Marketing department alumna and graduate assistant Kaitlynn Kaminski was recently recognized by Delta Sigma Pi as the Gateway Regional Collegian of the Year and the South Central Provincial Collegian of the Year for her work with the Kappa Omicron chapter at Missouri State University. This achievement recognizes Kaminski’s efforts to develop not only the Missouri State chapter but the national fraternity as a whole. In her two and a half years of membership, she has left a lasting impact on DSP-KO at Missouri State that will not soon be forgotten.
Kaitlynn Kaminski began her time at Missouri State in 2017 when she started working towards her Bachelor of Science in Marketing Research. She was a highly engaged student and sought out opportunities to further her experience. Kaminski pledged Delta Sigma Pi – Kappa Omicron in the fall of 2018 and quickly dove head-first into the organization. “I was the pledge class president during my pledging semester and then went on to serve on the pledge education committee the following semester,” says Kaminski. “After getting more involved on a committee, I knew I wanted to continue to get involved and give back to my chapter.” With each semester, Kaminski’s involvement continued to grow as she learned more about the fraternity and developed relationships with her brothers.
During her time with the chapter, Kaminski has held several positions including Vice President of Pledge Education, Vice President of Alumni Relations, and Chapter President. She has also gotten involved with Delta Sigma Pi on a national level, attending national events, serving on a national COVID-19 task force, and hosting a seminar focused on alumni relations. Even after completing her undergraduate degree in May of 2020, Kaminski continued to be involved in Delta Sigma Pi while working on her Master of Business Administration.
As a result of her dedication to the organization, Kaminski was nominated by her fraternity brothers to be considered as the Collegian of the Year (COY). COY nominees embody the values and ideals laid out by the fraternity and have made meaningful impacts through their contributions, achievements, and personal character. After she was nominated, Kaminski completed an application that involved demonstrating her commitment to the fraternity, community involvement, and scholastic aptitude. COY applications are reviewed by the Regional Scholastic Development and Awards Committee to select a total of 31 Regional COY recipients. Regional COYs are then reviewed by a Provincial committee to determine the five Provincial COY recipients. Once these nominees are finalized, a National COY is chosen by to represent all of Delta Sigma Pi’s membership and serves the Board of Directors for a two-year term.
After a thorough review process, Kaminski was recognized as the Gateway Regional COY and, subsequently, the South Central Provincial COY. The recipients were announced over Zoom, but Kaminski was still able to celebrate her achievements with her fraternity brothers and alumni. “When the winners were announced, my phone was blowing up with congratulations,” says Kaminski. “The support and appreciation made me feel like the work I have done and the relationships I have made have left a positive impact on my brothers and my chapter.” Delta Sigma Pi – Kappa Omicron chapter advisor and marketing faculty member Courtney Pham spoke highly of Kaminski’s contributions, saying “she stepped up to the challenge when we needed her to do so.” She continues on to say that “she is very proactive with members and has been an asset to Delta Sigma Pi.”
Beyond these awards, Kaminski is grateful for the opportunities that her involvement with Delta Sigma Pi has provided her personally and professionally. She specifically notes that the fraternity has helped her form connections with other DSP alumni and develop important skills that have made her a more effective communicator. “Being confident in your ability to talk with anyone and everyone and build connections with them is so vital in general, but especially when trying to find a job,” says Kaminski. “Delta Sigma Pi helped me build that confidence which enabled me to obtain several internships and jobs while in college and a full-time job offer when I graduate.” Her experiences in various leadership positions have also developed her leadership abilities and given her experience with managing diverse teams, making strategic decisions, and navigating a team through tumultuous times.
When reflecting on her involvement with Delta Sigma Pi, Kaitlynn recognizes the importance of getting involved and how it can help in pursuits later in life. “As with most things, you only get out of an organization what you put into it, so be ready to make the commitment. I promise it pays off in the end.”
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