Fraternity officer's letter highlights the importance of excelling academically

A letter from Harriet B. Meyers, Scholarship Secretary, in the Winter 1951 issue of the Sphinx:

Harriet B. Meyers (Beta Beta '45, University of Washington) served as scholarship secretary in the 1950s.

"Diokete Hupsala, Aim High" ... The motto of Phi Sigma Sigma is in actuality the backbone of a successful scholarship program. In affiliating with Phi Sigma Sigma a girl begins a new phase of her life, and it is complex with many new things to be learned. While experiencing the many facets of fraternity life, one of the main things that must always be before the individual is excellence in scholarship.

Scholarship as defined by Webster is, "character or qualities of a scholar; learning", where as a scholar is defined as, "one who has engaged in advanced study and acquired knowledge in some special field". All of our members are scholars in varying degrees. Every person who enrolls in an institution of higher learning does so because she has a desire to continue her education. To satisfy this desire she must give her initial energies to studying.

To become a member of the fraternity, an almost minimum of scholastic achievement is required, but that minimum is always above a university's requirements to maintain residence in a school. Records show that the grades of affiliated women are almost always higher than those of non-affiliated women, due to the emphasis on scholarship by all sororities.

Not everyone can become a Phi Beta Kappa, but that should deter no one from the path of good scholarship. In the process of studying, one soon learns her own capabilities. In working for this end she may even go beyond her original goal. Our living today is based on competition and always aiming for the top. If it is not made on the first try we then can try again. When a girl has attained at least the minimum grade average required for initiation she must not stop there, but continue to climb the ladder of scholastic attainments all through her college career.

A girl who has learned how to study and in so doing has achieved a high scholastic record will make the best member. While learning the classroom lessons, good habits are developed that influence every phase of life both on and off campus; neatness, promptness, accuracy, positive thinking, cooperation, initiative, perseverance and satisfaction of accomplishment. If she has learned to apply herself to her studies easily, in turn she can more readily take advantage of the many phases of fraternity life offered to her. She is a better leader because she has learned to be positive in her thinking, and she has achieved, and therefore can guide others in achieving. These are just a few examples of the correlation of scholastic achievement and successful everyday living for both her college and future living.

Our members are not only responsible to themselves, but also to the organization. Is it fair to Phi Sigma Sigma to accept a member who will not maintain our standards? Every member represents Phi Sigma Sigma in whatever she does, so follow through in your scholastic achievements ... "Diokete Hupsala, Aim High".

Remember, you can see past issues of the Sphinx in our digital archive!

Delta Beta Chapter Alumna Confirmed as Associate Judge

The Honorable Amy Lyn Blake (Jewish Journal photo)

Justice Amy Lyn Blake (Delta Beta '87, University of Rochester) was confirmed as the newest associate justice on the Massachusetts Court of Appeals in early September. She was appointed to the position by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. 

  

A native of Malden, Mass., Amy graduated from the University of Rochester in 1987, where she was a member of the Delta Beta Chapter. According to her official profile on the Massachusetts Court System website, Amy attended New England Law School and graduated, cum laude, in 1992. While in law school she was named a New England Scholar and awarded the Amos L. Taylor Award for Excellence In Achievement.

 

Amy was admitted to the bar in 1992, and she served as an Assistant District Attorney until 1994. From 1994 to 2008 she worked with the firms of White, Inker & Aronson, Yasi & Yasi and Casner & Edwards, rising from associate to partner.

 

In 2008 Governor Patrick appointed her to the Family & Probate Court, where she was named "Distinguished Jurist" in 2013 by the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers.