American Latina-interest collegiate sorority
Lambda Theta Alpha Founded December 1, 1975; 48 years ago (December 1, 1975 ) Kean University Type Social Affiliation NALFO (former)Emphasis Latina Scope United States Mottos "Latin By Tradition Not by Definition" "Universal Women. Redefining Sisterhood"
"Women there are Many, Ladies there are Few" Colors Burgundy and Grey Symbol La Perla (pearl ), La Concha (shell ), La Luna (moon ), y La Palma (Palm Tree )[1] Philanthropy St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Chapters 150 Undergraduate Chapters and 30 Alumnae Chapters Nickname LTA, Lambda Ladies Principles Unity, Love, and Respect Headquarters Union , NJ USA Website www .lambdalady .org
Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. (ΛΘΑ ) is the first and largest Latina -based sorority , established in 1975 at Kean University by seventeen women of Latin, Caribbean, and European descent as a support system for women in higher education.[2] According to their website, Lambda Theta Alpha states that its focus would be to "actively integrate itself into the social, political and community service arena that other students had been involved with."[3]
The sorority was a member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations , and won recognition as Sorority of the Year from 2000–2001, 2002–2003, 2003–2004, 2009–2010, 2011–2012, 2012–2013 and 2013– 2014.[4] [5]
History [ edit ] Seventeen women came together to form the sorority and are recognized as the 17 Founding Mothers. According to the Sorority's website, Lambda Theta Alpha is recognized as the first Latina sorority in the United States.[3] Lambda Theta Alpha partakes in traditions such as having hand signs and calls, as well as saluting and strolling; but not stepping, out of respect to the "Divine Nine" or the National Pan-Hellenic Council . Symbolically, saluting demonstrates unity and respect, while strolling demonstrates unity and pride.[3]
Founding Mothers [ edit ] Picture of Lambda Theta Alpha Founding Mothers and Line 1 Ileana Almaguer Cecilia Alvarez Carmen Baez Karen Capra Doris Cruz Arlene Fernandez Eneida Figueroa Maria Gautier Teresa Gonzalez Dra. Thomasa Gonzalez Diana Ibarria Lillian Marrero Ofelia Oviedo Linda Perez Aurora "Dory" Rodriguez Maria del Carmen Vega Marilyn Wyatt
National philanthropy [ edit ] LTA and the St. Jude Give Thanks Walk St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital [ edit ] Lambda Theta Alpha members serve thousands of hours each year to a variety of philanthropic causes and needs. In the effort to create a more united and bigger impact nationally, Lambda Theta Alpha selected a national philanthropy. In January 2010, LTA became an official collegiate partner to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , becoming the first individual Latino Greek organization to commit fully to the hospital's efforts.[6] LTA has pledged to bring awareness to childhood cancer, life-threatening diseases and St. Jude within the Latino community and to fundraise for the hospital through a variety of events and programs. In 2014, the sorority expanded its partnership with St. Jude by becoming an official partner of the annual St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer, which brings communities together across the nation during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to raise funds for the hospital. The sorority has repeatedly exceeded its sponsorship commitments and looks forward to this event every year. [7]
Lambda Theta Alpha Foundation [ edit ] The Lambda Theta Alpha Foundation, Inc. was founded in 2015, based on the desires and needs identified by the National Board and Founding Mothers of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. They identified the need to create a foundation where members and the community could contribute and benefit from its support. The mission is to promote the enrichment of our communities by providing funding for educational programming, collegiate scholarships, and spearheading humanitarian relief efforts.
Carolina Sodre and Beatriz Barragan came together and on November 24, 2015, the Lambda Theta Alpha Foundation, Inc. (“the Foundation”) became a recognized corporation of the State of Oklahoma and was officially recognized as a 501c3 public charity by the IRS on July 14, 2016. Once established, the Foundation took time to develop its strategic planning and active board members. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey occurred, which ignited the need for support from the Foundation to support its community through its humanitarian relief pillar.
