The Lewis Institute

Hello! My name is Ella Woehlke, and I am a Michigan State rising Junior studying Elementary Education (3-6, minor in TESOL). This past week, I was honored to represent the Beta Xi chapter at The Lewis Institute in Delaware, Ohio.

What exactly is The Lewis Institute?

The Lewis Institute is a weeklong program that takes place at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio and is funded by the Delta Gamma Foundation. The purpose of The Lewis Institute is to provide Delta Gamma students with the opportunity to explore their values, strengths, and leadership to successfully approach conflict with meaningful action in their chapters. It is difficult to put into words all the lessons I have learned at Lewis because I truly am coming home a changed person. I now understand the underlying meaning to what Delta Gamma membership signifies for me and my sisters. It is my goal to translate all that I have learned at Lewis towards positive change and impact in the Beta Xi chapter. The opportunities were limitless at Lewis. I was privileged to speak with Delta Gamma professionals about specific changes I would like to see within the chapter. They shared their wisdom with me, so I could curate an action plan for our chapter. I was additionally able to gain insight into the works of other DG chapters and bounce ideas off sisters. I am coming back with a bucketload of amazing concepts, ideas, conflict resolution techniques, and so so so much more!

The days at Lewis were filled with laughs, smiles, tears, lessons, small group conversations, large group sessions, and of course lots of food. On day four we all hopped on a bus and traveled to Delta Gamma Executive Offices located in Columbus, Ohio. EO was FILLED with the history of Delta Gamma. My eyes became open to the true magnitude of what DG means to thousands and thousands of people. Seeing the centennial quilt created for Delta Gamma’s 100th birthday was a highlight of the tour for me. I even spotted the MSU Beta Xi chapters patch! I also witnessed the one and only real photograph taken of our beautiful founders Mary Comfort Leonard, Anna Boyd Ellington, and Eva Webb Dodd. I read real letters sent between the founders, saw the gavel and lockbox used at the original Lewis School for Girls, and took pictures of many more artifacts signifying the history of Delta Gamma. I am extremely proud to be a part of an organization with so much history and love of the anchor.

Lewis was unlike any other leadership conference I have ever been to. I was in the position to be my most authentic and venerable self as I navigated the intense content Lewis and its facilitators provided. Through my vulnerability and that of others, tight-knit friendships were formed in just a matter of days. I am now coming back to Michigan knowing I have friends I can rely on, even if they live hours away. Although I cannot relay everything I have experienced at Lewis in one short blog post, it is my goal to cherish the time I had and put it towards meaningful action within the chapter and beyond. I would like to my chapter for having enough trust in me to send me to Lewis. This sisterhood is why I choose to stay a Delta Gamma for life, and I am incredibly grateful I get to call all of these women, my sisters.

LITB,

Ella Woehlke ♥