We are so pleased to award Pi Phi of the Year recognition to Judy Weltsch Klote, an alumna from the Kansas Beta Chapter who has served both the club and the Fraternity with an unwavering commitment.

​

Judy held dozens of leadership roles in the club - both the Night Group and the Day Group - before joining Kansas Alpha's AAC and becoming Chair. She has now worked with area collegians for nearly a quarter-century. In 2011, she was appointed Operations Specialist for Region 5. Two years later, Pi Phis elected her Region 5's Collegiate Regional Director, and she guided 15 chapters in 8 states. While many would be overwhelmed with this responsibility, Judy thrived. She served 3 terms, and then volunteered to Join Nebraska Gamma's AAC as the Chair, essentially rebuilding the AAC.

Judy comes from a family of Pi Phi angels. Her older sister, daughter and mother are all Kansas Betas! She and her husband, Larry, also have a K-State son, not to mention 3 darling grandchildren (and a 4th on the way). Congratulations, Judy! Thank you for all you have given to Pi Beta Phi. We're honored to call you a member of our club.

When Sudy Hurst became Alumnae Club President in 2023, she led the board in an effort to generate new enthusiasm and excitement from Pi Phis who hadn't been engaged as alumnae. She is our club's honoree for Excellence in Alumnae Recruitment. 

Her strategy included reaching out to younger alumnae and finding out what interested them, where they liked to go, and when they were available to participate in Pi Phi events. She encouraged the board to support events that were of greater appeal to more members, especially younger women.

Doing this when the Covid pandemic was still very much a part of our lives was challenging, for sure. But Sudy's desire to have the club feel welcoming to all Pi Phis certainly paid off with greater engagement.

​

"I always want Pi Phis to know how much we appreciate their attendance and involvement," she explained. "No one should feel left out because they didn't attend a local school or haven't been involved before." Our alumnae club is stronger because of Sudy's kind spirit and thoughtful planning. Congratulations, Sudy! We appreciate your many contributions to Pi Phi.

The Kansas Beta Chapter at Kansas State University is fortunate to have the enthusiastic support and leadership of their fellow Kansas Beta, Gail Cardinal Lusk. She is recognized this year by the Greater Kansas City Pi Phi Alumnae Club for Excellence in Chapter Loyalty for her decades of service to Kansas Beta.

This former Chapter President is a newly pinned Golden Arrow, honoring her 50-year membership in Pi Phi. But there's no slowing down for this Golden Arrow! Not only is Gail the AAC Chair at KSU, but she has recently stepped up to fill the roles of AAC Risk Management and AAC Member Experience. 

​

Whether it's attending a chapter meeting in Manhattan, participating in Mock Recruitment or representing KS Beta's AAC at College Weekend in St. Louis, Gail doesn't hesitate to make the trip. She's an encouraging presence, and this is why the collegians she supports are so fond of working with her.

It's also why we are delighted to recognize her commitment to both Pi Beta Phi and the Kansas Beta Chapter. Thank you, Gail, for always answering the call to serve!

Thirty-five years ago, Holly Aripoli Mosher became VP Recruitment for the Kansas Alpha Chapter; she's been known as KU's "Queen of Recruitment" ever since. It is for her decades of enthusiastic volunteering not only for the Fraternity, but also for the Kansas Alpha Chapter, that Holly is recognized for Excellence in Chapter Loyalty.

​​

After serving as Kansas Alpha's Chapter President, Holly joined Kansas Alpha's AAC as the Recruitment Advisor. She carried that experience and success into her new role as the Region 5 Membership Specialist. Quickly gaining a strong reputation as a great leader in recruitment efforts, Holly served in a national office as Recruitment Coach. She volunteered to serve on Kansas Alpha's 150th Anniversary Committee as the liaison to AAC and continues to serve as AAC Membership. She currently also sits on the Greater Kansas City Alumnae Club Board as ACRIC.

​

Holly and her husband, Greg (a KU Fiji), have 3 kids: a recent college grad, a junior in college and a junior in HS. Her fourth "child" is a wheaten terrier named Gracie.

She's worked as a fitness professional for the past 25 years and still loves spending time with her KC pledge sisters. Congratulations, Holly, on this well deserved recognition!

We proudly recognize Darcy Frick Stewart with the Excellence in Community Service Award for her remarkable commitment to serving not only the Kansas City community, but also to serving in regional and national volunteer roles.

