Like many college students in fraternities, the brothers of the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter at Transylvania University are always down for a party. Although the nearby Sayre Christian Village, a continuing-care retirement community in Lexington, KY, may not be a conventional spot to throw down, they have been coming back every year to share a little joy with their senior (citizen) friends.
“Three years ago, we were planning a dance, and we were thinking, ‘We need some gentlemen to dance with our ladies,’” Sayre director of campus life/enrichment Angela Mullins said, “So we reached out to Transylvania and the Pi Kappa Alpha charter replied to us. They came in the first year to dance with our ladies, and they kept coming back. Every year, they get more involved and look forward to it.”
The theme of this year’s edition was “Love and laughter,” and there was no shortage of either on the dance floor of the campus’ enrichment center. Mullins estimates that there were at least 60 attendees, with many of them receiving a special gift from their special guests.
“When the students come in, they come in with roses,” Mullins said. “They have a bag full of roses, and they usually will go up to their favorite resident from last year and invite them to dance, pass out the roses and make sure every woman in that room has a rose in her hand.”
Although there may be a large age gap between the guests and residents, you would not be able to tell from the party’s ebullience. When the generations get together, sparks will fly. For many residents, it was a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
“[The students] bring a lot of energy, I think they take our residents to another level,” Mullins said. “They bring new life, just a younger vibe, and it takes them back to the younger days and makes them laugh and joke around. We had one lady who danced all over the floor that night. I could see a sparkle in her eye I hadn’t seen before, so that was a lot of fun.”
This year’s bash was a huge success, and Mullins says to expect even bigger things next year. That means the fine gentlemen at Pi Kappa Alpha might need to update their order at the florist.
“Our CEO just gave us word that she wants it even bigger next year,” Mullins said. “So we’re going to open up our room — we have a split room where we have an enrichment center with a folding wall that has a dining room on the other side. Next year, that wall is going to be opened, and it’s going to be bigger.”
