Sigma Alpha Iota

PAN PIPES • SUMMER 2017 • sai-national.org 6 Mu Tau President Receives University Award MUSIC NOTES H annah Ramirez, President of the Mu Tau Chapter at Colorado State University (CSU )— one of our newest chapters of Sigma Alpha Iota — was selected as the CSU Outstanding Officer of the Year for her work in helping establish the Colony and move the group towards installation. e Officer of the Year award is presented annually by CSU's Student Leadership, Involvement, and Engagement office (SLICE). Students are nominated by their peers or faculty members, and the SLICE office evaluates the nominations to decide which candidate best represents CSU's leadership vision. Members of the Mu Tau chapter nominated Hannah for her work towards chartering the chapter. She was chosen from amongst the officers of 460 student organizations, so it was truly a great honor! Chapter Advisor Copper Ferreira, an Assistant Professor of Music eory and Ensemble Coordinator at CSU, felt the award was well deserved and had this to say: "We are so proud of Hannah's tireless efforts to help complete the petition and installation process for the newest chapter of SAI. Her commitment to this organization and its principals is evident in her strong leadership through this sometimes challenging process. When she puts her mind to something, there is nothing that she and the chapter can't accomplish. I'm so thrilled that she's been recognized by the CSU community for her drive and perseverance." Ramirez is in her final year at CSU as an English Education major. She assumed the presidency of the colony in the spring semester of her freshman year and completed two terms. She now holds the position of Director of Social Media for the Panhellenic Association on campus and is also working to create a Professional Fraternity Council on campus. Mu Tau President Hannah Ramirez received the Colorado State University Outstanding Officer of the Year Award. A t Florida State University, the Beta Alpha chapter started something very new this past year. With the help of now alumna member Kailey Krupar, the chapter has incorporated American Sign Language (ASL) into every musicale. Kailey began to include sign language in the spring of 2016 when she was a brand new sister and had lost her voice right before the chapter's annual Valentine's Day musicale. She still wanted to perform with the chapter but had no voice to sing. She decided to translate the songs being performed into ASL, which she has studied since high school. It was the first time that a sister had done anything like that and it wowed the crowd. Everyone liked it so much that sisters in the chapter asked if they could do a group number completely in ASL. A small group learned the title song from Hamilton for the fall musicale and the rest is history. Beta Alpha hopes to keep this new tradition going even though Kailey has recently graduated from FSU, and three of our sisters — Alison Puetz, Olivia Wiley, and Piper McInall — will lead the way, as they also have experience and training in ASL. The entire process, from learning the song lyrics with ASL to the group rehearsals, takes about two months. The effort is well worth it, as the chapter believes strongly that music is not only for those with hearing; it is for everyone and Beta Alpha strives to spread music to all in the community. — Jessica Race, Beta Alpha Chapter treasurer Signing & Singing From left, Sarah Brenner, Adrienne Leffard, Maggie Smith, Kailey Krupar, Siera Condon, and Emily Offenkrantz perform Hamilton with ASL

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