2015 Sweetheart Finalists - Vote Now
The 2015 International Sweetheart Scholarship has been narrowed down to six very deserving young women. The academic achievement, community engagement, and impact they have on their local TKE chapter is what makes them all great candidates to represent Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity at the International level. Now is the time for TKE Nation to decide who will represent our Fraternity for the next fiscal year. Voting starts now and will end Wednesday, April 15th at 11:59pm (ET). Review the brief biographies of our finalists and cast your vote for the 2014 International Sweetheart today.
Lauren Alexander
Kappa-Kappa - Monmouth University
Sorority: Delta Phi Epsilon
Major: Business – Marketing Concentration
Lauren represents Kappa-Kappa Chapter at Monmouth College. She is a sophomore and has a 3.0 GPA. Her major is business: marketing concentration and she is a member of the American Marketing Association Club. She served in the corresponding secretary position for Delta Phi Epsilon. Lauren is dedicated to community service with events such as Relay For Life and "The Big Event" and her sorority's chosen philanthropies, including Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders Association, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Educational Foundation.
"I believe that by becoming the International Sweetheart, it will help me to involve myself more and help serve Tau Kappa Epsilon's philanthropies, as well as my own, more significantly. It would be an honor to be selected."
Cassidy Berday
Alpha-Gamma - Washington State University
Sorority: Kappa Alpha Theta
Major: Pre-Dental/Biological Sciences
Cassidy is the representative of Alpha-Gamma Chapter at Washington State University. She is a sophomore with a 3.0 GPA and is majoring in pre-dental/biological sciences. She was on the fall 2013 dean's list and received a Washington State Academic Scholarship for both the 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 academic years. Cassidy is a member of the Pre-Dental Club, Spanish Club, Kappa Alpha Theta, and is a YMCA pre-school assistant teacher and youth referee. She is a volunteer for the Humane Society and elementary literacy program, a CASA advocate, and participated in Relay for Life Pullman and the WSU Dance-A-Thon Pullman Regional Hospital fundraiser.
"It would be an honor to represent the men of Tau Kappa Epsilon for many reasons; the most important is the pride I feel being associated with such a strong brotherhood. My association with TKE spans nearly two years, as the current 2014 TKE Sweetheart at the Alpha-Gamma chapter."
Taylore Graves
Beta-Xi - Beta-Xi
Sorority: Kappa Alpha Theta
Major: Family & Human Development
Taylore is the representative of Beta-Xi Chapter. She is a junior at Arizona State University with a 3.25 GPA, majoring in family & human development. She was on the dean's list both spring semester of 2013 and fall semester of 2014. She is a member of the Delta Epsilon chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Taylore is a volunteer for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), which works to improve the lives of abused and neglected children in Arizona; Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, Ronald McDonald House, Sojourner's domestic violence shelter, and the National Breast Cancer Society. She created a team to help aid in prevention methods against cyberbullying at Kyrene Aprende, a local middle school.
"Becoming Tau Kappa Epsilon's International Sweetheart would make my college experience that much better and would allow me the opportunity to get to know more gentlemen in TKE across the nation."
Christina Tygielski
Nu-Mu - University of South Alabama
Major: Exercise Science/Pre-Physical Therapy
Christina represents Nu-Mu Chapter at the University of South Alabama. She is a senior majoring in exercise science/pre-physical therapy and has a 4.0 GPA. She was awarded the Presidential Scholarship in 2011, inducted into Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society in 2012 and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society in 2013. She was on the President's List fall 2011 through fall 2014. Christina is a member of Mortar Board, served as president of Silver Wings, is secretary of the Pre-Physical Therapy Club and part of the University Honors Program. She has volunteered at the Mobile Pediatric Physical Therapy Clinic, Ronald McDonald House, annual Flags of Glory Veterans Day Memorial Service, and participated in TKE's annual Trick or TKE philanthropy.
"The Fraternity as a whole has made a huge impact on St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and the Nu-Mu chapter has made a huge impact on me. These men are my family and I would love to honor the chapter by representing Tau Kappa Epsilon as the International Sweetheart."
Victoria Velasquez
Kappa-Beta - University of Texas-Pan American
Sorority: Delta Zeta
Major: Finance
Victoria is the representative of Kappa-Beta Chapter at University of Texas-Pan American. She is a senior and has a 3.75 GPA. She is a finance major and was awarded the University Scholars Presidential Scholarship and International Women's Board Scholarship. She was on the dean's list spring 2012 through fall 2014 and was selected to Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Profiles in Excellence. She is a Delta Zeta Region Scholar and member of the Guerra Honors Program. Victoria is a University Scholars BRIDGE mentor, SGA Senator-at-Large and Chief Justice, a member of the Harvard Latino Leadership Initiative and participant in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. She co-founded a yearlong tutoring and college readiness program at a local high school and volunteered with Delta Zeta's Adopt-a-Highway and events supporting the Starkey Hearing Foundation.
"A Sweetheart is a positive female representative for the chapter who is not only a person who can be good friends with the gentlemen, but a scholar, a leader, a philanthropist, and a woman who can be a role model for the community."
Mio White
Pi-Xi - University of California, San Diego
Sorority: Kappa Kappa Gamma
Major: Chemical Engineering
Mia is the representative of Pi-Xi Chapter at University of California, San Diego. She is a senior with a 3.17 GPA, majoring in chemical engineering. She is executive officer of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Singapore Student Association, and a member of the Japanese Student Association and of UCSD Green Building Council. She was honored with a Recognition of Excellence for her contribution to the chemical vapor deposition reactor. Mia is a volunteer at the San Diego Green Building Council.
"Most important, these men [of the Pi-Xi chapter] are the ones who truly embody love, charity and esteem. As TKE's International Sweetheart, I would represent the constant and unconditional love and support they have for me and that I have for them."
For more information, please contact:
Katie Sayre
Production Manager
317.872.6533
ksayre@tke.org