The History of Theta Upsilon
The first meeting of an interest group was held on December 12, 1995 followed by two sessions March 28, 1996, conducted by Dr. Ann Estill, Phi C Province Officer. Later on, the group selected the name, "The Gothic Muses," and led by Tracy Reinhardt, President, and Dr. Colleen Conway, Advisor, appeared before the Inter-Greek Council, which recognized them officially on October 7, 1996. Dr. Van Alen, an alumnae member of the Central New Jersey Chapter, became our advisor on October 8th, 1997.
On February 9th, 1998, the Formal Petition was successfully submitted under the guidance of Dr. Janice Van Alen, Advisor. Mrs. Barbara Staton made the Post Petition visit on March 4, 1998. On May 16, 1998 "The Gothic Muses" became the Theta Upsilon Chapter. The Chapter Initiation and Installation Ceremonies were led by Mrs. Shelby G. MacFarlane, National Vice President, Extension and Fraternity Development.
Our chapter founders were of very distinct and different backgrounds, both in music and in life. Rose Cabbagestalk, Maryann Corso, Darrell Jean Donelan, Paula Gallaway, Jessica J. Kochanski, Kathy Kozachock, Claire Lisanti-Sanchez, Kim Malloy, Anna Mancini, Giselle Mitchell, Karen Moreno, Sharon Osenenko, Tracy A. Reinhardt, Maria Ina San Diego, Alyssa Storm and Samantha Tweedie, joined together in a most admirable way and started a tradition of friendship and sisterhood.
In May of 1999, we initiated our first honorary member as a Friend of the Arts, Dr. Edward Raditz, Chairman of the Department of Music, Dance, and Theater at New Jersey City University. Theta Upsilon instituted its first chapter award called the Maryann Corso Fundraising Award at the first Founders' Day Celebration. The award was first given to Ms Corso.
In October of 1999, Dr. Min Kim and Ms. Rosanne Bricker became the first two patronesses of the Theta Upsilon Chapter. During our second Founders Day Celebration, Sharon Osenenko became the third recipient of the Maryann Corso Fundraising Award.
During our 2001 Founders' Day Celebration, we gave out our first Sisterhood & Dedication Award to Miss Victoria Wefer. The award was created to recognize outstanding dedication to the chapter on a community level. Miss Wefer also received the Maryann Corso Fundraising Award, the Sword of Honor, and the Province College Leadership Award. In November of that same year, after joining an alumnae chapter, Victoria received the Ruby Sword of Honor.
At our Founders' Day Celebration in 2002, Jaimelynn Lennon received the Sisterhood and Dedication Award, as well as the Maryann Corso Fundraising Award. Miss Lennon was also one of ten recipients of the Sigma Alpha Iota Undergraduate Scholarship given by Sigma Alpha Iota Philanthropies,Inc.
In 2003, Theta Upsilon initiated Dr. Gilles Bernard and Dr. Robert Prowse as Friend of the Arts, and we acquired a new advisor, our wonderful NJCU faculty music teacher, Dr. Warren.
On February 9th, 1998, the Formal Petition was successfully submitted under the guidance of Dr. Janice Van Alen, Advisor. Mrs. Barbara Staton made the Post Petition visit on March 4, 1998. On May 16, 1998 "The Gothic Muses" became the Theta Upsilon Chapter. The Chapter Initiation and Installation Ceremonies were led by Mrs. Shelby G. MacFarlane, National Vice President, Extension and Fraternity Development.
Our chapter founders were of very distinct and different backgrounds, both in music and in life. Rose Cabbagestalk, Maryann Corso, Darrell Jean Donelan, Paula Gallaway, Jessica J. Kochanski, Kathy Kozachock, Claire Lisanti-Sanchez, Kim Malloy, Anna Mancini, Giselle Mitchell, Karen Moreno, Sharon Osenenko, Tracy A. Reinhardt, Maria Ina San Diego, Alyssa Storm and Samantha Tweedie, joined together in a most admirable way and started a tradition of friendship and sisterhood.
In May of 1999, we initiated our first honorary member as a Friend of the Arts, Dr. Edward Raditz, Chairman of the Department of Music, Dance, and Theater at New Jersey City University. Theta Upsilon instituted its first chapter award called the Maryann Corso Fundraising Award at the first Founders' Day Celebration. The award was first given to Ms Corso.
In October of 1999, Dr. Min Kim and Ms. Rosanne Bricker became the first two patronesses of the Theta Upsilon Chapter. During our second Founders Day Celebration, Sharon Osenenko became the third recipient of the Maryann Corso Fundraising Award.
During our 2001 Founders' Day Celebration, we gave out our first Sisterhood & Dedication Award to Miss Victoria Wefer. The award was created to recognize outstanding dedication to the chapter on a community level. Miss Wefer also received the Maryann Corso Fundraising Award, the Sword of Honor, and the Province College Leadership Award. In November of that same year, after joining an alumnae chapter, Victoria received the Ruby Sword of Honor.
At our Founders' Day Celebration in 2002, Jaimelynn Lennon received the Sisterhood and Dedication Award, as well as the Maryann Corso Fundraising Award. Miss Lennon was also one of ten recipients of the Sigma Alpha Iota Undergraduate Scholarship given by Sigma Alpha Iota Philanthropies,Inc.
In 2003, Theta Upsilon initiated Dr. Gilles Bernard and Dr. Robert Prowse as Friend of the Arts, and we acquired a new advisor, our wonderful NJCU faculty music teacher, Dr. Warren.