Hoard was honored at a ceremony on April 14, 2021 for her advocacy of the Greek community at UGA
By: Reaganne Coile
Anyone who has met Kathy Hoard knows she adores her community and can brighten any room. Many Athenians know her for her distinguished career of public service—from 30 years working at the University of Georgia to her service as an Athens City Council member and later an Athens-Clarke County Commissioner. But most UGA students know her as Mrs. Kathy, a fierce advocate and good friend who has made a positive difference in their lives.
Because of her extraordinary outreach to UGA Greek students, she was recognized as an honorary initiate by Order of Omega, the most prestigious Greek leadership honorary organization in the nation, on April 14, 2021.
“If you were asked to share the qualities of a true Greek Life champion in our community, all you would need to do is describe Mrs. Kathy Hoard. While she has accomplished many things while living in Athens, she has always been a champion for the members of UGA’s Greek community,” said Alison McCullick, UGA’s Director of Community Relations. “Ms. Kathy is known for being first in line to support events up and down Milledge Avenue – whether it is buying Girl Scout cookies or picking up a barbecue dinner from the front yard of a sorority house to attending the annual community meeting at Chi Phi fraternity. Athens is a better place for students because of Mrs. Kathy Hoard – and she is a true representation of all that Order of Omega stands for as an organization.”
After 40 years of living off Milledge Avenue behind the Kappa Delta house, Hoard says she knows all the recruitment songs and makes sure to secure her annual supply of girl scout cookies from the organization’s annual philanthropy event. She also built a close relationship with the Chi Phi fraternity and they support the First Tee Annual Golf Tournament, which Hoard hosts each year. This program helps develop the golf and soft skills of low-income Georgians and provides a scholarship to a recipient to attend the University of Georgia each year.
“I have lived right off Milledge Avenue for over forty years and believe our neighborhood is a better place to live because the Greek community is a part of it,” Hoard said. “Many students who are members of the UGA Greek community serve our local community, within that community but also outside it, by tutoring other students and volunteering their time and talent to local non-profit organizations. I am particularly grateful for the Greek community’s strong support of the UGA Student Food Pantry. Additionally, these young people add to our community by living and shopping locally and, of course, providing energy and vitality to the Athens community.”
She was able to join with the leaders of Order of Omega on Wednesday to be inducted into the organization at the historic UGA chapel. The Order of Omega was founded at the University of Miami in the fall of 1959 by a group of outstanding fraternity men, who felt that individuals in the Greek community should be recognized for their service to the fraternity system and the University. This organization is the most prestigious Greek leadership honorary in the nation and is present on over 250 college campuses in the United States. The organization selects the top 3% of Greek leaders from each campus to be members of the honorary. Each member involves themselves within the Greek community, the campus at large, as well as the local community. The Gamma Pi Chapter at UGA was founded on July 15, 1980.
