Name: Shawn Bennett         

Major: Elementary Education

Organization: Alpha Phi Omega

 

Describe GSS and what the members mean to you.

Gamma Sigma Sigma is not only an organization of ladies dedicated to improving the well-being of the campus and the community, but it is an organization of Ladies that I am proud to call my sisters. Gamma Sigma Sigma has been my most favorite group on campus, even more so than my own. In 2006 I left school to pursue different options outside of UMD, but because of the love for the connections and fun times I had had with the GSS Ladies I couldn’t stay away for more than a semester. The ladies of Gamma Sigma Sigma were a major part of my decision to come back, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Last year was actually a rough year for me I wasn’t having the successes that I wanted in school, and my organizations had seemingly become a little more distant for me to be a part of. I was used to having the group of guys there for me, but I no longer felt that they were and I started to find that I would rather spend more time with some of the ladies of Gamma Sigma Sigma then the fellers of APO. This is a feeling that I still have, I find myself hanging out more with Sigs on a regular basis than I do with phi’s. The ladies of Gamma Sigma Sigma have given me so many good memories that I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them.

 

Why would you be a good GSS Sweetheart?

I am a firm believer that Gamma Sigma Sigma is the better of the two Sigmas (GSS and PSS) on campus, as some of you know. I feel that it takes a certain type of person to willingly go out and actively pursue service to the community. I love all the ladies of Gamma Sigma Sigma because I feel that they all grasp this quality with open arms every day. Being considered and honorary member of Gamma Sigma Gigma would be such an honor, not because of the title alone, but because of the process in which the members have to go through before they can be considered for membership. This year for activation, I felt the new members of Gamma Sigma Sigma should get free cups at the party because I felt it would be a good way to say congratulations to those new members and welcoming them into the rest of their Greek lives. One of my greatest memories was being a part of the best football win on Griggs field last year, and most of you know what that means. I would gladly put down what I am doing to help out any lady of GSS, whether it be a flat tire, stuck in a ditch, whatever, I think there should be no limit to the amount of kindness anyone person can show.

 

What types of service/community involvement are you currently associated with?

I joined Alpha Phi Omega in the fall of 2006 to be of service to my campus and the surrounding community as a whole. Between APO and my in school service hours I have completed over 300 hours of community service for both. Because of my service I have received both the Presidential Service Award, and the UMD Outstanding Service Award. In the past 4 years I have done services for the YMCA, Special Olympics, Buddy Walk, Safewalk, Domiano Soup Kitchen, Highway clean up, I volunteer weekly at Lester Park Elementary school helping students in a second grade classroom with their reading, writing, and more recently their lines for a Thanksgiving play. One of my most favorite service events was the Polar Plunge in 2008, I raised 75 dollars which is the amount needed to jump, I think it is an event everyone should try. I am in fact heading up a team this year to go back and do it again.

 

How do you intend to uphold the ideals of service, friendship, and equality?

These three ideals are great words to base an organization around. Service and friendship are two ideals that I uphold everyday and I would even if I was not a part of my or any organization on campus. Service should be something any person should look to do because we are so fortunate to be in the positions that we are in and there are others that will never be able to go to college, or put in these same situations. Friendship is something I look for in every person I meet. I know that my time at college here has given people all sorts of ideas about who I am and what I have done, when I first meet someone I want to be their friend. A friend that would be there for that person if the time can, a person that could make that person laugh and then laugh with then, that is what a friend is. In High school I didn’t have very many friends, and every friend I have today has come from college, some from APO, some from other organizations, and a lot from Gamma Sigma Sigma. Equality is important in this day and age because I feel that not everyone is treated the same. People no matter what age, color, gender, sexual preference are all capable of achieving the same goals as everyone else. We are all capable of helping each other through life, and we are all capable of doing the same things to make our lives and everyone else’s as enjoyable as they can be.

 

Additional Comments:

Last year I was nominated as sweetheart and getting to know the Ladies of Gamma Sigma Sigma has given me some of the best times of my college career. Being nominated for a second year has only strengthened my love and loyalty for the ladies of Gamma Sigma Sigma. I would like to thank all of you ladies for giving me another reason to come back to school, and I look forward to the rest of the year with all of you.