Olya Egorov // incoming senior // formal recruitment - 2019

"Hello curious PNMs and future Pi Phis! My name is Olya Egorov and I am a political science - public service major at UC Davis. I wanted to write a tad about a club that I founded, along with my friend, Kiara Kunnes, called Girl Up.
At a national level, Girl Up is a campaign initiative run by the United Nations that seeks to help adolescent girls through awareness and funds. The campaign attempts to advance the skills, rights, and opportunities of girls everywhere; in other words, achieve gender equality worldwide. Members of Girl Up are given the opportunity to become leaders and advocates within their own communities and beyond. For example (in normal circumstances), an international summit is held in Washington D.C. every year to educate and discuss the campaign’s goals and initiatives. Our president has attended three of these summits.
As a prior intern of NARAL Pro-Choice America and PERIOD @ UC-Davis, I am a strong advocate for womens rights, ensuring that women of all ages and backgrounds are given equal opportunities in all fields, at all costs. As a student myself, I believe education is an important part of a woman’s pursuits. As Vice President of Girl Up, I want to ensure that women within my community and beyond start with a strong basis to pursue an education. Though this club was recently founded, Kiara and I seek to impact the lives of our members and UC-Davis community. Stay tuned for more information about Girl Up through our Instagram: @girlup.ucdavis"

Lindsey Papuc // incoming senior // formal recruitment - 2019

"I joined Pi Beta Phi my freshman year at UC Davis. I am very proud to be apart of a group of women who I know will always support me. Not only do the women in Pi Phi inspire me to do well academically, but they also encourage me to participate in a philanthropy which I hold very close to my heart. I knew I wanted to join Pi Phi during recruitment on philanthropy day when I learned about Pi Phi’s support of childhood literacy.  I learned that Pi Phi volunteers at a local elementary school. My sisters read to children after school in support of childhood literacy. In elementary school, I struggled with having ADHD, especially reading comprehension, and I remember having older students help me with my homework and reading comprehension workbooks. These volunteers made a huge impact on my elementary school experience so when I got older, I wanted to give back to younger students who I share an experience with.  Pi Beta Phi at UC Davis has allowed me to get involved in a philanthropy which has helped me give back to young students, who I once was."

Sophie Warda // incoming senior // formal recruitment - 2017

"Being a first generation college student, I had no idea what to expect when moving to Davis. On top of this, I had heard about the Greek system and wanted to give it a try. The week of recruitment seemed overwhelming at times, but all of the active members reassured me that school is always a priority at UC Davis. I was scared that I wouldn't make friends because of my severe social anxiety, but Pi Beta Phi was the only house where I felt as if I could freely talk and be truly heard. The feeling of belonging is so important to me because I have always struggled with self-confidence. After joining Pi Phi, my time at Davis was immediately more comfortable because of the friendships and resources that this chapter provided me with. I was encouraged to find a well-balanced experience at Davis that was a healthy fit for me and my personal needs. I have always felt as if my personal decisions for my life have been completely understood by our executive board of amazing girls. Although I am nervous to graduate during this upcoming year, I know that I will always have this support system of strong women to fall back on."