The Olive McCune Loyalty award is presented to an alumna member in Region V who has made a significant contribution to Delta Zeta Sorority through her loyalty, interest and devotion.  Ms. McCune was a member of the Alpha chapter in the early 1920s, and a charter member of the Cleveland Alumnae chapter. She promoted Delta Zeta enthusiastically wherever she went, and her loyalty and dedication to Delta Zeta were contagious.  She attended many national conventions and was loved by a wide network of Delta Zeta sisters.  Our former AAD Mella Davies remarked that she was a student in her second grade classroom, and because Ms. McCune and her mother were Delta Zeta sisters, she was recruited from second grade onward. 

This year’s recipient was initiated into the Theta Chapter at The Ohio State University in 1970, and graduated with a degree in Social Work in 1973.  As a collegian, she served as Secretary and President of her chapter.  She has been a member of the Columbus Alumnae Chapter for many years, has served on the Theta Chapter Local Housing Corporation, and even worked at the Delta Zeta National Headquarters when it was located in Columbus.  In addition, she held the position of CCD for Omicron Gamma Chapter at Ohio University until a few years ago, making the hour drive to Athens from Columbus so that this chapter would have not only an advisor to help and guide them, but a CCD.  Since resigning from that position, she continues to assist with Omicron Gamma’s formal recruitment every year, serving as one of the behind the scenes volunteers that helps to make everything run smoothly for recruitment.  And not only has she helped here at Ohio University, but she has returned for several years to help with her own chapter’s formal recruitment at The Ohio State University.   

She is also currently serving as the Financial Advisor for Theta Chapter.  She has willingly learned Bill Highway and has assisted with budgeting and reporting. She also lends her support and ideas at the Executive Board meetings.   In her nomination, Judi Jacobs states, “As CCD, and many times the only advisor for Theta chapter, I have come to rely on Andrea to help make the food service and kitchen run smoothly during formal recruitment.  She has great ideas on how to pick-up and re-supply in between rounds when the minutes are few.  I have also come to rely on her expertise as a former CCD.  She is always there to answer my questions and help in whatever way she can.  I am very proud to call Andrea my sister and know that Delta Zeta means so much to her, as you can tell by her support of not only one college chapter but two.”

Andrea’s daughter, Stephanie, who is also a Delta Zeta and is with us today also contributed to her mother’s nomination.  Stephanie reflects that “I had been active for only about a quarter when she came on as CCD.  We had no CCD and were having a lot of problems.  My mom did so much for the chapter by bringing some much-needed guidance, but also by serving as an advocate for the chapter with National Headquarters.  During recruitment she stayed weekends, came during the week to deal with emergency situations, and she didn’t just do this for the four years her daughter was active…  I’m not sure Omicron Gamma would be celebrating their anniversary this year had my mom not been there to support and guide us at a really difficult time.  I am really appreciative of what she did for our Chapter and am glad that Theta chapter is now reaping the benefits of having her as an advisor.”

In addition to Stephanie, Andrea and her husband John have another daughter, Michelle.  Andrea owns her own business and enjoys reading and exercising in her spare time.  Andrea Ridenour Kusta has certainly displayed her loyalty, interest and devotion to Delta Zeta, and I am proud to name her as the 2010 Olive McCune Loyalty Award winner.

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