Here at Pi Phi we pride ourselves on sisterhood and friendship! Our values of Integrity, Lifelong Commitment, Honor and Respect, Personal and Intellectual Growth, Philanthropic Service to others, and sincere friendship are exhibited throughout our house each day! Surrounding ourselves with our kind, intelligent, and driven sisters pushes us to be the best version of ourselves.
One Aspect of particular focus within our chapter is our philanthropic initiatives. As a chapter, we donate to our national philanthropy organization Read>Lead> Achieve, which is committed to increasing children's literacy throughout the US. In the Spring, our chapter volunteers at local elementary schools in Santa Barbara through a program called "Champions Are Readers". Within this program, we work with students to improve their reading skills, boost their confidence in their academics, and allow them to be more acquainted with class work. We look forward to this project each year and love seeing our work in the classroom make a difference.
In the winter we host Arrowjam, an additional fundraiser for the Read, Lead, Achieve foundation to promote children's literacy. Arrowjam is a dance competition in which each sorority and fraternity in all of UCSB greek life participates! The funds for donation are gathered through tickets that are sold to the event. Arrowjam is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year–because what's better than busting out some moves for a good cause? Before the big night, there's a week of fundraisers including the interactive and hilarious "Pie a Pi Phi" on campus; we can't wait to do it all again fall quarter!
Committing to UCSB was easily the best decision I made after high school, and accepting my bid to become a member of Pi Beta Phi is a (very) close second. Coming to college, I was nervous about moving so far from home without any of the people I grew up with. I was scared I’d get lost in a 24,000 person school and that I wouldn’t find the same comfort and support I had at home. Not long after my Bid Day, I realized my Pi Phi sisters were some of the most remarkable women I’d ever met. Pi Phi soon became my second home, and my sisters my second family. No matter if I was at the beach or in the library, my sisters filled my days with laughter and adventure.
I am honored and proud to represent this group of women as their Chapter President, and even more proud of the way our members continue to uphold our six core values deeply rooted in our history: Integrity, Lifelong Commitment, Philanthropic Service to Others, Personal and Intellectual Growth, Honor and Respect, and Sincere Friendship. On my Bid Day two years ago, I had no grasp of the impact Pi Beta Phi has as an organization, nor the impact it would have on my life. I never anticipated how one simple decision at the beginning of my college career would prepare me for success after college and bring me so much happiness.
Through Pi Phi, I have developed myself academically, grown as a leader, and learned the true meaning of sisterhood. Pi Phi has truly shaped my college experience, and I know that I would not be the woman I am today without the love, support, and encouragement from the women of this organization.
I invite you to learn more about our Fraternity via our National Website: pibetaphi.org, and I encourage you to explore how you can make the most out of your collegiate experience as a UCSB Panhellenic woman.
Pi Phi Love & Mine,
Paris Paz
Chapter President
California Zeta, Pi Beta Phi