Archive for April, 2010

GATA and friends recently spent a weekend near Marble Falls, Texas at Camp of the Hills, a Christian summer camp that operates on donations to allow inner-city kids the opportunity to experience God.

In March, the camp was struck by a calamitous fire, bringing down the dining hall, which housed the kitchen, nurse’s office, camp supplies, and served as the gathering place for campers during the summer.

GATA has connections to the camp, as GATA Ally Craigie has served as a camp counselor at the camp, and 2008-09 GATA Beau Drew Bowen is the director. When the girls heard about the fire, they knew they had to help.

Eight GATAs and three “Men of GATA” piled into cars and made the three-hour drive through Texas hill country to help the camp staff prepare for more than 400 campers to arrive at the beginning of June.

Between cleaning out the volunteer cottages, doing laundry and digging a ditch to run electrical wire to a cabin, the group got the chance to marvel at the beauty of springtime in the woods.

When they gathered for an evening devo on the “Jesus hill,” a hilltop bearing three crosses, which looks out over the camp and a nearby lake, the group was reminded of the importance of getting away from the hustle of the semester, juggling jobs, school and relationships, to enjoy the gifts that God has created.

Drew Bowen posted this video that shows more about the fire and Camp of the Hills.

This year, GATA is making a comeback in a big way, starting with our two spring rushes: the Pinkberry rush, and the GATA Shore rush.

More than 100 freshman girls are already geared up for our Pinkberry rush, which will feature real Pinkberry frozen yogurt, great music, and mingling with the lovely GATA ladies.

The fun starts Thursday, April 14 at 9 pm at the ACU Labyrinth, in front of the new Hunter Welcome Center.

Our second spring rush is Jersey Shore – GATA style. Like the fist-pumping New Jerseyans on the show, GATAs and freshmen should be prepared for a fun and eventful night. Who knows what will happen when you combine self-tanner, sandy beaches, bump-its and some pumping techno music? Prizes will be given to the girls with the highest hair bump, best New Jersey accent and the best overall Jersey Shore star impersonations. Rushees will enjoy the music videos, skits, tasty funnel cakes and fries in a cone at Bonnie Kellum’s house, 1102 Washington Blvd., at 7 pm on Thursday, April 22.

As a special bonus, girls who attend both rushes may see themselves on the GATA video – we’ll be taping at the Pinkberry rush and showing the video at the GATA Shore rush!

Last weekend, GATAs and dates celebrated another fabulous year at this year’s Formal, The After Party. Dressed to the nines, ladies and gents strolled the red carpet as the paparazzi cameras clicked.

Award winners of the night included:

• Bonnie Kellum and Michael McCarty, the Cutest Couple
• Kelsey Burgy, the Best Dressed GATA
• Derek Chase (AKA “The Crazy Cool Tie Guy”), the Best Dressed Man
• Bethany Suppes, with the Most GATA Spirit,
• and Domingo Gonzalez, our GATA Beau, the man of the year.

After dinner, guests set off in their elegant attire – to play! Bowling, miniature golf, laser tag and arcade games had girls kicking off their heels and boys loosening their ties.