Written by Emma McDaris // Photo by Macy Cox
The Centennial year marked 20 years of service for a sponsor of one of Harding’s women’s social clubs.
Delta Gamma Rho began at Harding in 1989, and for approximately two-thirds of the club’s history, Armstrong Hall residence life coordinator Emily Myers has served as a sponsor for the group. Myers began as a sponsor for DGR in 2004 and looked back on her years of service.
“Over the last 20 years, there have been lots of memories,” Myers said. “We have shared a lot of life including laughs, losses, games, events, engagements, weddings and trips. I think it was probably 16 years ago when several members and two of us sponsors went on a road trip together in my van to Niagara Falls for the weekend. We laughed a lot and just enjoyed the shared experience together.”
Myers started her journey as a sponsor to be more involved in the Harding community and to give back to the club that had supported her in her time at Harding.
“I respected the women who had been sponsors for me during my time in DGR, and I felt like that was a role I would enjoy,” Myers said. “I am in relationship with many women from my time as a sponsor. Those friendships have continued through the years and have been such a blessing in my life.”
Current DGR president Mattie Powers held Myers up as an example of leadership for club sponsors.
“Emily is a blessing to DGR because she always thinks about what’s best for the club,” Powers said. “She genuinely cares for the women in this club, and you can see that in her actions.”
Club sponsorship requires a certain type of person to successfully lead and make an impact in members’ lives. Kylie James, vice president of DGR, said Myers embodies all of the traits a sponsor at Harding should have.
“A good sponsor should be someone who cares about the individual members of the club as well as the impact the club has on the community,” James said. “They should strive to build relationships with the girls and serve as a support system/mentor for them.”
James said she also appreciates Myers’ unique perspective on how DGR changed and how Myers stayed firm with the core beliefs of the organization.
“Having a sponsor who has watched the club grow over the years creates a feeling of security and reassurance that there is someone who has our back and that we can lean on in uncertain situations,” James said. “It is comforting to know that there is someone we can trust to help make decisions and that has the wisdom to keep the club on the right path of growth. Because things do change over time, having someone who is flexible and open to change creates a positive and welcoming environment for the members.”
