For 100 years, Chi Omega Gamma and Rho Nu Delta have been more than just Greek groups at Augustana College, they’ve been families rooted in tradition and shared values. This Homecoming, both celebrated their centennial alongside alumni and current members.
The weekend’s festivities included members from multiple generations of both groups, with events ranging from historical exhibits to casual gatherings on campus.
Both Greek groups are the only on campus who started the same year. Reaching that milestone created a shared historic point during Homecoming.
Chi Omega Gamma (COG) was founded by seven women who envisioned an organization built on the values of friendship, love and loyalty. A century later, those ideals continue to shape every pledge, event and connection.
COG is known as a trailblazing sorority where people of diverse backgrounds foster a strong sense of unity.
Senior Sydney Shields is the current president of COG and said that their alumni have also been an important part of their success.
“Our alumni are like a backbone,” Shields said. “They are a safety net for members, offering advice, connections and stories that inspire us to continue their legacy.”
The 100th anniversary brought together a lineup of events. Alumna Shannon Osheroff, from Augustana’s class of 2005, served on the planning committee, a group of fewer than 10 alumni who met monthly for over six months to organize the celebration.
“When the email came out asking for people to join the planning committee, I jumped on board,” Osheroff said.
Her primary role was producing a slideshow featuring more than 400 photos from the past century of COG. Working with fellow alum Elody Crimi, from the class of 1974, she helped scan, crop and organize images ranging from black-and-white portraits of the 1920s to snapshots of today’s members.
“What was really special for me was to be able to see this 100-year collection of photos and the women,” Osheroff said. “The traditions, the smiles, the fun was as if the sorority really hasn’t changed much, which was super cool.”
Osheroff also collaborated with Augustana’s Special Collections team to put together an exhibit showcasing artifacts like the original COG 1925 Constitution, historic newspapers and buttons designed with the COG crest. She said how meaningful it was to see current members walking through the exhibit alongside alumni, bridging decades of shared experiences.
Homecoming weekend’s events also included a tent at Quad Fest, where alumni gathered and reconnected. The centerpiece of the weekend was the Special Collections exhibit, which featured original documents, paddles, scrapbooks from every decade and other treasured memorabilia. For many alumni, seeing these artifacts evoked memories of their own time as active members.
In the early evening, members hosted an alumni barbecue on campus, a casual get-together where current members collaborated to bring food and drinks. Guests mingled, reminisced on old times and played yard games. Later, alumni and current members gathered at Radicle Effect Brewerks in Rock Island for an evening event that included a darts tournament, phrig painting (or spray painting bed sheets) and even a space for alumni to leave advice in a dedicated book for members.
Across campus, Rho Nu Delta, popularly known as Roundel, is built on the pillars of scholarship, service, Augie spirit, Roundel spirit and brotherhood. The fraternity has grown into the largest on campus, with a membership that stretches across athletics, academics and leadership.
The anniversary weekend was a reunion of generations. Alumni organized a Friday night dinner with more than 100 attendees, followed by a golf outing planned by graduates from the 1980s, which brought together members from over 20 pledge classes. The weekend provided an extraordinary opportunity to reconnect with brothers from every era, ranging in age from 19 to 90.
On Saturday, Sept. 27, members and alumni gathered for dinner at Brandon’s Pub & Grille and spent time catching up, sharing stories and reflecting on the fraternity’s enduring values.
Senior Thomas Fornelli, current president of Roundel, expressed how meaningful the centennial was to the group.
“It was surreal,” Fornelli said. “Seeing alumni up until 90 years old together reminded us that this bond is lifelong.”
Artifacts like old jackets, composite pictures of the whole fraternity and pledge class memorabilia were also on display, offering a sense of history.
“When you look at a jacket from the 1950s and see the same letters you’re wearing today, it’s a reminder that we are connected to something far greater than ourselves,” Fornelli said.
For the Roundels and COGs, shared traditions, such as taking pictures on the Old Main stairs, added to the sense of camaraderie.
“Having both centennials at the same time created a unique sense of community,” Fornelli said. “Seeing them gather for their own photo, just like we did, was amazing, and it was clear that a lot of planning went into making it a success.”
As president of Augustana’s Greek Council, senior Kristin Rundle has witnessed the ways Greek life continues to adapt since its beginnings.
Rundle feels inspired to see the changes in COG and Roundel over the years, while simultaneously maintaining the same values.
“COGs are always on their A-game, participating and cheering for their siblings. They set a good example for other Greek groups, and their alumni must be proud,” Rundle said. “Roundels always show up, too, supporting each other on campus and on social media, reposting photos and sports teams. I love seeing that kind of support.”
Both groups credited alumni with being instrumental in planning and funding the events. Alumni donations helped cover costs for exhibits, meals and memorabilia, while their willingness to share stories enriched the overall experience.
Together, COG and Roundel represent more than just student groups; they are living traditions that have evolved alongside the college itself. Their legacies lie not only in songs, symbols or artifacts, but in the invisible threads that connect generations of Vikings.
Beyond their own walls, COG members can be found leading cultural groups and shaping campus culture, while Roundel brothers participate across sports teams, service projects and student government.
“These groups show that you can be multifaceted. [You can be] an athlete, a leader and a member of a brotherhood or sisterhood at the same time,” Shields said.
The centennial celebrations were not only a chance to look back but also an opportunity to consider the future.
For COG, the next century will be about embracing change while holding onto the group’s roots. This will include reflecting on alumni stories and using those to make the group even better.
“COG for me could mean something completely different compared to someone who rushed in 1988,” Shields said. “Gaining perspective on how it’s changed and how it can be improved is necessary.”
For Roundel, the next steps involve building on the fraternity’s reputation for inclusivity and broad involvement. Fornelli said that the future pledge classes will represent the full diversity of Augustana’s student body while staying true to the fraternity’s core pillars.
“We want to make sure that anyone who shares our values can find a home with us,” Fornelli said.
Together, COG and Roundel showcased the enduring role of Greek organizations at Augustana. Their centennial celebrations serve as both a tribute to the past and a launchpad for the next century of friendship, loyalty, scholarship and service at Augustana College.
