February 4, 2026
Copy by Victoria Williams
Photos by Isabel Salazar
On Aug. 16, over 2,000 new sorority members ran home to their sorority of choice. Bid Day culminated the end of sorority recruitment, ushering new members into life in a sorority and Arkansas Greek life. Bid Day 2025 marked the second largest sorority recruitment in University of Arkansas history.
Thousands of new members, their families and guests packed the Chi Omega Greek Theatre, and screams and excitement filled the area as new members opened their envelopes to receive a bid to one of 12 Panhellenic sororities on campus.
“The feeling of opening my bid day card was like no other,” freshman Baylie Dominguez said. “I was over the moon about receiving a bid from Alpha Chi Omega.”
Following opening their bids, new members ran home to their sorority house and celebrated on the house’s lawn. There, they joined active members, family and friends to commemorate their achievement.
“Running home felt exactly how it has been portrayed all over the internet; happiness just ran through my veins,” Dominguez said.
Freshman Carolyn Baxendale was the first member of her family to participate in sorority recruitment. While she said that she was a little nervous about entering an unknown experience, she found a “community waiting on the other side” at Delta Gamma.
“I believe the celebration was so special because I was celebrating finding my way home,” Baxendale said. “I was celebrating how I now have 600 more sisters, and I was celebrating finally being at a place that truly wants me to be there.”
Each house boasted its own Bid Day theme, and many were decorated with banners, balloons and even ball pits or jumping areas. New members also received sorority-specific Bid Day shirts and name signs.
“Our theme was birthday celebration, and it was absolutely perfect because it was a celebration,” Dominguez added.
As a freshman from out of state, Dominguez said she is looking to gain connections and build relationships through her membership in a sorority.
“What I’m hoping to get out of a sorority is business connections through my field of interest, and of course, make lifelong bonds that are founded on loyalty and trust,” Dominguez said.
Prior to moving in, freshman Olivia Keisling did not know any of her roommates. She said that she decided to participate in sorority recruitment “to meet more people.”
“I have met so many amazing, sweet girls through Alpha Chi Omega and continue to meet with them all the time,” Keisling added.
Dominguez said that Bid Day was memorable, and it was a rewarding end to the recruitment process, which lasted eight days and consisted of multiple rounds and visits to houses.
“Getting the Bid-Day-feel after recruitment made it all worth it in the end,” Dominguez stated. “It was one of the best days of my life.”
