Sigma Kappa

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Sigma Kappa Sorority

ΣΚ
Motto: One Heart, One Way
Nicknames: Sigma Kappas, SKs, SigKaps, Sigma K's, SnakeyK's
image:sigma_kappa_crest.jpg

The Coat of Arms
Founded: November 9, 1874 at

Colby College, (Waterville, Maine)
Founders:
  • Mary Caffrey Low Carver
  • Elizabeth Gorham Hoag
  • Ida Mabel Fuller Pierce
  • Frances Elliott Man Hall
Members 141,800 Alumni,
Official Philanthropies: Alzheimer's research,
Gerontology,
Inherit the Earth,
Maine Sea Coast Mission
Official Colors: Maroon and Lavender
Member Badge:
New Member Pin:
Official Flower:

Violet
Official Symbols: Dove, Heart
Official Jewel: Pearl
Sigma Kappa Website

Sigma Kappa (ΣΚ) is a sorority founded in 1874 at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.

Sigma Kappa was created by five women: Mary Caffrey Low Carver, Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, Ida Mabel Fuller Pierce, Frances Elliott Mann Hall and Louise Helen Coburn. Since its founding in 1874, the sorority has initiated more than 141,800 members worldwide and created 105 active college chapters.

The sorority's colors are lavender and maroon. The official flower is the violet and the jewel the pearl. The sorority's symbols are the dove and the heart.

The sorority's official philanthropies are Alzheimer's research, gerontology, Inherit the Earth, and, in honor of its roots in Maine, the Maine Sea Coast Mission. Sigma Kappa is one of the nation's largest supporters of Alzheimer's research.

Contents

[edit] Symbols

Sigma Kappa's open motto is "One Heart, One Way."

The membership badge is represented by a triangle, which is not an official symbol of Sigma Kappa but is often represented along with the official symbols of the heart and the dove. The current badge is a one-inch jeweled triangle. On the front of the badge are the Greek letters ΣΚ. The badge is worn strictly as an emblem of membership and only by initiated members.

New members of Sigma Kappa wear a different badge. The new member pin is only worn during the new member period. It is a snake in the form of the Greek "Σ" (Sigma) intertwined on a Greek "Κ" (Kappa). Just prior to initiation, it is returned to the chapter.

The heart and the dove are official symbols of Sigma Kappa. The violet is the official flower, with lavender and maroon the official colors. The sorority jewel is the pearl. The sorority Coat-of-Arms combines all the elements of Sigma Kappa.

[edit] History

Sigma Kappa Founders
Sigma Kappa Founders

Colby College in Waterville, Maine, was the first college in New England to admit women on an equal basis with men. In 1871, Mary Caffrey Low Carver became the first female student at Colby. For two years, she was the only woman at the school. But in 1873, four more young women from Maine, Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, Ida Mabel Fuller Pierce, Frances Elliott Mann Hall and Louise Helen Coburn were admitted to Colby. Being the only women in the college, the five of them found themselves together frequently. In 1873-74, the five young women decided to form a literary and social society. They were instructed by the college administration that they would need to present a constitution and bylaws with a petition requesting permission to form Sigma Kappa Sorority. They began work during that year and on November 9, 1874, the five received a letter from the faculty approving their petition. They sought for and received permission to form a sorority with the intent for the organization to become national.

Since that time, Sigma Kappa annually celebrates November 9 as its Founders' Day.

Mary Caffrey Low was the first woman to appear on the rolls of Sigma Kappa and the first to preside over an initiation. The first Sigma Kappa emblem was designed by Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, who died shortly thereafter of tuberculosis. A large portion of the initiation ceremony was written by Louise Helen Coburn. Much of the original initiation music was written by Hoag's cousin, Emily Peace Meader, who was inducted shortly before Hoag's death in 1875. Frances Mann Hall was the first Sigma Kappa to get married, to a fellow Colby student.

In the first constitution, chapter membership was limited to 25. The original group was known as Alpha chapter and as the sorority grew, Beta chapter and Gamma chapter were also established at Colby College. Early records indicate that the groups met together; but in 1893, the Sigma Kappa members decided that intramural expansion was not desirable. They voted to fill Alpha chapter to the limit of 25 and to initiate no more into Beta and Gamma chapters. Eventually, the second and third chapters would vanish from Colby campus. Finally, Sigma Kappas realized if the organization was going to continue to grow, it had to expand beyond the walls of Colby College.

The Delta Chapter of Boston University is now the oldest existing chapter. In 1984, Colby College banned fraternities and sororities, ensuring that Sigma Kappa's Alpha, Beta, and Gamma chapters will probably never be resurrected.

[edit] Purpose statement

The purpose of Sigma Kappa is to provide women lifelong opportunities and support for development by bringing women together to positively impact our communities.

[edit] Philanthropies

Sigma Kappa's philanthropical missions include:

Alzheimer's research, gerentology, the Maine Sea Coast Mission and Inherit the Earth.

In 1984, Sigma Kappa decided to take on Alzheimer's research as its main philanthropy. Sigma Kappa is now one of the top five supporters of Alzheimer's research in the nation. Sigma Kappas selling lollipops on campuses are a familiar sight as SK collegiates raise money for this cause. Sigma Kappas are also one of the largest group participants in Alzheimer's Memory Walks across the nation every year. Each year, Sigma Kappa, through the Sigma Kappa Foundation, makes grants to universities in support of Alzheimer's research. Since 1954, Sigma Kappa has supported and recognized the needs of older individuals through its philanthropy of gerentology. Sigma Kappas visit nursing homes and volunteer their time to senior citizens. Since 1918, Sigma Kappa has paid tribute to its Maine roots by dedicating funds to the Maine Sea Coast Mission, which provides assistance to those in need along the seacoast of Maine. Sigma Kappa's support of Inherit the Earth allows it to incorporate a dedication to the environment into its philanthropical work.

