Shining Sisters Week Three

Why not?

Every one of us has a unique perspective and story to share. This week’s sisters are all united by the common theme of taking leaps of faith. Sometimes, the unknown can feel paralyzing and feelings of defeat creep in, but leaning into the light of opportunity and strength in self can fuel that first step with fervency; everything worth having lies on the other side of fear. 

Kala Campbell 

A story of strength that needs no introduction, just sheer admiration for the struggles and successes that have shaped Kala into the ambitious, creative, and inspirational sister she is today.

“I’m a sophomore majoring in Philosophy with an emphasis in law, Liberty, and Justice and also planning on minoring in American Sign Language. I’m from Forsyth, Georgia but have also lived in Alabama, Illinois, and Pennsylvania for different portions of my life! 

Kala Campbell, AC ‘18

Kala Campbell, AC ‘18

My “Why Clemson” story is a bit more chaotic than others - I grew up in a die-hard University of Georgia family and was raised to go there and continue the family legacy since my dad was on the 1980 football championship team there and also served as their Vice President of the College of Engineering. I thought I had my whole future figured out. However, on June 2nd, 2017 my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. We started Chemo treatments immediately in hopes of there being a chance, but as it continued to spread all we could do was pray for time. Sadly, time ran out on September 20th, 2017. My life changed forever on that day and all I could think about was getting away, especially getting out of state or even out of the country. My dad and I were very similar, not only in appearance, but also in personality. He was the most ambitious and determined person I ever knew; if he had set a goal, he achieved it. We were also both very adventurous, we loved the outdoors and traveling. I always dreamed of going overseas and begged for years for a family trip to go. After my dad’s passing, I wanted to go anywhere but UGA.  So, I decided it was time to go overseas and get away from it all. I was two days away from signing paperwork to study abroad my freshman year at a university in Australia, when I got my Clemson acceptance packet. Now, growing up die hard UGA fans, I have never looked at any schools outside the SEC and applied for Clemson on the night the application closed, so getting an acceptance letter was a shock for me. The next day I drove to campus and decided halfway through the tour that this would be my future home. Don’t get me wrong, switching from red to orange was a struggle - I wore white to almost every football game last year and still get made fun of for it to this day. 

After being here for a year I wouldn’t trade it for the world because it really does feel like home, and a huge part of that is ADPi. All my friends and some family were ADPis at UGA, so I went into Recruitment knowing I wanted to be an ADPi. These girls here have been there for me through the highs and lows, whether that means getting me cupcakes and being there for me on the one-year mark of my dad’s passing or covering me head to toe in glitter for Bid Day this year. I’m so thankful for all the friendships that ADPi has given me and the memories I have been able to make through our amazing chapter. 

Another aspect of Clemson I love is how close it is to Atlanta because it allows me to keep my job during the school year! I work as a sales representative and model at the Fashion Apparel Mart in downtown Atlanta. Here, vendors fly in from Los Angeles with their designers’ brands and set up booths that we work and model in. Boutiques from all over the nation come to find the newest trends and styles for the upcoming season. I love getting to model the clothes and talk to buyers from all over to help them purchase items that best suit their clientele. Words can’t express how thankful I am for my job as it allows me to travel and work in different cities such as Dallas, Las Vegas, Chicago, and New York City. I’m already counting down the days until the October Mart when I get to go back and work so I can stock up on new styles coming out and prepare my closet with accessories I’ll need when studying abroad in Florence in the spring!” - Kala Campbell AC ‘18

Fun Facts: 

  • If you could eat dinner with one person, living or dead, who would you choose and why?

“Kind of sappy, but if I could eat dinner with any person I would choose my Dad just so I could see his face when he sees his little girl wearing the forbidden color orange. I would also give anything to hear him tell me his “life advice” that he would either text me, or even yell at me, especially before big events, to motivate me: 

1. Have Fun

2. Work Hard

3. Do your best

4. Stay Focused”

  • If you were an ice cream flavor, what would you be?

“I am an ice cream addict. If I was an ice cream flavor I would have to be cookies and cream with cake batter mixed in because it’s a classic flavor with a little something extra mixed in.”  

