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Paula Marie Gillis Beta Tau—University of Detroit Mercy Paula Gillis earned her Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and graduated with honors in 2003. She was an exceptional student who excelled in a challenging discipline rarely comprised of women. Through her collegiate years, Paula held numerous chapter offices and chair positions, including Chapter President. She was instrumental in revitalizing the chapter, personally recruiting many members, and creating tremendous personal bonds with generations of women. During her short life, Paula touched so many hearts truly embodied what Tri Sigma members should strive to be.    In 2023, Paula’s chapter sisters and family began fundraising for the Paula M. Gillis Memorial Endowment to honor their beloved sister and continue her legacy of empowering others. The Paula M. Gillis Memorial Endowment will fund annual scholarships to support Tri Sigma women with a special focus on Beta Tau members and women in STEM.     “It's hard to put how amazing Paula was into words. She excelled at everything, including being an amazing daughter, sister, and friend. Losing her has truly been hard, but we have all grown closer together helping to fund this scholarship in her memory. The opportunity to spend time together, whether through planning events or just catching up, has truly meant the world to her Beta Tau sisters, friends, and family. Paula truly valued her education, and we cannot think of a better way to honor her than to give that gift to others,” said Paula's chapter sister Sue Fronath Bergstrom.    The Paula M. Gillis Memorial Endowment Fund will provide merit-based scholarships to Tri Sigma undergraduate or graduate students with a focus on Beta Tau members or women pursuing STEM degrees. Click here to learn more about this endowment and others.

Pamela Minoski Runac Gamma Zeta–Slippery Rock University I was always a quiet young girl, more comfortable in the background than at the center of things. That changed during my sophomore year at Slippery Rock University, when I joined Tri Sigma. It was in Sigma that I truly found my voice. Sometimes I stop and ask myself, "What would I have done without my sisters and the experiences we shared?" The leadership positions I took on and the lifelong friendships I built gave me the confidence and strength to navigate so many parts of life, motherhood, my career, and the challenges and lessons along the way.  To think there were only two spots open that year in a chapter of 65 members, I still feel so grateful that one of those spots was mine.  Recently, I volunteered as a scholarship reader for the Foundation. Reading letters from young Sigmas and learning about their journeys and struggles brought me right back to my own college days. It reminded me of just how impactful Tri Sigma was in helping me discover who I was and the power of my own voice. That experience inspired me to take my giving one step further. Endowing a scholarship felt like the best way to give back and ensure future Tri Sigmas have the same opportunities I did: to be lifted up, to find their confidence, and to know that their sisters and this sisterhood will always believe in them. I hope my gift reminds every young Sigma that they have a voice that matters and that they have sisters cheering them on every step of the way. If I could give every sister one piece of advice, it would be this: embrace the moments that push you forward, lean on your sisters, and never underestimate the power of finding your voice. That’s why I give, and why I will always give back to Sigma. The Minoski-Runac Family Scholarship will support need-based undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a major or minor in special education. The scholarship awards will encourage and prepare the next generation of educators dedicated to fostering inclusive learning environments and meeting the unique needs of students with disabilities. Click here to learn more about this endowment and others.

Julie Lammel Alpha Sigma–University of Southern Mississippi Julie Lammel (right) at Convention 2025 with Kathy Rayburn Kopperud (center right), Past National President Joyce Newcom O'Daniel (center left), and Donna Grogan Herndon (left). When Julie joined the Heritage Society years ago, she imagined her planned gift as a legacy for the future—something that would strengthen Tri Sigma long after her own membership journey was complete. But as she stayed engaged, Julie began to see a growing need; chapters were working hard to thrive amidst slowing recruitment numbers, limited chapter resources, and growing mental health concerns among collegiate women.   Julie recognized something familiar in their challenges. She remembered what it felt like to keep a chapter going during difficult seasons, the weight of responsibility, the desire to do right by her sisters, and the hope that the chapter she loved would be there for the next generation. Those memories stirred something more profound: a wish to help today’s women navigate those same pressures with strength, skill, and support.   So, Julie made a powerful decision. She transformed her planned gift into an immediate investment, establishing the Julie Lammel Leadership Endowment, a fund created to uplift under-resourced chapters and help them grow stronger, more confident, and more connected.     Her endowment provides practical support for collegians who need financial assistance to participate in leadership development and educational opportunities. In simple terms, it helps ensure that a member’s potential to lead is never limited by her chapter’s budget or her own financial circumstances. Whether it’s officer training, development programs, or educational experiences that build confidence and capability, Julie’s gift opens doors that might have otherwise remained closed.   The heart of this fund is bigger than local grants. It’s about sustaining our Tri Sigma sisterhood, ensuring that chapters can weather hard times, build strong foundations, and continue shaping generations of women who learn, lead, and thrive together.    Julie often says her hope is simple: that every chapter, no matter its size or resources, has the chance to flourish. Through this endowment, she is lighting that path forward, showing today’s sisters that they are seen, supported, and never alone, and ensuring that tomorrow’s sisters will inherit a sisterhood strengthened by her generosity.    Her gift started as a legacy for the future. Today, it’s transforming the present. And for countless Sigmas, that impact will be felt for generations.    The Julie Lammel Leadership Endowment will provide grants to under-resourced chapters to support educational opportunities and leadership training development. Click here to learn more about this endowment and others.

