We are just two weeks away from celebrating Kappa Delta’s 66th Biennial National convention With Brave Hearts in Dallas, Texas. 

With more than 1,000 Kappa Deltas from across the country preparing to celebrate the achievements of our sisters, build confidence and make an impact on the future of KD, this gathering will be filled with opportunities to be inspired and connect as sisters.  

The first National Convention was held in 1903, and it was an annual event until 1913 when it became a biennial summer gathering. Let’s take a look at a few of the incredible traditions that make the convention experience so special.   

The Katydid

The Katydid, the official convention newspaper, premiered in 1917. Except for the period between 1953 and 1963 when it was published only once per convention, the Katydid has served as a daily publication throughout the event. 

Though the content has varied over the years, it has included the schedule, happenings, editorials, poems, songs and photographs. Today, the Katydid is sent via email to attendees, so keep an eye out! 

White Rose Garden

Since 1985, thousands of roses have been sent to Kappa Delta sisters, friends, family and mentors to celebrate and honor their impact on our lives.  

The best part? Sending virtual roses serves as both a meaningful gesture of appreciation and a way to support the Kappa Delta Foundation, ensuring scholarships, leadership training and other initiatives continue to thrive. 

Read more about how this tradition is expanding this year in new and exciting ways! 

Parade of Flags

Beginning in 1921, each chapter was honored at convention with a wooden shield displayed in Convention Hall in the Hall of Shields. However, in 1989, the tradition was updated because the number and weight of the wooden shields became impractical. From then on, banners were used instead.   

As each collegiate chapter delegate proudly marches into Convention Hall during the opening business meeting, she carries a banner bearing the colors and seal of her school and the Greek letters of her chapter. The vibrant display represents the diverse tapestry of Kappa Delta chapters and serves as a reminder of the strength and unity we gain from our shared experiences.

All-Attendee Photo

Kappa Delta took its first all-attendee photo at our 1910 convention, and a full group photo has been taken at every convention since. 

Sisters who visit Kappa Delta National Headquarters will see these photos lovingly displayed. They serve as a visual timeline of our sisterhood — capturing the fashions of each era, the growth of our organization and the joy when KDs from across the country come together. We’ll share it on social media during convention weekend, so check our channels to find your friends (or yourself!) amongst the crowd. 

The Memorial Service

One of the most solemn and meaningful traditions, the Memorial Service, dates back to the 1911 convention in Atlanta.

Our founders paid tribute to the memory of their Alpha Chapter sister Mary Sommerville Sparks Hendrick. The next services were at intervals – in 1921, 1931, 1935, 1946, 1955 and 1961 – in memory of all KDs who had passed away in the intervening time. Since 1967, the Memorial Service has been conducted biennially, serving as a poignant reminder of the legacy and sisterhood we hold dear. As we gather to honor the lives of our departed sisters, we find solace and strength in our shared memories and the eternal bonds of Kappa Delta.   

White Rose Toast

During the first 50 years of KD’s history, it was customary that each National President write her own toast for the final banquet, known as the White Rose Banquet. Since the 1947 convention, the same toast has been used, written by National President Betty Lanier. What originally was known as “Betty’s Toast” is now known as our White Rose Toast: 

Behold the rose:  

Within its petals lies a dream,  

A dream of love, loyalty, youth  

Within its heart lies a realm  

of honor, beauty, truth.  

All that we hope to accomplish  

Will be fulfilled by those  

Who find you fair  

And take you from our hands.  

May the rose of Kappa Delta  

Mean to each of us always  

Those things which are  

honorable, beautiful and highest.  

President’s Page Invocation

At the White Rose Banquet, we see yet another special tradition. Pages are an indispensable part of the convention. They serve in many capacities – from greeting guests and assisting with registration to helping with room set-up and aiding National Council. They help make business meetings, general sessions, breakout sessions and meals run smoothly.  

However, the woman selected to serve as the national president’s page has a special role: she gives the invocation before the final meal is served. This inspirational moment gives attendees time for reflection on their convention experience. 

As we prepare to gather With Brave Hearts, we are filled with excitement and gratitude for the time-honored traditions that bind us together as sisters. Convention ignites our passion, empowers our voices and reminds us of the legacy we are entrusted to carry forward. Let us embrace the spirit of unity, growth and sisterhood as we come together to celebrate our achievements and build a greater and better Kappa Delta.