  • Famous person you'd like to be BFFs with? 

“A famous person I would like to be BFFs with is without a doubt Mila Kunis. She has been one of my favorite actresses for forever. Jackie Burkhart from That ‘70s Show was my idol. Even though Jackie wasn’t the brightest girl on the show, I loved her determination, amazing sass, and confidence that she always portrayed. My high school senior quote was from Jackie Burkhart when she said “if I could run across the beach into my arms, I would” I think in today’s society with the craziness of social media that everyone needs that same type of self-love, confidence, and boss girl attitude.”  

Caroline Daw

Caroline teaches us that the Lord’s calling is good, small steps sow big seeds, and true freedom comes when you accept yourself and learn to let go. 

Caroline Daw, AC ‘19

Caroline Daw, AC ‘19

“Throughout my junior year of high school, I struggled with a decent amount of fear. I knew who I was and Whose I was, but I constantly found myself struggling with fear of the little what-ifs of life. This took a pretty big toll on how much my faith and identity grew during that time of my life. However, it was made clear to me that my battle to overcome fear was pretty common for other people too. So, a little seed to write a devotional was planted in my heart. However, it was not until my freshman year at Clemson that I really felt called to complete the devotional over the summer before sophomore year - and now we have it!

Casting Out Fear is a 5-month Devotional and Bible-reading plan that walks through 150 verses in the Bible talking all about fearlessness. The name of the devotional was always on my heart, but I guess it comes mainly from 1 John 4:18 that says ‘Perfect love casts out fear.’ The crazy thing is that every step along the way, I always felt a tremendous amount of peace and certainty that I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. So, when it came to little things like naming the devotional, printing the devotional, and even deciding when to start and finish the writing period, I knew that God had me in the palm of His hand. However, even with His holy confidence at my back, it definitely was a daunting task to write a 5-month devotional in 40 days. I would wake up every morning and not do anything until writing for that day was done. Each day I would write about 5 or 6 different verses and passages. But let me tell you, that Old Testament is a hard thing to study through, and also sometimes was a very hard thing to write about. That being said, everything about praying for, writing, and completing Casting Out Fear was a joy to me. The community that surrounded me in prayer and support while I wrote it and the success that it has had just within the past few months is astounding. 

To date, Casting Out Fear is in 15 different states and on 16 different college campuses. God is on the MOVE and He is so cool! He was so gracious to me to let me write it. For the pre-med math major that I am, writing a devotional definitely was out of my comfort zone, but for and in Him, my identity includes being a writer. I know that there certainly are more books in the works - the next one being a year-long study.

I decided to wait until my sophomore year to go through Recruitment because I wanted to get to Clemson and get my identity figured out first before I commit to something as awesome and as consuming as a sorority. Being from Florida, Greek culture at FSU and FU had a very different atmosphere and is much more of a key attribute to who you are than at Clemson. But, I needed to see this for myself throughout my freshman year. And oh boy! From the first conversation in the first round, my experience in ADPi was unparalleled. I felt so loved and so known and so cherished by every radiant young woman that I talked to, which was incredibly refreshing. I walked in ADPi and I could breathe. The feeling that I felt every time I walked into an ADPi round was similar to the way that I felt when I first stepped foot on Clemson’s campus as a potential student. So, just like I knew that Clemson was home, I knew that ADPi was home too. 

For my sophomore year, I aspire to live a life of wholeheartedness and fullness. From studying and attending class to time with sisters and friends to time devoted to being a YoungLife leader to the crazy wild adventures of this beautiful life, I want everything that I do to be done with my whole heart and with fullness of the fruits of the Spirit.” - Caroline Daw, AC’19

Fun Facts:

  • Where is your happy place?

“I LOVE to be outside, especially surrounded by water or the mountains. So, put me on a boat or on a hike up to a peak, and I’m a happy girl!”

  • Who is a celebrity you’d like to be bff’s with?

“Chance the Rapper. I think he would be a fun friend just to have and hangout with, which definitely would be very entertaining. I feel like he would be able to read the mood of a room well, and know when to go wild and crazy but also know when to not. I also would not mind being on the inside of his inner circle, because I mean, He is a pretty cool dude!” 

