Commitment to Community Service

Our sister Lauren Ahn has been dedicated to her commitment to community service this summer with her time spent in the Dominican Republic working with Empowering Action.  Empowering Action is a non-profit organization that works to combat poverty by mobilizing expertise and resources in communities in partnership with local churches.  She was part of their Abundant Life Program, a 16-week program that helps empower participating communities to overcome poverty with relevant knowledge and tangible skills that can improve both their physical health and economic status.  As a photographer, her main duty was to take photos at all of the locations to which she went, so that Empowering Action could use them for their website, social media, prints. etc. Lauren also worked with their Virtuous Women program, which helps women make and promote their own products, teaches economic empowerment, and guides the participating ladies to become successful business women.  The little girl she's holding is the youngest of eight children who have all been raised by a single mother named Cintia.  Cintia was able to open up her first bank account ever a few weeks ago due to the money she's made with the program.  We are so proud of you Lauren for your hard work and being an example of a leading woman.  

Developing Leadership Potential

We are so proud of our sister Alaina Swindell Jones! This summer she interned at USA TODAY. Here's what she shared from her experience:

"This past summer I had the amazing opportunity to intern with USA TODAY as a Strategic Brand Marketing Intern. They had me working closely with interns in all departments who happened to come from all over the United States. I became close with two girls in particular, Polly who attends Tulane University, and Margaux who attends Vanderbilt University. One day as we chatted over lunch, I happened to mention something about Greek Life and my experience with Theta. They looked at me shocked and explained that they were both Thetas at their universities as well. We had bonded over circumstances entirely separate from our shared sisterhood and discovering this commonality down the road just made our connection all the more special. Our story ended up getting recognized on the UMD Theta Instagram, and I was then contacted by the Theta Nationals’ Head of Social Media, who asked us to do a Snapchat takeover showcasing our experiences as USA TODAY interns. It was definitely a once-in-a lifetime opportunity, and I’m certain all three of us will ever forget it. It’s definitely a reminder that I’ll continue to find sisters in the most unexpected of places, which makes leaving UMD in May not feel so scary after all."