“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” This quote from Walt Disney are words that inspire Oklahoma Alpha Holly Hoehner. She is studying public relations at University of Oklahoma (OU). It was her first and only choice when it came to college. Concerned with being overwhelmed in such a large community, she set out to make her campus experience more fulfilling. She was determined to build relationships on campus. She took initiative by striking up conversations with people in her classes and told herself to say “yes” to opportunities she was presented with. Holly loves making connections and knows the decisions she makes here will impact the rest of her life.

Holly just completed her term as Vice President of Membership. As the campus transitions to a no-frills , values-based recruitment, Holly spent spring and summer preparing for recruitment. Yes, it was a bit of a challenge to take the frills out, but she agreed that more effort should be put into great conversations. Fortunately for Oklahoma Alpha, they heard past Potential New Members say they had the most genuine connections at the Pi Phi houses. So it was Holly’s goal to amplify that.

Holly led 250 of her sisters during recruitment, practicing her leadership skills like commanding attention, making smart decisions, managing time and getting the best out of people while respecting them. “Experiences you get as a leader in Pi Phi are unmatched from anywhere else,” says Holly about being able to hone in on who she is as a leader and person. The skills are important resume builders, but also real examples she can talk about during job interviews and at career fairs – both things this senior is thinking a lot about.

The transferable skills are not the only things Holly will take away from Pi Phi; she has sincere friendships too. Holly and Oklahoma Alpha Katie Qualls–Fay attended the same high school in Edmond, Oklahoma, together. Being one year younger, Holly admired Katie although they were not friends. “I walked around for three years not knowing that my best friend was around me,” she says. When she participated in primary recruitment at OU, Holly admits Pi Phi was on her radar because of Katie. How exciting it was when Holly joined Pi Phi and found out that Katie was her Big Sister!

Holly and Katie are the duo that wants to do all things together. “Katie is a great mentor in life and my Pi Phi career,” Holly says about her Big Sister. “True friendship is not sitting back idly, but loving them enough to help them when they can use the assistance. This is hands down what I will take away most from Pi Phi membership.”

There is something extra about their friendship that makes it special and Holly simply chalks it up to “she gets it and I get it.” Sure, they could have become friends, but Holly knows it would not be as deep of a connection without Pi Phi.