  • What is your go-to throwback jam?

“Favorite oldie: Dancing in the Moonlight by King Harvest. It is probably the happiest song that I have ever heard and I also LOVE to dance. It always puts me in the mood to bop my way around a dance floor and jump on the stage and sing along with the band.”

Erin Huff

Combining her travel bug and heart for healthcare, Erin packed her bags for Thailand to spend her last summer before graduation on the biggest adventure yet. 

Erin Huff, AC ‘16

Erin Huff, AC ‘16

“This summer I had the incredible opportunity to serve as a Healthcare Administration Intern in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I was lucky enough to receive a grant from Clemson’s Calhoun Honors College and spent my summer working at a local hospital right outside the city. I helped with a wide array of tasks including patient intake, health literacy, strategy and promotion, and information management. I was able to go out into the community and meet patients as well as helping spread public health knowledge. I was fully immersed in the Thai culture and even lived in a homestay with a Thai host mom. Every morning I woke up to the town rooster and then walked to work. This was one of the most enriching and rewarding, as well as challenging, experiences of my life. It was challenging to adjust to such a different culture and there was definitely a learning curve in understanding the Thai language and customs. One of the biggest challenges was communicating with those around me. I learned a little Thai while I was there but often had to find creative ways to communicate effectively. This challenged me to get out of my comfort zone and get comfortable being uncomfortable.

I also had the opportunity to travel around Southeast Asia while abroad, and got to play with elephants at a sanctuary for the endangered species. This was definitely one of the highlights of my life! I also spent a week living on a catamaran where I sailed and island hopped around Phuket and the southern region of Thailand. I met people from all over the world and saw the most naturally beautiful sights on this earth. Additionally, I was also able to go to Bangkok and Pataya, as well as Da Nang, Vietnam. One thing everyone knows about me is I LOVE to travel and am always looking for new places to go to. This summer allowed me to not only travel but also build my professional development. 

My summer internship gave me the opportunity to combine my business economics degree with my passion for global healthcare. Growing up, I faced a lot of health issues and always knew I wanted to help make a difference in healthcare in the future. With strengths in math and business, healthcare management was the perfect way to combine these strengths with my passion. After graduating this December, I plan to move back home to Atlanta where I will either start graduate school to get my MBA and MHA degrees or start working and go back to school in a year or two.

As someone who dreamed of being a Clemson Tiger her whole life, it’s crazy to think that I have less than three months left as a student here. Clemson has always been my home and I couldn’t have asked for a better 3.5 years here. My advice for new members and freshmen is to just relax and enjoy every moment. You don't have to have everything figured out -- Clemson is the perfect place to learn and grow. You only have a few years to be in college so soak up every moment and take advantage of every opportunity. Your time in college goes faster than you can imagine but know you always have a home here in Clemson.” - Erin Huff, AC ‘16

Fun Facts:

  • Where is your happy place?

“As a cycling instructor, my happy place in being in the studio teaching. It truly challenges me to bring my best self to the table and be 100% in the moment. Plus, the energy the participants bring is contagious!”

  • If you could eat dinner with one person, living or dead, who would you choose and why?

“I would want to eat dinner with Kate Middleton and Prince William. I would love to know what it is like to be a royal.” 

  • Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?

“I would want Sophia Bush. She embodies confidence, boldness, and strength and I would be honored to have her play me. Plus she's an awesome actress!”

Shining Sisters Week Two

Happy Monday!

As classes ramp up and life gets overwhelming, stand firm in who you are and whose you are; each day is a new opportunity for growth and the celebration of small victories that become molding moments, cheers to you sistas!

Kiely Curran

Kiely, founder of the Clemson chapter of health and fitness organization CHAARG — Changing Health, Attitudes, and Actions to Recreate Girls — knows how to make bold moves and lead others even in the midst of hardship; we couldn’t be happier to welcome her home to Zeta Nu. 

Kiely Curran, AC ‘19

Kiely Curran, AC ‘19

“Moving to Clemson was the boldest move I have ever made. I went to summer camp for 4 days in second grade and never registered for a sleep-away camp ever again. I have never been a person to leave the comfort of my home, family, friends, and familiarity. Being completely transparent, I didn’t want to leave Virginia. It took the rejection from my top comfort-zone-Virginia university to get me down to Clemson.

