Outstanding Michigan Alumna Award 2008, Betty Robbins  

This award is presented to an alumna member of Delta Zeta in Michigan who is actively involved in Delta Zeta, and has attained outstanding achievement in her career and/or community volunteer areas. Past winners include Andrea Henderson, Christyle Broadworth, Karen Miron and Gwen Shick. This year’s winner was initiated into Delta Sigma Epsilon sorority in 1953, but became a Delta Zeta when the two groups merged in 1956. She attended college at Western Michigan University, majoring in Education and Theatre. She was the newsletter editor for her alumnae chapter for over 15 years, and served as the representative to the local Panhellenic Association for more years than anyone can remember, including a stint as President. In past years when Delta Zeta had a permanent seat on the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Hearing and Speech Center she served in that position.

 She is a retired English Professor and was also involved in the Drama Group at Grand Rapids Community College. She has served as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society Resale Shop, the Grand Rapids Women's City Club (including newsletter editor and fundraiser organizer), the Sight Seer Radio Reading Services (reading books on tape for the sight impaired community), Shauwnee Park School for the Deaf, and the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre Guild, by which she was honored as member of the year. She enjoys Volunteering, Reading, Reading, and hey, did we mention Reading?

Since retiring, she has given up many of her volunteer positions that she had held for oh so many years, but she continues to be a vital member of the Grand Rapids Alumnae Chapter. Her nominee writes that “one of our traditions is her annual reading of The Littlest Angel at our Christmas meeting. To a Grand Rapids Delta Zeta, it is not Christmas until Betty reads us our beloved story of the true meaning of Christmas.”

She also notes that “Betty was always the one to proof the award nominations and reports for our alumnae chapter. We never wanted to send anything out with a misspelled word or poor grammar that would make her cringe!” I’m happy to report that the grammar on her nomination form was flawless. Congratulations to Betty Robbins for being named the recipient of the 2008 Michigan Outstanding Alumna Award.