History

Kappa Kappa Gamma is one of the oldest women's fraternities. Since being founded in 1870 by six pioneering women at Monmouth College in Illinois, Kappa's membership has grown to more than 220,000 women, with 135 collegiate chapters in the United States and Canada and more than 300 alumnae associations worldwide.

The Omega Chapter was founded at the University of Kansas in 1883. Kappa Kappa Gamma at KU is truly the experience of a lifetime.

Symbols

The Founders selected the golden key as the badge of Kappa Kappa Gamma. The badge is worn strictly as an emblem of membership and only by initiated members.

The colors of the Fraternity are light blue and dark blue, and the Fraternity jewel is the sapphire. The sapphire is recognized as a symbol of truth, sincerity and constancy.

The fleur-de-lis was chosen as the flower of Kappa Kappa Gamma because of its dignity, stateliness and grace, and because it combines the two blues of the Fraternity in one flower.

Famous Kappas

Arts and Entertainment

  • Jean Bartel ΓΞ, UCLA, 1942 — Miss America, 1943
  • Lauren "Lo" Bosworth ΕΨ, UCSB, 2004 — Reality TV actress; Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, and The Hills
  • Sophia Bush ΔΤ, USC, 2000 — TV and film Actress
  • Gretchen Carlson ΒΗ, Stanford, 1985 — Fox News anchor, former CBS Early Show anchor, Miss America, 1989
  • Gena Rowlands Cassavetes Η, Wisconsin, 1949 — TV and film actress; nominated for an Oscar in 1974; played Allie Calhoun in The Notebook, 2004
  • Barbara Feldon ΔΞ, Carnegie-Mellon, 1953 — Actress; most famous for her role as Agent 99 in the television series, Get Smart
  • Jane Froman Θ, Missouri, 1927 — Singer; TV actress
  • Kate Jackson ΔΡ, Mississippi, 1967 — Actress; portrayed Sabrina Duncan on the television series, Charlie's Angels
  • Ashley Judd ΒΧ, Kentucky, 1987 — Actress; credits include A Time to Kill, 1996, Kiss the Girls, 1997, and Double Jeopardy, 1999
  • Michelle Lombardo ΔΜ, University of Connecticut, 2001 — Model; won Sports Illustrated's Fresh Faces Contest of 2004
  • Madelyn Pugh Martin Δ, Indiana, 1939 — TV scriptwriter; creator of "I Love Lucy"
  • Constance Ramos ΕΑ/ΓΑ, Texas Christian/Kansas State, 1982 — Former designer on Extreme Makeover Home Edition; star of HGTV's Color Correction
  • Casey Reinhardt ΖΦ, Pepperdine, 2005 — Reality TV actress; Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County
  • Laurie Hickson Smith ΓΦ, SMU, 1990 — Interior Designer for TLC's Trading Spaces

Business and Journalism

  • Ruth Leach Pollock Amonette Π(Δ), UC Berkeley, 1934 — First female vice president of IBM Corp
  • Robin Burns ΒΤ, Syracuse, 1971 — Former CEO of Victoria's Secret Beauty, Estee Lauder and Donna
  • Karan Cosmetics; served as president of Calvin Klein Cosmetics, and headed the cosmetics division of Bloomingdales
  • Rebecca Powell Casey ΒΘ, Oklahoma, 1970 — CEO for Harold's Stores, Inc.
  • Nancy Humphries O'Dell ΕΜ, Clemson, 1985 — Co-Anchor of Access Hollywood
  • Erin Moriarty ΒΝ, Ohio State, 1971 — CBS News; correspondent for 48 Hours
  • Jane Pauley Δ, Indiana, 1969 — Former anchorwoman for "Today Show," NBC
  • Jann Carl Sears Θ, Missouri, 1979 — Anchor for Entertainment Tonight
  • Katherine Brosnahan Spade Ω, Kansas, 1982 — Fashion Designer; co-founder of "Kate Spade brands"
  • Claire Drew Forbes Walker 
ΒΠ, Washington, 1927 — National "Advertising Woman of the Year;" started Santa Barbara's first advertising agency
  • Mari Winsor ΔΓ, Michigan State, 1969 — Founder of Winsor Pilates
  • Robin Wright ΒΔ, Michigan, 1967 — Political journalist; foreign correspondent; author

Athletics

  • Roberta Alison Baumgardner ΓΠ, Alabama, 1962 — First woman to play intercollegiate tennis on a men's team; won several titles
  • Doris Hart ΔΚ, Miami (Florida), 1947 — Third Kappa to win U.S. Women's Open Championship Tennis
  • Julia "Judy" Ade Levering Υ, Northwestern, 1957 — First female president of the U.S. Tennis Association; seniors tennis championship finalist
  • Betty Robinson Schwartz Υ, Northwestern, 1931 — Olympic gold medalist, 1928; member of the Track & Field Hall of Fame
  • Lisa Spain Short ΔΥ, Georgia, 1981 — 1984 NCAA Singles Champion, First All-American in women's tennis at UGA
  • Hollis Stacy ΔΕ, Rollins College, 1973 — Winner of 1978 Women's Open Golf Tournament
  • Donna de Varona ΓΞ, UCLA, 1966 — Swimmer and sports commentator; double gold medalists at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics
  • Beth Whittall ΓΔ, Purdue, 1954 — Swimmer; represented USA in the 1956 Olympics
  • Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman Π(Δ), UC Berkeley, 1910 — Tennis champion; founder of Wightman Tennis matches

Government and Science

  • Kay Cronkite Waldo Barnes Ω, Kansas, 1958 — Entrepreneur; county legislator, mayor of Kansas City
  • Shelley Moore Capito ΔΒ, Duke, 1972 — U.S. Congresswoman (R-WV), first elected in 2000
  • Phyllis Loughton Seaton ΒΔ, Michigan, 1925 — Mayor of Beverly Hills, Calif.; actress, director
  • Jane Swift ΖΘ, Trinity, 1985 — First woman governor of Massachusetts
  • Mareta West ΒΘ, Oklahoma 1936 — First woman astrologist; determined the crucial site for the first landing on the moon.