Ole Miss Delta Gamma ‘Flying High’ in Birdhouse Competition

Delta Gamma wins the Ole Miss Birders birdhouse building competition. Photo by Thomas Burchett

It was a big win on Monday night for Delta Gamma. Ole Miss sororities competed against each other in a birdhouse building competition, sponsored by the Ole Miss Birders student group.

“The money raised from this competition will be donated to the Strawberry Plains Audubon in Holly Springs,” says Nick Dugan, president of the birding club.

In addition to bragging rights, Delta Gamma won $150 for its philanthropy. Ole Miss is now home to eight new birdhouses, too, which Dugan hopes will have “positive, rippling effects on the environment.”

Photo courtesy Grace Sullivan

More than 100 student organizations at Ole Miss are raising money for charities and other worthy causes at any given time, according to the school’s vice chancellor for student affairs.

“It almost feels like every student organization has some sort of philanthropic initiative that they are involved in,” says Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Brandi Hephner LeBanc.

Ole Miss is home to somewhere around 250-300 students organizations, says LeBanc, and Greek organizations are some of the most active.

“Philanthropies are important because it is crucial that we serve the community of Oxford,” says Emily Anne Burns, member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority.

AOPi’s local philanthropies help benefit the Boys & Girls Club, as well as work towards benefiting More Than a Meal.

“Getting involved in philanthropies allows you to look at the bigger picture and see what you can do to help others,” says Burns.

Photo courtesy Grace Sullivan

David Gerhardstein, member of Phi Kappa Psi, says that its philanthropy. Phi Psi Final Four, also benefits the Boys & Girls Club.

“I enjoy the work we do with the Boys and Girls Club,” says Gerhardstein.

LeBanc says these types of projects are a learning experience for students.

“We have to recognize as folks, we have an opportunity and privilege others don’t have in this world, says LeBanc. “It’s the right thing to be a good citizen and give back.”

This story was contributed by Ole Miss journalism student Connor Heitzmann, cpheitzm@go.olemiss.edu.