Shelly Brajkovich Bateman Beta Epsilon–Western Illinois University Tri Sigma Foundation Executive Director Prematurity Awareness Month always stops me in my tracks. Because for me, it isn't just a cause—it's where my story began. I came into the world too soon, small, fragile, and fighting before I even took my first breath. Babies my size didn't often survive back then; there wasn't much need for preemie clothing when most never came home. I was measured not in pounds but by the size of a doll outfit (the only thing small enough to cover me), while my parents prayed for me to be one of the few who made it.     My survival story didn't end when I left the hospital. It became my career calling. For 10 defining years, I poured my heart into March of Dimes' mission, championing women's health, maternal care, and the tiniest lives fighting for their first breath. I wasn't just an employee advocating for change; I was living proof of the mission itself. That same conviction, born from the research and compassion that once saved me, now fuels my leadership at the Tri Sigma Foundation every single day.     I'll never forget sitting in the audience at Tri Sigma's 2016 National Convention when the Foundation announced its partnership with March of Dimes. As the words echoed across the room, tears filled my eyes. The organization that helped give me life had joined hands with the sisterhood that continues to shape it. It wasn't just a partnership—it was a full-circle moment that felt like destiny.     I know I'm not the only one with a story like this. Every day, women and families face moments of uncertainty and hope. So many of our sisters have their own stories of survival, love, and perseverance. This month, as we recognize Prematurity Awareness Month, I invite you to share yours. Together, our stories remind the world—and each other—just how powerful compassion can be.   Click here to share your story with us. Tri Sigma has been a constant thread through every chapter of my journey, shaping the leader, the professional, and the woman I've become. I carry our values of wisdom, power, faith, hope, and love in everything I do, and I am endlessly proud to call myself a Tri Sigma. This sisterhood taught me how to lead with heart, serve with purpose, and believe that together, we can change lives.   Now, as Executive Director of the Tri Sigma Foundation, that same passion fuels everything I do. Each day, I see how our work transforms lives—from research and child life programs that bring healing and hope to leadership initiatives that help women discover their confidence, purpose, and voice. Through our They Did. You Can. We Will. Campaign , we're ensuring these opportunities and resources reach even further. What a privilege it is to help shape a future where compassion, courage, and sisterhood truly change the world.     This Prematurity Awareness Month, I want you to know that the work we do at the Tri Sigma Foundation is more than powerful, it's personal. Every dollar you give fuels the breakthroughs that change lives, nurture leadership, and keep our sisterhood's legacy of service alive.     To every donor who stands with us, thank you for believing in this mission and for giving it life through your generosity. I give too, because I've seen what our gifts make possible. Because of you, "not supposed to make it," becomes a lifetime of possibilities. Together, we are living proof.

Joann Stohler Davis Beta Gamma–Ball State University When asked why she chose to make a planned gift to the Tri Sigma Foundation, Joann Davis's answer was simple and powerful:  “Because I can.”  For Joann, giving wasn’t just about honoring her own Tri Sigma experience, it was about investing in the future of Tri Sigma women. She sees the reality today’s students face—the rising costs of education, the growing competition for opportunities, and the barriers that can make it harder to fully embrace sisterhood. Her vision is clear: Sigma women deserve every chance to grow as leaders, scholars, and sisters ,  and she wants to ensure those opportunities endure. That’s why Joann has shared her intention to establish The Davis Fund for Leadership and Education, which she envisions as a permanent endowment dedicated to advancing the growth and potential of Tri Sigma members.   Joann knows the unique strength of a smaller community. “Tri Sigma being a smaller sorority helps us do the right thing,” she shared. “Our members aren’t joining for stereotypical reasons. Tri Sigma women join because they see the quality of character in our membership. They see the long-term value of investing in relationships, education, networking, and more. And when we give them resources, they use them and crave more opportunities.” Through her visionary planned gift, Joann ensures that generations of Tri Sigmas will have access to leadership development, education, and support that extends far beyond their college years.  Her generosity reflects the campaign’s promise:   They Did. You Can. We Will.   Joann could, and she did. Because of her, Sigma women will lead with courage, character, and confidence for years to come.  Click here to learn more about our comprehensive campaign.

Stephanie Everett Epsilon Theta–Oglethrope University I left $1 million to the Tri Sigma Foundation in my will for one simple reason: women change the world. We are the doers—in our families, our workplaces, and our communities. We get things done. What we often lack are the resources to match our potential.  That’s why I believe so strongly in Tri Sigma’s leadership training. What I’ve seen collegia te  women receive at The  Academy is every bit as strong as the programs I’ve seen in corporate America. It builds skills, confidence, and vision—tools that every Tri Sigma should have. My hope is that each sister brings that knowledge back to her community, becomes a voice of change, and leads with our values at her core. Imagine the impact if every Sigma stepped into that role. The ripple effect would be unstoppable. I made my gift because I believe in that future. Now ,  it’s up to all of us to invest in the women who will lead it. Click here to learn more about planned giving.