Sylvia's Story

In 1951, I went through rush at San Diego State and pledged Alpha Xi Delta which had about 30 members. Sororities on my campus didn’t have houses, they had a room at Balboa Park near the San Diego Zoo. It was an active group who helped me through my college experience. We had a great time together including making the Alpha Xi Delta Homecoming float.

Who knew that over 66 years later, I would still be keeping in contact with sorority Sisters especially with a pledge Sister, Vera. Vera and I have gotten together through the years together and still keep in touch.

In 1963 in Galveston, Texas, my husband noticed a fellow marine biologist work colleague, Zoula, had a copy of the Quill in her office. He told Zoula, “my wife gets that.” This began the 55 year alumnae friendship of Alpha XI Delta members from Drake and San Diego State.

Later, we were contacted by alumnae forming a group in the Bay Area of Houston about 35 miles away. We helped form the Bay Area Alumnae Association. Over the years, I met interesting alumna through the group including an Astronaut, doctors, teachers and a wide variety of other outstanding women. As a chemistry instructor at Texas A&M University at Galveston, I also met other Alpha Xi Deltas pursuing new careers.

In 2008, Hurricane IKE forced my husband and I to move to my daughter’s in Round Rock, Texas which meant leaving behind my Sisters in the Houston-Galveston area. However, I have kept my membership with the current Houston Area Alumni group. Several years ago, I was contacted by the Austin alums and went to a meeting. Little did they know, I was an old lady almost eighty, and they were my granddaughter’s age!

Alpha Xi Delta has made my life richer in friendships as I moved across the United States. 

Written by Sylvia Jennings, '51 San Diego State