 Clemson was my ‘rebound.’ The second I was rejected from that state school, I posted a convincing photo on my Instagram declaring myself a ‘Tiger.’ Sitting here today, I can truly say that Clemson should never have been my rebound. From the second I toured my senior year of high school, I immediately felt the community. A year later, I have found an even better community through Alpha Delta Pi. My first year here was rocky. I had an amazing roommate Emma (and now sister ;)), was making amazing grades, was basking in the glory of the Natty, yet felt off. At the time I didn’t know what it was. I was anxious all of the time and never felt like I belonged anywhere besides the Cooper Library basement. I went home for fall break and my grandma saw that I was different. She saw in me what I couldn’t even see in myself: I needed a community. She encouraged me to rush. She told me that before I took the leap and transferred to a Virginia school, that I should at least give Greek life a chance. I thought she was out of her mind, but I have learned over the years that us grandchildren are never allowed to tell our Nonni no. So, I registered for rush. The summer before rushing, I was constantly tettering on dropping. I can’t name exactly what was holding me back, but something was. Luckily, I never gave in and went through with recruitment. Now, here I am today typing a blog post for a sisterhood at a school that I never thought I should be at nor felt a community in a year later. Alpha Delta Pi makes me feel like I am a part of something bigger than myself at Clemson. Something is to be said about going outside of your comfort zone. 

Although freshman year was not, emotionally, the easiest for me, I tried to make the best of it. Since I didn’t have a community here at Clemson, I decided to start one. My roommate (our sister) found CHAARG for me. It is a national organization that strives to empower women to become their best selves: mentally, emotionally, and physically. Last year I went through the extensive application process. After several months, I was accepted to start a chapter here on campus. I was terrified. I was only a rising sophomore at a massive university and a national organization based out of Chicago put all of their eggs in one basket and that basket was ME. Although this organization started as a resume/esteem builder that I felt obligated to make a success, it has become my baby. We now have nearly 100 members (91 to be exact) and reach full attendance at every event! I have met truly intentional and inspirational women through this organization that I will always look up to. Although so much good has resulted from it, the last thing I want is for girls to feel as alone as I did freshman year. It is the most rewarding feeling to hear a girl express how much CHAARG has changed their emotions towards their first year. CHAARG has become more than a weekly workout for me, it has become a driving horse in my personal journey in becoming a better leader, sister, and friend. 

I guess if I had to Sparknote my entire blog post, it would go a little like this:  Always step outside of your comfort zone and embrace every unexpected turn that seems absolutely negative because it will always turn out to be positive.”  - Kiely Curran, AC ‘19

Fun Facts:

  • Who is your role model? 

“My dad. He is literally the optitomy of work hard/play hard. He is one of the hardest working people I know, yet you would never know it come family gatherings. He is hilarious, selfless, and does it all. I aspire to be as active, yet externally calm as he is! 

  • Where is your happy place?

“Any beach. I would drive 45 minutes a day to literally sit on the sand… by myself… last summer.” 

  • Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life? 

“Blake Lively. I would love to hype myself and say that I look like her, but it is more of a reach goal. Anyways, she just always seems to be a blast yet keeps her life together!” 

Sara Sargent

Not only do we all know her as our hardworking Director of Standards and Ethics, but Sara sure is one smarty pi with big dreams and an even bigger heart.

Sara Sargent, AC ‘16

Sara Sargent, AC ‘16

“My favorite days as a young girl were those spent at my grandparents’ lake house. My grandfather, the most amazing man I ever knew, was diagnosed and taken within the same month by a disease that had laid dormant in his body for twenty-four years: small cell carcinoma of the lung. Ever since, I have been pursuing a career in medicine so I can hopefully give another young girl more time to spend with her grandfather one day.

I am thrilled that I have an interview set up at my first choice pharmacy school next week! I am hoping to make my dreams a reality by one day becoming a compounding pharmacist.