[edit] Trivia

Amy Jones Holden, the screenwriter of the '80s movie Mystic Pizza, included Sigma Kappa symbolism throughout the movie.

Doctor Suess, who was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, was married to a Sigma Kappa. In the animated movie, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, he included Sigma Kappa symbolism throughout the movie.

[edit] Notable Sigma Kappas

For a full list of notable Sigma Kappa alumnae please visit here. [1]

Listed alphabetically.

[edit] Collegiate Chapters

Dormant chapters are denoted with a * before the chapter name.

[edit] Alumnae Chapters

Alabama Chapters

Alaska Chapters

  • Anchorage Alumnae

DC Chapters

Delaware Chapters

  • Trenton-Delaware Valley

Georgia Chapters

Kansas Chapters

  • Greater Kansas City Alumnae

Kentucky Chapters

  • Bluegrass Alumnae
  • Greater Louisville Alumnae
  • Southern Kentucky Alumnae

Louisiana Chapters

  • Baton Rouge Alumnae
  • Greater New Orleans Alumnae
  • Luling Alumnae
  • Monroe/Ruston Alumnae
  • Natchitoches Alumnae
  • Shrevesport/Bossier City Alumnae

Massachusetts Chapters

  • Amherst Alumnae
  • Boston Alumnae

Maine Chapters No collegiate or alumnae chapters at this time.

Maryland Chapters

  • Baltimore Alumnae
  • Suburban Maryland/DCAlumnae

Michigan Chapters

  • Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Alumnae
  • Birmingham/Bloomfield Alumnae
  • Detroit Alumnae
  • Grand Rapids Alumnae
  • Greater Lansing Michigan Alumnae
  • Grosse Pointe Alumnae
  • Kalamazoo Alumnae
  • Mid-Michigan
  • South Oakland County Alumnae
  • Western Lakeshore Alumnae

Minnesota Chapters No collegiate or alumnae chapters at this time.

Mississippi Chapters No collegiate or alumnae chapters at this time.

Missouri Chapters

  • Greater Kansas City Alumnae
  • Mid-Missouri Alumnae
  • Northwest Missiouri Alumnae
  • Poplar Bluff Alumnae
  • Southwest Missouri Alumnae
  • Spirit of St. Louis Alumnae
  • Springfield Alumnae
  • Tri-States Alumnae
  • West-Central Missouri Alumnae

Montana Chapters

  • Montana Alumnae

Nebraska Chapters

  • Lincoln Alumnae
  • Omaha/Central Bluff Alumnae
  • Siouxland Alumnae

Nevada Chapters

  • Las Vegas Area Alumnae
  • Sierra Alumnae

New Hampshire Chapters No collegiate or alumnae chapters at this time.

New Mexico Chapters

  • El Paso TX/Las Cruces NM Alumnae

New Jersey Chapters

  • New Jersey Suburban Alumnae
  • Ocean Area Alumnae
  • South Jersey Alumnae
  • Trenton-Delaware Valley

New Mexico Chapters

  • Albuquerque Alumnae

New York Chapters

  • Buffalo Alumnae
  • Long Island Alumnae
  • New York City Alumnae
  • Rochester Alumnae
  • Syracuse Alumnae

North Carolina Chapters

North Dakota Chapters No alumnae chapters at this time.

Ohio Chapters

  • Akron/Canton Alumnae
  • Central Ohio Alumnae
  • Cincinnati Alumnae
  • Cleveland Alumnae
  • Cleveland East Side Alumnae
  • Cleveland West Side Alumnae
  • Dayton Alumnae
  • Toledo Alumnae

Oklahoma Chapters

Oregon Chapters

  • Portland Alumnae
  • Southern Oregon

Pennsylvania Chapters

  • Berks/Lancaster Alumnae
  • Lehigh Valley Alumnae
  • Northwest Pennsylvania Alumane
  • Philadelphia Alumnae
  • Pittsburgh Alumnae

Rhode Island Chapters

  • Rhode Island Alumnae

South Carolina Chapters

  • Coastal Carolina Alumnae
  • Columbia Alumnae
  • Upstate South Carolina Alumnae

South Dakota Chapters

  • Siouxland Alumnae

Tennessee Chapters

  • Athens Alumnae
  • Chattanooga Area Alumnae
  • Knoxville Alumnae

Texas Chapters

Utah Chapters

  • Provo Alumnae

Vermont Chapters

  • Rutland Alumnae

Virginia Chapters

Washington Chapters

  • North Puget Sound Alumnae
  • Pullman Alumnae
  • Seattle Alumnae
  • Spokane Alumnae
  • Tacoma Alumane
  • Tri-Cities Alumnae

West Virginia

  • Northern Alumnae

Wisconsin Chapters

  • Southeastern Wisconsin Alumnae

Wyoming Chapters

  • Wyoming Alumnae

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ http://www.sigmakappa.org/about/default.asp?page=history&page2=milestones


National Panhellenic Conference
Alpha Chi Omega | Alpha Delta Pi | Alpha Gamma Delta | Alpha Epsilon Phi | Alpha Omicron Pi | Alpha Phi | Alpha Sigma Alpha | Alpha Sigma Tau | Alpha Xi Delta | Chi Omega | Delta Delta Delta | Delta Gamma | Delta Zeta | Delta Phi Epsilon | Gamma Phi Beta | Kappa Alpha Theta | Kappa Delta | Kappa Kappa Gamma | Phi Mu | Phi Sigma Sigma | Pi Beta Phi | Sigma Delta Tau | Sigma Kappa | Sigma Sigma Sigma | Theta Phi Alpha | Zeta Tau Alpha
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