In 1979, Audrey Jankucic made a decision that changed her life.
The USM sophomore received an invitation to join the Phi Mu sorority, and she accepted.
From that moment on, Jankucic devoted her time and energy to the philanthropy of Phi Mu.
Earlier this month she donated funds to create a sorority scholarship, called the Phi Mu Leadership award.
The $600 scholarship will be presented annually to a USM Phi Mu sorority member who has made outstanding contributions to USM Greek life, community service and maintains a minimum grade point average of 2.5.
During Jankucic’s time at USM, she was the president of her pledge class and organized and implemented community service projects.
One of her fondest memories is of the chapter assisting an elderly woman. The woman, who lived in a house behind the Upton Hastings Resident Hall, was homebound, unable to do even simple errands, Jankucic said.
Phi Mu sisters would run these errands for her and visit her on a daily basis.
Once Jankucic graduated, she continued her involvement with Phi Mu sorority. She was awarded a graduate scholarship to attend the University of New Hampshire, where she received a master’s degree in education.
Part of her scholarship was to work with Phi Mu chapters at universities across New England.
She continued her community service and held an active role at the national level of Phi Mu.
She served as a graduate counselor, chapter adviser and chapter association chairperson.
“I saw first hand how Phi Mu helped to develop leadership, philanthropic, social and educational opportunities for young women,” said Jankucic.
“It gave me an understanding of the importance of supporting others in word and deed.”
Not only was Jankucic a Phi Mu member after graduation, she also served on the national scholarship committee and fully understands the financial difficulties that students face when paying for school.
“Women coming out of bachelors programs owing tremendous amounts of money just broke my heart,” said Jankucic. “I wanted to reward those who work hard, study hard and who make time to contribute to their own community.”
According to Jankucic, the Phi Mu sorority is celebrating two special anniversaries this year. The national sorority is celebrating 150 years of sisterhood and the USM chapter is celebrating 30 years.
The USM chapter, in part with their national philanthropy, has organized fundraisers for the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN). This past fall, they did a trick or treat fundraiser for CMN and raised over $300 in an hour.
“It seemed like an appropriate time to make a mark,” Jankucic said.
Currently, Jankucic has been the only local sorority alumna to donate a scholarship to a chapter. The scholarship will help alleviate the cost of classes and books.
“I don’t believe we have alumna sorority scholarships available at the present time for each chapter, however, at the national levels of sororities there are scholastic competition scholarships available,” said Rodney Mondor, assistant director for student involvement.
“The scholarship donation has been very beneficial to our sisters,” said Kay Crawford, Phi Mu president, a senior, psychology major.
“It’s nice to know that an alumna from that long ago cares enough about our chapter to contribute and give back.”
According to Crawford, Jankucic also organized a conference workshop on leadership and recruitment at the Eastland Hotel last September for USM and University of Maine Phi Mu sorority chapters.
“It also lets the outside community know that there is loyalty as well as good things that come from being a part of a sorority,” said Crawford.
According to Jankucic, this scholarship will go beyond the Phi Mu sorority and will benefit USM as a whole and the greater community.
Jankucic lives in New Jersey where she works in the insurance industry and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Phi Mu foundation.
“Hopefully, future recipients will remember receiving financial help, and in turn will strive to help another in some way,” said Jankucic.
“Most of us don’t have the resources to save the world, but if each of us does something, collectively we can make a difference.”
Staff Writer Erin Zwirn can be contacted at: [email protected]