Members of Delta Zeta Sorority perform during halftime at Stage for Change. Stage for Change was a talent show hosted by DZ during their philanthropy week titled “Camp Week.”
The Delta Zeta sorority (DZ) held their annual “Camp Week” to raise funds for their philanthropy partner Camp Aldersgate. Events included bake sales, competitive games and a talent show.
Each semester, the members of DZ come together to hold a series of events to promote their philanthropy, speech and hearing. Vice President of Philanthropy Tessa Yielding, a junior communications disorders major from Sherwood, Arkansas, said she wanted to base each event around camp festivities.
“It was this idea of making us feel as summer campy as possible because we are fundraising for a summer camp for children with disabilities,” Yielding said.
Along with spreading awareness for the program and communication disorders, the sorority raises money to help purchase new equipment for Camp Aldersgate. Yielding said their goal is to reach $2,000 to purchase canoe stabilizers that cost around $250 per unit, but wants to surpass that goal for further camp improvements.
“I want to well surpass that because they only need five, and then anything else we raise will go towards art supplies for the kids that go there,” Yielding said.
The sorority also held a bake sale to raise funds. On Monday, they hosted a grilled cheese and queso lunch at the DZ house. Later, on Tuesday, they shifted to selling desserts at the student union.
To engage students beyond selling baked goods, DZ held competitive and interactive events as well. Monday saw multiple Greek Life organizations gather for a relay race. In a clash between fraternities, Pi Kappa Alpha claimed victory over Phi Delta Theta while Alpha Omicron Pi was the lone participant in the sorority race.
The following day, the sorority held a talent show, Stage for Change, in Centennial Hall. Yielding said both the talent show and relay race related to Camp Aldersgate.
“At Camp Aldersgate, they do a talent show every week,” Yielding said. “That was the idea behind all that.”
The event showcased a variety of different performances from various fraternities and sororities, ranging from singing “My Way” by Frank Sinatra to a reading of feminist literature based around DZ.
Members of Delta Zeta also performed a halftime dance and Yielding, the 2025 Talent Winner during Miss A-State performed while a panel of judges ranked the best performances along with awarding a crowd favorite.
Hallee Cooper, a first-year business major from Paragould performs during Stage for Change. Cooper was also the Greek Goddess winner at Lambda Chi Alpha’s Cream of the Crop event in the fall.
The winners for the talent show were:
- People’s Choice: Harrison Herget, a junior interdisciplinary studies major from Jonesboro.
- Third Place: Bee Golleher, a sophomore music education and vocal performance major from Benton, Arkansas.
- Second Place: Hallee Cooper, a first-year business major from Paragould.
- First Place: Jackson McGinnis, a first-year economics and accounting double major from Marion.
Looking past a night of laughter and cheering, DZ members found fulfillment in what these events mean to the cause they are supporting.
Former Vice President of Philanthropy Lizzy Gargas, a junior fashion merchandising and marketing major from Kansas City, Missouri, said knowing all of these activities are going to a good cause makes their work worthwhile.
“All these college kids come together and raise money even when we’re all a little broke, and I just think that’s pretty meaningful,” Gargas said.
While being a meaningful experience, the fundraising week acted as a way for members to express themselves.
Emily Freeman, a junior communications disorder major from Bryant, Arkansas, said her work allowed her to get involved in something fulfilling but also became an outlet to showcase her identity, noting her dance performance with other DZ members at the talent show as an example.
“That has been my favorite part of it all. Just getting involved and really getting to give back because I’ve only ever tabled or participated in some small things like that,” Freeman said. “I’ve never been able to express myself and get out there.”
To wrap up their spring philanthropy week, DZ will hold two more events April 1. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Heritage Plaza Lawn, donors will get the chance to throw eggs at members of the sorority. Later, at 6 p.m., the sorority is hosting a kickball tournament at the intramural fields.
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