Greek Week raises $35,000, breaks participation records at CMU
Team Poseidon performs at Mock Rock at McGuirk Arena, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Team Poseidon was comprised of Sigma Pi, Alpha Sigma Alpha and the National Panhellenic Council. (CM-Life | Mark Hoover)
Central Michigan University’s Greek Life community came together in full force April 12-16 for one of its most successful Greek Weeks, raising $35,000 for the Isabella County Child Advocacy Center and engaging 88% of Greek Life students across campus, according to CMU’s primary fraternity and sorority advisor Molly Schuneman.
The five-day event featured a wide range of competitions, service projects and fundraising initiatives, all designed to foster leadership, unity and community impact. The participation rate marked a significant increase from last year’s 65%, a leap that Schuneman said demonstrates the students’ growing commitment to philanthropy and involvement.
“This was one of the most successful Greek Weeks we have ever had,” Schuneman said. “It’s not just all fun and games. Students are learning how to be active citizens and give back to their communities.”
Friendly competition, real impact
The week’s events were packed with energy and creativity, Schuneman said. From Student Activity Center lock-ins featuring battleship in the pool and trivia nights to Greek Games competitions like chicken launching, toilet paper wrapping, Olympic rings races and chariot races.
The Mock Rock dance competition closed out the week with team routines judged by notable campus figures, including CMU Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Stan Shingles, CMU First Lady Leanne MacKinnon and CMU women’s head golf coach Ryan Williams.
Team Aphrodite, made up of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Alpha Sigma Tau and Tri Sigma, won the overall competition due to their high fundraising efforts and consistent participation across all events.
Alpha Sigma Tau member Kylee Moran was among the many students who took part in activities throughout the week. She said this was her first year participating in Greek Week, and that she enjoyed the experience.
“It was really fun to be on the Aphrodite team,” Moran said. “I feel like everyone’s commitment and enthusiasm is what made us stand out. AST, SAE and Tri Sig all put in a lot of effort.”
Moran said the preparation periods for events like Mock Rock created some of her favorite memories.
“It was such a good bonding experience,” she said. “We raised about $8,000 more than Michigan State University did for their Greek Week, which is insane. All of this money will be going to Isabella’s Child Advocacy Center, benefiting thousands of children.”
Service and fundraising for a cause
Greek Week raised $35,000, a decrease from the $90,000 raised in 2019, but still “incredibly impressive” considering the current economic climate in the post-pandemic world, Schuneman said.
Students also participated in a large-scale service day with United Way, cleaning up local parks and volunteering at community agencies. Over 600 Greek Life students completed service work simultaneously, showcasing the collective impact of CMU’s 27 fraternities and sororities.
Central Michigan University senior Sophie Lafrate (right) pies Central Michigan University junior GIgi Fox with Central Michigan University junior Faith Stevelinck (middle right), Central Michigan University senior Jordan Craighead (middle left) and Central Michigan University junior Maddie Melian (left) during Pie a President for Greek Week on the Bovee University Center lawn, Monday, April 14, 2025. The four girls came out to pie the president of their sorority. (CM-Life | Zoey Morse)
Other fundraising events included Pie-a-President, where students paid to pie Greek Life leaders, and item drives for “Greeks United for Moms.” A keynote session with United Way and the Child Advocacy Center also provided education on local social issues.
“Fraternities and sororities are leaders on campus,” Schuneman said. “They make vows during initiation to be 1% better every day and to be role models and to live out their values.”
Greek Week culture and community
Sophie Iafrate, a senior and Greek Week representative for Alpha Sigma Tau, was involved in helping coordinate the week’s events. She said the events are all about community bonding and creating a local impact.
“Greek Week is really about gathering together to work as a community for a good cause,” Iafrate said. “Anyone can submit an idea for the philanthropy, and it’s always something close by, which makes the impact felt.”
Non-Greek Life students were also invited to get involved through open events and fundraisers.
“Anyone can attend Mock Rock, donate to a team’s CrowdChange page or participate in the item drive,” Iafrate said. “All of the events were posted on the Greek Week Instagram, and they were super fun and easy to attend.”
As the week came to a close, Schuneman said that Greek Week has the power to inspire students far beyond the Greek community.
“I think that by participating in an event like Greek Week, where they're making such an impact on their community and for each other, they're setting the example,” Schuneman said. “They’re showing their fellow students what they can be capable of too, and hopefully inspiring people to engage in similar ways, whether that’s joining Greek life, getting involved in student organizations or finding their own way to make a difference.”
She said events like this help students realize their individual potential.
“Sometimes students wonder, ‘I’m just one person, what kind of impact can I really make?’” Schuneman said. “But Greek Week shows that students can change people’s lives and learn something meaningful about themselves along the way.”
