Sigma Lambda Alpha

For the honor society, see Sigma Lambda Alpha honor society.
Sigma Lambda Alpha
ΣΛA
Founded October 20, 1992
Texas Woman's University
Type Social
Motto Latinas Helping Others
Colors Burgundy, forest green and gold
Symbol Bald eagle
Flower Red rose
Chapters 6 undergraduate
Nickname SLA, Señoritas
Headquarters Denton, Texas, United States
Homepage Sigma Lambda Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Sigma Lambda Alpha (ΣΛΑ) Sorority, Inc. is an American Latina based Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women, dedicated to the ideals of community service, academic achievement, and cultural awareness of the different Hispanic cultures and traditions. Sigma Lambda Alpha Sorority, Inc. was founded in the summer of 1992, at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas by Angeles Gonzalez and the help of five other young women.

Sigma Lambda Alpha Sorority, Inc. is a Latina founded organization and is proud to be open to all women regardless of race, nationality, or religion.

History

Sigma Lambda Alpha Sorority, Inc. (ΣΛΑ), otherwise known as Señoritas Latinas en Accion, was founded in the summer of 1992 by Angeles Gonzalez. As a student at Texas Woman’s University, Gonzalez read an article in Hispanic magazine about a national Hispanic sorority called Sigma Lambda Upsilon - Señoritas Latinas Unidas, located at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon reading this article, she came to the realization that Latina Greek organizations were a cultural median at universities. She became interested in forming an organization that would serve as a cultural outlet on her campus.

Miss Gonzalez wrote to the sorority for more information regarding their organization and Latino Greeks in general. She promptly received a response and was advised to begin an interest group, elect officers and choose an organizational name to start the sorority process. With the assistance of Director Linda Weber in the Office of Student Development and Robin Zaruba, Assistant Director of Activities and Orientation, Angeles Gonzalez began the process of establishing a Latina sorority at Texas Woman’s University.

In the fall of 1992, Miss Gonzalez began recruiting girls to be the “founding mothers” of the sorority and attend the first meeting. In this meeting, they discussed goals of the organization, elected officers and chose their organizational/interest group name. Sigma Lambda Alpha - Señoritas Latinas en Acción was founded on October 20, 1992 on the campus of Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas. The founding mothers and first officers for the sorority are as follows:

  • President: Angeles Gonzalez
  • Vice president: Aliza Gonzales
  • Secretary: Christina Garza
  • Treasurer: Andrea Quiñones
  • Social chairwoman: Brenda Sotelo
  • Historian: Alicia Padilla
  • Community service chairwoman: Maria Lozano

With the interest group of Sigma Lambda Alpha established, excitement grew with the thought of having Latina representation at TWU, however Sigma Lambda Upsilon of Pennsylvania decided against beginning a chapter in Texas, because of the distance between the two states. Determined to have Hispanic representation at TWU, the founding mothers did not let this hinder the establishment of an organization. They chose to launch a new sorority based on their original group goals and combined beliefs. They elected to carry on the name of Sigma Lambda Alpha/ Señoritas Latinas en Acción, and created a sisterhood on the basis of cultural awareness, community service, leadership and academic achievement. The first pledge class of the Alpha Chapter was inducted in the spring of 1993.

Mission

The mission of Sigma Lambda Alpha Sorority, Inc. is to promote the importance of community service involvement and academic achievement as well as to educate and excel the stance of Latino cultures in this diversely enriched society.

The señoritas come together as sisters, developing strong women into future leaders within their local communities, and national community. Since 1992, sisters of Sigma Lambda Alpha Sorority, Inc. have been agents of change in their respective fields of study and their respective universities. The outstanding ladies who form the sisterhood are true examples of what a señorita is.

Community service

The ladies of Sigma Lambda Alpha Sorority, Inc. ensure the quality of life in their areas is improved though the many different community service projects that they host and participate in throughout the year. The ladies are dedicated to giving back to the local and campus community. The national philanthropy of Sigma Lambda Alpha Sorority, Inc. is The Boys and Girls Club of America.

Cultural awareness

SLA is dedicated to promoting, at our respective campuses, the understanding and knowledge of various Hispanic cultures to help overcome barriers caused by all forms of discrimination.

Academic achievement

Above all else, the members of the sorority strive to further their education. There is a minimum GPA required to join and continue to be an active member of Sigma Lambda Alpha Sorority, Inc. Each member keeps a log of study hours, and individual chapters form study groups in order to ensure academic success.

Chapters

External links