It’s the week before the University of Missouri’s formal recruitment and the Pi Phi house is buzzing with excitement. It’s literally coming through the walls, with more than 200 chapter members gathered in the basement talking and laughing. The women are all business and pay no attention to the last days of summer hanging on outside.

Their fearless leader is Missouri Alpha Cecelia Bolin, the chapter’s Vice President of Membership, who’s going to be a junior this year. Cecelia loves crossing things off her to-do list, so it’s no surprise she started working on recruitment projects last semester. “I like the big mess and the challenge of organizing all the pieces,” Cecelia said. For months she’s been creating detailed schedules, assigning rotation groups and finalizing decorations.

She’s also done a fantastic job of delegating projects, especially leaning on chapter members to bring the creative side of recruitment to life, like decorating bulletin boards throughout the house. “I love seeing how talented all my sisters are,” Cecelia said. “I see their work and it’s incredible.” Bulletin boards sound simple, but they are a perfect example of why Cecelia succeeds as a leader. It’s because she’s involved her Pi Phi sisters along the way and everyone feels invested in the outcome of recruitment.

When she starts to feel tired, Cecelia doesn’t drink coffee or soda. And if she naps, she won’t get up again. Instead, she reenergizes herself by sitting down and chatting with her sisters. Sophomores, juniors, seniors — it doesn’t matter the grade or pledge class. Even though she’s already losing her voice from talking, it’s those little moments with her sisters that are Cecelia’s favorite part of recruitment.