Omega Chapters: Carrie Smith
Destiny
For Sigma Psi Sigma member Carrie Smith, MC92, attending Washington State University was practically predestined. Her father was a proud WSU graduate and Washington State was the only college education he was willing to fund. Go Cougs!
Happily for the Omega chapter, Carrie found Alpha Chi Omega through Continuous Open Bidding during her sophomore year. She had one friend from high school in the house and immediately she connected with her other sisters. First order of business: Embrace as many social opportunities that could fit in her calendar.
The Sorority Experience
Like you, Carrie’s AXO memories range from the day to day moments to the big deals.
Who remembers the newsletters taped to the back of the bathroom stall that kept us all up to date?
And who remembers yelling “Shower!” before flushing to avoid scalding a poor sister in the shower?
Fall rafting trips? Placing third place during a Greek Week lip sync contest?
Let’s talk about Formal Dinners before Chapter on Mondays. The rules might seem a bit dated but it was always a good time. Remember to cast your eyes down when you take a sip of your beverage so your date can admire you. Fill up the tables before sitting at an empty one. Stay standing until the house mother is seated. Place your utensils at 10 and 2 when you are done with the meal.
Days of Our Lives was another common bond and she remembers how a lot of sisters would try not schedule classes during the showtimes. Remember: Back in the 1990s, if you missed an episode it was very hard to catch a replay.
Blended into all the memories are simple moments like listening to a sister play the piano in the living room and the last minute rush to the kitchen on Sunday mornings for brunch.
Values for a Lifetime
Beyond the fun and traditions, Carrie strongly believes her sorority experience served as a training ground for key life values and skills: commitment, accountability, leadership, and the transformative power of philanthropy.
Where else but college could a group of sisters organize an ultimate frisbee tournament that not only brings together young men and women to align on domestic violence prevention but also raises funds for service providers.
Traveling the World
A mere three years after graduating, Carrie met her future husband in Seattle through an Omega sister.
He is a Navy man but she swears she did not meet him during Fleet Week. While her husband’s career was the catalyst for where they lived, Carrie leveraged her AXO experience and her innate curiosity to drive her own work experience. Their journey took them across five countries—including Bahrain, Belgium, Italy, Japan, and the US.
In every new city and country, from off-base housing in the Middle East, Europe and Asia to five years in the Washington D.C. area, Carrie developed what is now Carrie Smith Concepts - The Art of Connection.
In fact, if there was a personified compass for connection; Carrie Smith is that compass. After chatting with her for just an hour, it’s clear she is driven to help people find each other and build meaningful connections - for a day or a lifetime.
Working the World
Depending on the laws and regulations of each country, Carrie would either be engaged as an event planner by nonprofit organizations, government entities, or local companies, or provide her event planning expertise on a volunteer basis.
Her events were always planned through a culturally sensitive lens, thoughtfully balancing respect for local customs and traditions with opportunities to build community—from creating a holiday celebration for American families during Ramadan at an indoor ice-skating rink for Navy families stationed in Bahrain to organizing cooking classes in Naples, or hosting Thanksgiving dinners and Halloween pumpkin-carving events for Japanese students. In the U.S. she planned and continues to plan countless galas, corporate events, and fundraisers from Pebble Beach to DC area Sleep Outs.
Regardless of the type of function, Carrie knows the most successful events are creating intentional opportunities for meaningful interactions rather than simply filling every minute of the agenda.
Today, Carrie calls Omaha, NE home but still travels the world. Carrie Smith Concepts continues to thrive coast to coast as Carrie develops events where people remember the special moments that made them feel connected, inspired, and valued.
Carrie Smith - We are proud to call you Sister!
Sigma Psi Sigma, the WSU AXO Alumnae chapter, 2026-2027 membership is open now! Young Alum and Advisor memberships are only $20 and other memberships start at $40. Venmo @SigmaPsiSigma
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