Hundreds of women gathered in Irvine Auditorium Sunday to mark the official inauguration of the 109th Panhellenic Executive Council.
The ceremony, known as the Circle of Sisters, is an annual event to celebrate achievements of the past year and welcome new sorority sisters into the Panhel community.
Panhel members recited the Panhellenic Creed, pledging to serve to the best of their abilities their college communities.
Each incoming vice president was invited on stage by their predecessor and presented with a symbolic gift. These included a knife for the vice president of recruitment — intended to symbolize fairness and equality — and a feather quill for the vice president of administration — a reminder to always keep excellent minutes.
Outgoing Panhel President and College senior Alissa Eisenberg, a former Daily Pennsylvanian editor, expressed her gratitude to fellow colleagues and friends for a “tremendous” year for the Panhel community at Penn — the largest women’s organization on campus.
She also applauded the eight-percent increase in recruitment numbers Panhel sororities saw last week.
Eisenberg also highlighted last year’s philanthropic success, which included raising over $7,000 in less than a month for Operation Warm, a charity that provides winter coats to children in need. This enabled every student at Drew Elementary School to receive a winter coat.
Incoming President and College junior Darby Nelson stressed the importance of scholarship, service and leadership in the extended Panhellenic family. She aims to improve the annual fall carnival, “Sororientation,” and increase sororities’ philanthropic presence on campus.
“It means a lot to me to see new members attend Circle of Sisters,” she added. “I look forward to seeing them grow.”
