Like mother, like daughter

To say that my four years at UK and being an ADPi was the best four years of my life might seem like an overstatement since I have loved my adult life as well; getting married, raising my children, watching my children grow into adults, and hopefully one day grandchildren. However, being an ADPi, and especially living at 476 Rose Street my Junior and Senior year in college ranks up there with the best of times. The friends I made at ADPi are still, to this day, some of my closest friends. We still have a text group titled “My ADPi’s.” We go on an annual girl’s trips, book club, birthday celebrations together, dinner nights, lake trips with all our husbands,and so much more. Every time we are together, we will inevitably talk about “old times” which will usually include some story that we are thankful that there was no cell phones or internet at the time!    

I have always secretly hoped that one of my daughters would go to UK and choose ADPi, but I never pressured either one of them to do so. I wanted them to decide the best fit on their own. My oldest daughter chose not to go to UK. However, when Sarah decided to go to UK, I knew ADPiwas one of her top choices, but I did not find out what she sorority she chose until she called me and said she was an ADPi – she was my ADPi sister. In some ways, I am getting to relive some of the best years of my life. I have been back to the house numerous times, though it looks nothing like what I lived in with window units and phone booths, nevertheless memories come flooding back every time I visit. I am proud of my daughter. I am proud of ADPi.

- Donna Greenwell Dutton, AC ’83

My mom has always been my biggest role model and inspiration. I do just about everything that she does and have always hoped that one day I will become half the woman that she is. When I began the college application process, I inevitably decided to go to the University of Kentucky since my mom had such a great experience. It was also an easy decision to register for Primary Recruitment since she never stopped talking about the “best four years of her life” in Alpha Delta Pi. Growing up, most of our weekends were spent with my mom’s ADPi sisters. From lake trips to dinner nights, they were basically family to us. I remember dreaming that maybe I would have something similar to the tight-knit group of friends that she had.

When I was going through Primary Recruitment at UK, I tried my best to keep an open mind about every house. However, every time I walked through the doors of ADPi, not only were the conversations more intentional and authentic than my experience anywhere else, but I felt my mom in every corner of the house. 476 Rose Street felt like home before I even knew it would be my home. When I opened my bid card on September 7th, 2021, I immediately called my mom,and we couldn’t help but get emotional. My mom was not just my best friend and superhero, but now she was my sister.

There is something so special about sharing a sisterhood with your mom. Whether she’s sharing her silly stories from her two years of living in the Pi Palace or passing down all her favorite 80’s style ADPi gear, it’s not like anything else. When my mom attended UK, she was elected as Student Government Association (SGA) President. And not just any SGA President, but the first female SGA President, making history at UK and in the state of Kentucky. When I started school at UK, I knew I wanted to leave a lasting impact just as she once did. When I was elected as the 2024 ADPi Chapter President this past December, I felt like that was my opportunity to carry on the legacy that my mom had started in ADPi and within the campus community. I want nothing but to make her proud.

One of my favorite parts about sharing a sisterhood with my mom, is getting to see her composites on the inside walls of 476 Rose Street. Getting to see her picture every day when I lived in the house sophomore year truly made the house more of a home. One of her four composites hung right across the communal bathroom door in the house. On nights when I couldn’t call her during the day or before bed, I never failed to say “goodnight momma” to her little picture across from the blue bathroom door.

Not only has ADPi given me my future bridesmaids, best friends for life, more leadership opportunities than I can count, a place to call home on campus, and so much more, but it has also given me the most special relationship of them all. My journey through ADPi has not only solidified the special bond between my mom and I but it has also taught me the true meaning of sisterhood and the power of legacy. I find comfort in knowing that my mom's footsteps have paved the way for me, and with every step, I honor her and the sisterhood we share.

- Sarah Dutton, AC ’21

2024 Beta Psi Chapter President