ADPi has truly been life-changing for me. I cannot believe I am a senior; it feels like yesterday I ran down Bowman to my future big! The women I have worked with throughout all of ADPi, and especially my fellow executive committee, have shown me what true drive, determination, and passion look like. I could not have asked for a better experience in college. While my position has not always been easy, it has truly molded me into a better leader. While I will look back on these years with fond memories, I know the best is yet to come.” - Sara Sargent, AC ‘16

Fun Facts:

  • Where is your happy place? 

“My happy place is definitely the mountains in the fall (preferably adventuring with my fiancé, Grey, and sipping on a PSL ;)”

  • What is your favorite time of year and why? 

“I absolutely love Christmas! My family are my best friends –  my fiancé, mom, dad, three siblings, niece and nephew, brother-in-law (and toy poodle, Stella) are my rock! Every Christmas, we always decorate the house together while sipping on my mom’s homemade hot chocolate – it is the best!! We also play tons of games together and always watch the movie Elf on Christmas Eve.”

  • Next vacation on your bucket list?

“I love to travel! I have always wanted to go to Italy, but I also would want to see more of the States one day – maybe out West!”

Anna Rhett Allen 

Death Valley is a home away from home for many of us, thanks to the hard work of our sister Anna Rhett and the IPTAY Student Advisory Board, teaching her the true value of teamwork and leadership.

Anna Rhett Allen, AC ‘18

Anna Rhett Allen, AC ‘18

“Being involved in sports has definitely been my biggest passion growing up. I started in second grade with basketball and then in middle school started volleyball and track and continued to play all three throughout high school. The way that sports electrify a crowd and create a dream that everyone rallies behind truly inspires me. I saw my first Clemson game when I was three months old, so I think it is safe to say that orange runs in my blood. Being involved with IPTAY has truly shaped my experience here at Clemson and allows me to be involved firsthand with an organization that I have supported for as long as I can remember.

One of the greatest advantages about IPTAY Student Advisory Board is the way it allows me to incorporate both my passion for Clemson Football and gain experience for my future career. Whether it is by supporting the Tigers on gameday or competing on my volleyball team at home, sports always light me up and have influenced my dream to become a volleyball coach. Through ISAB, I have been able to experience behind the scenes aspects of a sports team and have learned the value of leadership and teamwork. When I get older, I aspire to inspire the young girls or women I am coaching to be the best version of themselves; I want to encourage others to not only become great athletes, but also great people.

When going through recruitment, every time I went into ADPi I talked to amazing girls who truly loved one another, were involved on campus, and were very confident in themselves. I never wanted to leave the rounds because what I found so early on in ADPi is exactly what I wanted to find not only in my friends, but also in a sisterhood. Joining ADPi was truly the best decision I have made at Clemson -- I found my best friends who encourage me to make a 4.0 in the classroom, but never forget to have fun in the process.” - Anna Rhett Allen, AC ‘18

Fun Facts:

  • If you could eat dinner with one person, living or dead, who would you choose and why?

    “Deshaun Watson because after all these years he has been my favorite football player. I admire his hard work, character, and leadership.”

  • Where is your happy place? 

“My happy place is at my family’s lake house on Lake Keowee. Some of my favorite memories are watching Clemson football there during away games and spending time out on the water.”

  • Favorite childhood memory? 

“Going to Chuck-E-Cheese at exactly 9:30 AM every Tuesday morning of summer with my Grandma.”

Shining Sisters is BACK!


aaaand we’re BACK!

Coming off a summer of big wins as Chapter of the Year, recipient of the Alpha Delta Pi Golden Lion Award, and home to 89 new Alphas, Zeta Nu and our members continue to shine on campus, in the workplace, and all over the world…

Hannah Saunders

A true leader within our chapter and all across campus, Hannah Saunders, shares a little bit of her Clemson story and recent experience serving the Panhellenic community as a Pi Chi.

Hannah Saunders, AC ‘17

Hannah Saunders, AC ‘17

“I’m a junior Marketing major with a Sociology minor from Blythewood, South Carolina! Being so close to USC, I wasn’t always dead set on going to Clemson. But after visiting, it didn’t take long for me to realize that there truly is something in these hills, and I couldn’t stay away!

