Significant Sigma Kappas

Members of Sigma Kappa have excelled in their fields, advanced their scholarly interests, and have helped make the world a better place in humanitarian terms. Some, recognized as being "first," were pioneers who opened fields of endeavor for women of today. They are all an inspiration and source of pride.

While some are known internationally by colleagues in their chosen fields and others are well-known to members of the public, the knowledge that they are also Sigma Kappas is often an insight only Sigma Kappas share.

Their fields of endeavor are diverse, and the following lists are meant to serve as a sampling of the diversity in Sigma Kappa excellence.

Fay Burnett, Sigma, was the first nutritionist for Weight Watchers International. She wrote their first maintenance plan. Thousands used it as a guide to maintain their normal weight after their proper weight loss.

Linda Cross Dowdy, Epsilon Epsilon, is managing editor for The Lyons Group, the creator and owner of Barney, the popular purple dinosaur featured on PBS. She has authored the best-selling children's book, Barney Goes to the Zoo and has been instrumental in the development of 25 Barney book titles published by The Lyons Group's Barney Publishing division.

Anna Harper, Lambda, was inducted into the California Women Athletes Hall of Fame. She was a Wimbledon tennis champion in 1931 and has won other numerous state and national tennis championships. Anna served as national president of Sigma Kappa from 1939-1942.

Susan Johne, Alpha Chi, Kentucky State senator, 1994.

Judith Guest la Vercombe, Alpha Mu, is the author of Ordinary People, the first unsolicited manuscript to be accepted by Viking Press since 1949, and became a motion picture.

Betty Jo Peacock Hay, Sigma, was president of the National Mental Health Association in 1986. She has received such honors as the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health Award, Women Helping Women Award, Mental Health Association in Texas Honoree, Public Citizen of the Year, and other awards for her contributions to higher education and children's mental health.

Rhea Seddon, Lambda, mission specialist for NASA. Her first flight into space was aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985. She took her Sigma Kappa badge on her flight into space.

Margaret Chase Smith, Alpha, was the first U.S. woman senator, first woman to sit in both houses of Congress, recipient of the U.S. Air Force's most prestigious award, the American Spirit Award, in recognition of her contributions as "a great American patriot." She was also presented with a Doctor of Laws honorary degree from Rutgers University in addition to her other 95 honorary degrees. She was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award presented by President George Bush in July 1989.

Sarah Weddington, Zeta Nu, is an attorney and spokesperson on public issues and leadership. In 1972 she became the first woman elected from Austin to be a member of the Texas House of Representatives. Sarah served three terms as a representative before becoming assistant to President Jimmy Carter. Sarah is well-known for her work on issues affecting women in her role as an attorney, as a legislator, as a professor and as an expert called upon by the national media. Her first book, A Question of Choice, detailed the Roe v. Wade case which she argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and won in 1973.

Theresa Grentz, Theta, has been the women's head basketball coach at the University of Illinois since 1995. Prior to her career at the University of Illinois, she had a decorated history at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. She was the head coach from 1976-1995 where she earned six Atlantic 10 titles and four Atlantic 10 tournament titles. At the University of Illinois, Theresa lead her team to 50 wins in 76 games in her first year. Her success earned her back-to-back Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 1997 and 1998.

Ashley Henderson Huff, Epsilon Epsilon, a First Lieutenant in the United States Army was the first known sorority casualty in the current conflict in Iraq .