Utah Alpha Sierra Allen, a junior, was only planning on staying at the University of Utah for one year. She had received a freshman scholarship and after using it, she had every intention of transferring to another school.

But, Pi Phi changed her plans.

Sierra was not planning on participating in recruitment, but she and a friend decided to go through in hopes they would meet new people. “On the second day, I knew I wanted to be a Pi Phi,” Sierra said. It was the conversations she had during recruitment with her soon-to-be big and now Chapter President Afton Lane. Sierra was also hooked on Pi Phi’s philanthropy. She had experience volunteering with children and felt the philanthropy was a great fit for her.

Now, it is hard to imagine Sierra would be anywhere but the University of Utah. She is currently the Services Desk Manager at the student union and volunteers in numerous ways. Sierra serves as Director of Community Service for the Union Programming Council and is Co-President of Global Brigades, a campus group that organizes service trips. Sierra went to Honduras last year, and plans to go on another service trip this year to Panama.

Sierra is a business major, which took her to study abroad briefly to both Paris and London. She is a Pi Beta Phi Foundation scholarship recipient as well. It’s hard to imagine how Sierra manages it all. “It’s hard; but I am passionate about everything I do,” she said. “I make time for the things I love, and I also work in a bit of a social life.” Sierra says being involved on campus has made her University feel much smaller. She has created her own community.

The reason Sierra stayed at the University of Utah was because of Pi Phi. “My sisters push me to be a better version of myself, and I just love that,” Sierra said.