Some defining things that have shaped my time at Clemson center around organizations that I joined because of encouragement and recommendations from older girls in Alpha Delta Pi. When I went through recruitment as a freshman, I talked to multiple girls in rounds who absolutely RAVED about Freshman Council. I hesitantly applied and was so blessed to have the opportunity to join alongside my sweet sisters that at the time I barely knew - Delaney, Macy, and Jane! I later went on to apply to the Student Alumni Council, again because of pushes from older girls in ADPi that I really looked up to (thanks Caroline, Abby, Carman, Ellen, and Lauren to name a few!) Through this, I have had the opportunity to serve as the Co-Director of the Clemson Ring Ceremony alongside Lauren Stambaugh!

I was also able to serve as a Pi Chi this past year during recruitment! It was one of the hardest, but also one of the most rewarding experiences I have had so far during my time at Clemson. Disaffiliating was obviously difficult, but it was so worth it to be able to see all 19 of my girls in my group find their forever homes within their new sororities. Stepping away from ADPi gave me a new love not only for my own sorority but also Clemson Panhellenic as a whole. We are so lucky to be a part of an organization that is passionate about creating an uplifting community for each and every girl that goes through the recruitment process. I made 70 new Pi Chi friends, had the best time scanning girls in at the door, and was able to hopefully provide a little bit of wisdom about anything and everything to the girls in my group. Being able to run back home to my Big, Little, and friends in ADPi in the West End Zone was like running home on Bid Day for the first time all over again.

I am so lucky to be able to say that my Clemson experience has been shaped and molded by so many fabulous women that I admire and would have never met if it weren’t for joining ADPi. If you were to have asked me two years ago what I thought I would be doing, I never would have guessed that I would be here! This year, four of my best friends and I made our freshman year plan of one day all living together in an apartment a reality- and we’re only a few steps away from so many girls in our alpha class that we couldn’t go a day without! I have ADPi to thank for introducing me to a family of girls that would push me to be the best version of myself, lift me up, and always be there for me when I need it!

As a junior, the thought of looking ahead and planning my future is SCARY, because I feel like I just had my first day of class freshman year! I’ll graduate in May next year and hope to move to a big city to start a career in PR or sales. A quick word of advice to the newest alpha class: soak up every last second with your sisters, because it’ll be halfway over before you know it. Take lots of pictures, go to EVERY function, and squeeze your friends a little tighter!” - Hannah Saunders, AC ‘17

FUN FACTS: 

  • If you could eat dinner with one person, living or dead, who would you choose and why? “Thomas Green Clemson and Anna Maria Calhoun Clemson so they could see what a lasting impact their service is having on so many lives across generations! I would love to give them a quick squeeze and thank them for giving me a lifetime of memories and the best of friends.”

  • Happy place?

    “Edisto, SC looking for sharks’ teeth and fossils! (If you really know me, you know how much I secretly love geology.)”

  • Childhood trend you miss?

    “Did anyone else’s mother dress them in gauchos all the time? Can we collectively agree on comfort over fashion for a second and bring those back???”

Hunter Dest

One of our amazing new Alphas and your 2019 Miss South Carolina People’s Choice, knows how to set her sights high and embody our mission to be brave, be bold, and be better.

Hunter Dest, AC ‘19

Hunter Dest, AC ‘19

“My road to the Miss SC pageant was a very unexpected one to say the least. This past January I competed in my high school’s annual pageant with many of my close friends as a last hurrah in my senior year. I was crowned at the pageant and soon found out that I would have the opportunity to represent my hometown of Fort Mill at the Miss South Carolina Pageant in late June. I had to immediately start preparing! The Miss South Carolina Pageant requires each candidate to have a talent, and my best option was to play the piano because I had taken piano for 7 years but I had stopped when I was 13 years old. I started lessons again, practiced religiously and surprisingly, the piano came right back to me as if I had never stopped! I worked hard for 4 months in preparation for the big night.

