Dear Potential New Members,

 
        Welcome to the BEST 4 years of your life!!! I am so excited to be one of the first to welcome you into the Auburn Family. My name is Kate Lakis and I have the honor to serve as the Vice President of Recruitment for Pi Beta Phi in 2023. I have had the privilege to call Auburn home for the past three years, and I have met so many incredible people and made the greatest memories. I am excited to be part of your formal rush experience, and hope that Recruitment Week is filled with new friends and new experiences.
        I went through formal recruitment in the Fall of 2020, which does not seem that long ago. I remember being both terrified and excited because I had no idea what to expect from recruitment at Auburn. I was being pushed far out of my comfort zone like never before. After a long first day of Philanthropy rounds, I remember my last party, Pi Beta Phi, perfectly. Everything that I had been worrying about or stressed about immediately went away. I felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and happiness as soon as I walked in, and I met members who lived as far away as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston. Every girl I talked to in Pi Beta Phi was accepting, caring, loving, and genuinely happy. It did not take very long for me to realize that I wanted Pi Beta Phi to be part of my Auburn family. 
        There is no comparable feeling to running home to your new sisters on Bid Day. On that hot day in the middle of August, I remember running home to the girl who is now my big. I was so overwhelmed with happiness and excitement that even though I walked into a chapter room filled with strangers at the time- Pi Beta Phi’s, family, alumni, and new members, I felt so loved and accepted.Little did I know that the chapter room would be the scene of some of my fondest memories. Over the next two semesters, I formed relationships with girls in my pledge class and the many above, and I cannot imagine my first year at Auburn without them. The women of Pi Beta Phi are the girls that push me to reach my full potential, support me in everything I do, and hold me to the highest standard. During my time at Auburn, I have grown and learned so much, and I could not have done it without the love and support from my sisters these past two years. 
        I cannot explain to you how much Auburn, Pi Beta Phi, and all the Panhellenic women of Auburn have shaped me into the person I am today, and I want you to have the same opportunity. I am so thankful to be a part of such a strong Panhellenic community, and I am proud to be a member of it. Formal recruitment begins August 8th and I am looking forward to meeting you all. See you soon!!

Pi Phi Love, 
Kate Lakis
Vice President of Recruitment 2023

We will be accepting letters of recommendation up until the day before recruitment, August 5, 2023! Please utilize the Pi Beta Phi online portal to send your letters of recommendation. The portal can be found here: https://www.pibetaphi.org/recruitment 

If you are unable to complete your letter of recommendation through the website, please email it to our recruitment team at algamma.vprecruitment@gmail.com! Please feel free to reach out with any further inquires about recruitment, recommendations, etc.