By Shelby Grace Sparrow, Zeta Chi—Baylor, 2026 Executive Office Marketing and Communications Summer Intern 

From the moment I joined Alpha Delta Pi, my sisters told me, “ADPi is for life,” but when I was wrapped up in recruitment, sisterhood events, and formals, the four-year experience felt like my whole sorority world. That was before starting my internship at Executive Office where my network of one-hundred chapter sisters expanded beyond my imagination, and my connection to ADPi grew as well. 

When I was dropped off in Atlanta for the summer, I was anxious but looking forward to bonding with the other interns. Would they come from chapters similar to mine, or would I feel like a fish out of water? 

The first day, our conversations came slowly, but soon, the ice broke. Through card games in the den, trivia while out to dinner, reality TV watch parties, endless inside jokes, and the ever-present connection to ADPi, we forged true friendships. I quickly found that chapters far smaller and far larger than mine were all tethered to each other through shared values and rituals. Despite differences between schools, we all give violets in celebration of our sisterhood. 

This summer, the interns spent weeks assisting with the 175th Anniversary Grand Convention. In preparation, we organized name tags, meal cards, and more for 850 attendees. While in Palm Desert, California, we jumped in to assist Executive Office staff behind the scenes, flipping tables between meals and placing gifts, and out front, greeting sisters picking up their new history books. 

Though we were busy, there was plenty of time to enjoy Convention. I was especially excited to meet ten women from my chapter, Zeta Chi. Our chapter has been open at Baylor since 1980, so it was a privilege to meet women who have been involved all throughout our history. I even met Emily Erkel, a past International President and Zeta Chi member who has become a celebrity to me. Seeing how she leads with kindness and has remained incredibly involved in ADPi her whole life is inspiring.  

It fully hit me on the final night of Convention when I saw a perfect example of how ADPi endures throughout one’s life during the presentation of the Golden Lion awards. As each winning chapter was honored, all collegian and alumnae members and advisors rushed up to the stage. The alumnae cheering them on had built relationships worth returning to and were contributing to their chapter’s legacy long after graduation. As I continue my time as a Delta, I hope that I too establish something I will return to for decades to come. 

At the end of our internship, we visited Macon, Georgia to see Wesleyan College—the birthplace of our sisterhood. While the campus and town have certainly changed since 1851, seeing Macon made me value the impact of our founders more than ever before. 

As I reflect on this summer and the connections I’ve made with my sisters nationwide, I remember the words I whispered as I stood by Eugenia’s grave in Rose Hill Cemetery: “Thank you, Eugenia.” I thank Eugenia and so many more for this summer’s memories and laughter. Thank you for my friendships in Zeta Chi and with my fellow interns. Thank you for the future I have to look forward to as an alumna. Thank you for the next 175 years of sisterhood.