The Miss South Carolina pageant lasted 9 long days and believe me, while those days were grueling and tiring, my time in the pageant ended up being some of the best days of my life.  My mornings would start often at 4:30 AM for hair and makeup which was followed by rehearsals or appearances. The days ended with the preliminary competitions leading up to the finals. I definitely had my fair share of ups and downs throughout the week, including the time I completely botched my On-Stage Question in front of 2000 people (lol). At the competition, I met some of the most wonderful young women who continually lifted me up and taught me that it is okay to not be perfect, and that making a mistake does not mean the end of the world. My biggest highlight of the week was when my name was called for a Top 16 finalists! I was especially honored to have been the first person from Fort Mill to place in the state pageant. My pageant days are far from over and I plan to compete again in the near future. 

Coming into recruitment I made a goal to simply be myself in every single chapter. I knew that whichever sorority made me feel the most comfortable was the one for me. Growing up in the South I had heard about the amazing reputation of the ADPi sorority. The ADPis I knew were intelligent, stylish, beautiful, hardworking girls that were leaders at Clemson. They were the type of girl I looked up to and wanted to emulate. Coming into preference round I knew I was going to have a very important decision to make, so I talked to my mom that morning and she told me to pick the one for the girls in the sorority and not just the reputation. There are many reasons I wanted ADPi but the main reason was when I walked into the ADPi preference round I honestly felt like I was home. I would like to give special thanks to Bailey Philips and Mattie Lee for welcoming me with open arms every single round and always making me feel comfortable being myself and nothing more. These two ladies played a major role in my decision to join and I am happy to say that was the best decision I have ever made.” - Hunter Dest, AC ‘19

FUN FACTS:

  • If you would time travel, would you go to the past or future? Where and why?

    “For some reason I have always wanted to live in the Roaring 20’s - just like the setting for the book The Great Gatsby. Everyone always seemed so happy and the cute bob haircuts and flapper dresses were absolutely adorable during that time.”

  • Food you couldn't live without? 

    “Salt and Vinegar chips… it’s my guilty pleasure.”

  • Fav time of year and why?

    “CHRISTMAS!! I love the music, the decorations and just the overall feeling during the holidays. Everyone is so much happier - Christmas is just the best thing ever!!”

Kendall Alford

Coming into her senior year, Kendall Alford reflects on a summer like no other and shows us that this sisterhood has no borders. 

Kendall Alford, AC ‘16

Kendall Alford, AC ‘16

“This summer I studied post-conflict societies with the Political Science department in the Balkan Peninsula (Peninsula between Italy and Greece). We began our trip by spending two weeks in Serbia, primarily in its capital, Belgrade, before traveling in a circular route by van to Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia. I chose this particular area as it was an area very unknown to me prior to traveling there. I also really wanted to travel to Eastern Europe as I have always been very interested in the region’s culture, history, and economy. During our stay in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, our group met with President Dodrik. After the meeting was over, I was also interviewed by the their news station about the meeting. It was really cool to see my clip on Bosnian National TV haha. Another highlight was going to Plitvice National Park in Croatia. It truly reminded me of Pandora in Avatar. 

One of the biggest lessons that I learned was to really reflect on the positive and to maximize the full potential of every opportunity. There were many times where I felt myself getting annoyed at minor inconveniences, which I do in all aspects of life, but I really just had to remind myself that in the big picture it’s the experience that counts and should be memorable, not tainted with complaints. 

ADPi has truly shaped all aspects of my time at Clemson. I was fortunate enough to go abroad with a sister in a different Diamond Sister class, Emily Daly. Having Alpha Delta Pi as an existing link between us prior to traveling across the Atlantic to a very different, new place really allowed me to elicit the most value from this experience. Also, having this bond gave me a sister when I was missing my own in the States.” - Kendall Alford, AC ‘16

FUN FACTS:

  • What are your goals for senior year and beyond?

    “After I graduate in December, I will be staying at Clemson to continue getting my Masters in Economics before going to Law School next fall.”

  • What’s your spirit animal?

    “My spirit animal is hands down a golden retriever. Not only is my love language acts of service, which is practically why we love dogs so much, but I’m not going to lie, I do love playing fetch.” 

  • Celebrity you would like to be best friends with?

    “Ellen Degeneres, I think she would be the most fun person to be at a dinner party or playing games with.”