

Rodríguez graduates Friday with a double major in psychology and child learning and development, as well as a minor in gender studies. She plans to begin a master’s degree program with the hopes of becoming a counselor who works with Latino immigrant children.

“It's very difficult for an immigrant family to be here by themselves. They don't really have a support system,” Rodriguez said. “So I want to be a part of a support system for that child to help them thrive and be successful.”

Rodríguez was born in Austin after her parents emigrated from Mexico. Her father died when she was 3 years old, prompting her and her mother to move to the

Oak Cliff area of Dallas, a community that is home to many immigrants. Growing up, she saw the challenges they faced and realized the impact she could make in her community, which led her to UT Dallas.

“I figured that in Dallas I could work and make connections, and by the time I graduate, if I don't already have a job linedup, I'll have so much experience from working in the city that it will be easy for me to find a job,” she said.

“That’s the plan and it has worked out very well so far.”

Rodríguez always knew she was going to college.

“In my household there was never a question of whether or not I was going to go to school. It was like, ‘You're going to go to school.

Where are you going?’” she said.

With support from UT Dallas’ Academic Bridge Program, which

helps high-potential, first-generation college students complete a college education, Rodríguez began her college career with a goal of

earning a PhD and becoming a psychologist. But her plans took a different turn when she started volunteering and then working at the Center for Children and Families (CCF), part of the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences.

She began by providing agency referrals for families served by CCF. Then she was asked to help with the center’s Juega Conmigo (Play With Me) program, which helps foster healthy parent-child relationships and lays a foundation for children’s social-emotional learning and school readiness.

“I started working with kids and I fell in love with it,” she said.

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Diana Rodríguez came to UT Dallas with support from the Academic Bridge Program and worked at the Center for Children and Families, part of the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. After earning her degree this week, she plans to pursue a master’s degree and become a counselor.

“I want to be able to work with immigrant families who don’t have resources. It can be hard for them to find a counselor who’s bilingual like me.”

Diana Rodriguez, who will graduate with degrees in psychology and child learning and development