​

Darcy is currently a member of the President Eisenhower Museum Foundation Board of Directors, the Kansas City Museum Foundation Board of Directors, the Nelson-Atkins Museum Business Council Steering Committee and the Wyandotte County Economic Development Council Board.

​

Since moving to the Kansas City area in 2004 with husband Lindsay, her volunteer interests having included the arts (ArtsKC, Nelson-Atkins, Kemper Museum, UMKC Conservatory, JoCo Public Art Committee), public safety (KCMO Police Foundation), business (UMKC Bloch School of Business) and cancer research (American Cancer Society Coaches vs Cancer).

​

As a proud Navy mom, Darcy was an enthusiastic member of the Commissioning Committee for the USS Kansas City. She volunteers regularly for the Junior League of Kansas City, St. Andrews Episcopal Church Altar Guild, and several other organizations. Did we mention Darcy is also a senior executive at J.E. Dunn Construction? Yes, this community volunteer extraordinaire is Sr. Vice President of Business Development for the Kansas City market.

Darcy, you make our world a better place, and we're delighted to recognize your tremendous community impact! Thank you!

Anyone who has ever known Jennifer Wenzel will describe her as "FUN!" The sparkle she brings -- to a group of friends, a committee project or a room full of Pi Phis -- is contagious.

​

Jennifer has put her talents and extensive Pi Phi experience (as a Fraternity officer and award-winning Alumnae Club President) to work this year, coordinating and developing a new menu of small group activities and events for the club. In addition to our longstanding and successful book clubs, Out to Lunch Bunch and Bridge group, Jennifer has overseen the launch of the Little Angels Play Group for new moms and their babies, the Wine and Blue Walking Group, a new dinner club, the Pi Phi Popcorn Posse movie group, Downtown Discoveries, and she has a new group that is soon-to-be-announced!

​

We appreciate the way these fun small group activities, paired with our regular large group events, are engaging new alumnae just out of school, along with alumnae who've never attended Alumnae Club events! Thank you, Jennifer! We're fortunate to have your experience and leadership, not to mention your team spirit! Fun + Friendship = Happy Members and a Strong Alumnae Club!

She's had a passion for Pi Phi since day one and has been serving the Fraternity in leadership roles ever since! Barbara Roe Luhrs is recognized with Excellence in Lifelong Commitment.

​

Having served as Kansas Beta's Chapter President, Barbara said she always expected to be involved with Pi Phi as an alumna. Soon after arriving in Kansas City, she joined and became active in the Alumnae Club. Like Judy Klote (above), Barbara served on the Steering Committee for Pi Phi's 55th Convention, which took place in Kansas City. She helped establish our club's Scholarship and Special Needs Fund, which provides scholarships to Pi Phis from our area. Barbara served the Fraternity on the national Links to Literacy Committee and has been a loyal supporter of the Pi Phi Foundation. She served as Club President and has continued for many years on the Board as our Treasurer. And while serving on the Board of Pi Phi here in Kansas City, she's been a faithful member of AAC at Kansas Beta. Her role, advising and supporting the Treasurer of the chapter, has allowed her to maintain close ties with Kansas Beta and its collegians.

Congratulations to Barbara, and thank you for your never-wavering commitment to Pi Phi!

Dr. Nancy Weidensaul Spangler is mission driven in her daily professional life, working to improve mental health, well-being and leadership in the workplace. She carries the "mission forward" approach into her volunteer life, as well. This longtime literacy volunteer and tireless advocate for Reach Out and Read KC is the absolute epitome of an advocate in children's literacy efforts in our area.​ Nancy is this year's honoree for Excellence in Literacy Service.

​

Nancy serves on the Reach Out and Read KC Advisory Board and was recently featured by RORKC online. “Books open so many doors," Nancy said. "Helping babies and young kids discover their magic has always been important to me.” From collecting books and rallying Pi Phis to support RORKC's fundraisers to recruiting new literacy volunteers, Nancy Spangler's support of children's literacy initiatives never falters.

​

Nancy and her husband, John, are parents of two adult sons who have both recently moved back to the Kansas City area with their own families. So Nancy has a few additional youngsters to read to these days (her grandchildren)!

​

Nancy, thank you for your leadership, your kindness and your unwavering commitment to a literate Kansas City. We salute you!