Bertie McConnell, 90-Year-Old Kansas Woman, Finally Joins Sorority

TOPEKA, Kan. -- A 90-year-old Kansas woman whose sorority dreams were disrupted by World War II is finally getting to be a pledge.

Bertie McConnell was surprised on her 90th birthday Saturday with a certificate of membership from Zeta Tau Alpha. She says she was "absolutely shocked."

McConnell attended several Zeta rush parties in 1941 at Washburn University in Topeka. But everything changed after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

Her daughter, Judith McConnell-Farmer, says her mother never forgot her sorority dreams.

McConnell-Farmer teaches at Washburn, and after sharing her mother's story with her classes, members of the school's Zeta chapter worked with their national council to extend the invite.

Comments

[Edguy52]

03:03 AM on 10/18/2011

Mhmmmmmm.....

[PCLC]

11:44 PM on 10/17/2011

Where is Blue?

[DanSc]

04:52 PM on 10/17/2011

Well, she can't eat now.

[splenetic]

04:21 PM on 10/17/2011

She must be blonde.

[CapsFan1988]

04:09 PM on 10/17/2011

hmmm i wonder who she will dance with at the frat mixers? lol

[Vic22]

03:46 PM on 10/17/2011

I see she never forgot how to dream big

[kimmmm]

02:40 PM on 10/17/2011

I wonder if they'll haze her.

[bahkey]

06:03 PM on 10/17/2011

This woman will haze these whipper snappers.