Since then, the Foundation has been upholding the mission of advancing the community through education, humanitarian relief and scholarship. [8]
Chapter Philanthropies [ edit ] Most chapters of the organization have a chapter philanthropy in addition to the national philanthropy. Completing a set number of community service hours at any organization for a good cause are required to join.[citation needed ]
Chapters [ edit ] Chapters and their founding years. The Alpha Alpha and Alpha Alpha Alpha series chapter names are designated for alumnae clubs. Where known, the year when a chapter went dormant is noted. Active chapters noted in bold , inactive chapters noted in italics . [9] [10]
Collegiate chapters Designation Charter date and range School Location Status Notes Alpha (Α ) December 1, 1975 Kean University Union Township, NJ Active Beta (Β ) 1980 Bloomfield College Bloomfield, NJ Active Gamma (Γ ) 1981 The College of New Jersey Ewing Township, NJ Active Delta (Δ ) 1986 Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ Active Epsilon (Ε ) 1987 Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ Active Zeta (Ζ ) 1987 Stockton University Galloway Township, NJ Active Eta (Η ) 1990 Fairleigh Dickinson University Caldwell College Madison, NJ Caldwell, NJ Active Theta (Θ ) 1991 Rowan University Glassboro, NJ Active Iota (Ι ) November 3, 1991 Rider University Lawrence Township, NJ Active Kappa (Κ ) 1992 University of Connecticut Storrs, CT Active Lambda (Λ ) 1992 Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico Ponce, PR Active Mu (Μ ) 1992 Ramapo College Mahwah, NJ Active Nu (Ν ) 1992 Montclair State University Montclair, NJ Active Xi (Ξ ) 1992 Manhattan College [a] College of New Rochelle [b] Iona University The Bronx , NY New Rochelle, NY New Rochelle, NY Active [a] [b] Omicron (Ο ) 1992 –2001 Upsala College East Orange, NJ Inactive Pi (Π ) 1993 West Chester University Chester County, PA Active Rho (Ρ ) 1993 Rutgers University–Camden Camden, NJ Active Sigma (Σ ) 1993 William Paterson University Wayne, NJ Active Tau (Τ ) 1994 Monmouth University West Long Branch, NJ Active Upsilon (Υ ) 1995 University of Maryland, College Park College Park, MD Active Phi (Φ ) 1995 New Jersey Institute of Technology Rutgers University–Newark Newark, NJ Newark, NJ Active Chi (Χ ) 1996 University of Florida Gainesville, FL Active Psi (Ψ ) 1996 Central Connecticut State University New Britain, CT Active Omega (Ω ) (reserved) Beta Alpha (ΒΑ ) 1996 University of Hartford Trinity College West Hartford, CT Hartford, CT Active Beta Beta (ΒΒ ) 1998 Le Moyne College DeWitt, NY Active Beta Gamma (ΒΓ ) 1998 University of South Florida Tampa, FL Active Beta Delta (ΒΔ ) 1998 California State University, Long Beach Long Beach, CA Active Beta Epsilon (ΒΕ ) 1998 University of Pennsylvania Temple University Philadelphia , PA Philadelphia , PA Active Beta Zeta (ΒΖ ) 1998 Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles , CA Active Beta Eta (ΒΗ ) 1998 Texas A&M University College Station, TX Active Beta Theta (ΒΘ ) 1999 University of Central Florida Orange County, FL Active Beta Iota (ΒΙ ) 1999 Arizona State University Phoenix , AZ Active Beta Kappa (ΒΚ ) 1999 University of Maryland, Baltimore County Baltimore County, MD Active Beta Lambda (ΒΛ ) 1999 Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Active Beta Mu (ΒΜ ) 2000 University of North Texas Denton, TX Active Beta Nu (ΒΝ ) 2000 University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX Active Beta Xi (ΒΞ ) 2000 San Jose State University San Jose, CA Active Beta Omicron (ΒΟ ) 2000 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI Active Beta Pi (ΒΠ ) 2000 Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI Active Beta Rho (ΒΡ ) 2000 New Jersey City University Saint Peter's University Jersey City, NJ Jersey City, NJ Active Beta Sigma (ΒΣ ) 2000 University of Miami Coral Gables, FL Active Beta Tau (ΒΤ ) 2000 University at Buffalo Buffalo State University Buffalo, NY Buffalo, NY Active Beta Upsilon (ΒΥ ) 2001 Western Connecticut State University Danbury, CT Active Beta Phi (ΒΦ ) 2001 University of Illinois Champaign, IL Active Beta Chi (ΒΧ ) 2001 Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL Active Beta Psi (ΒΨ ) 2001 Northwestern University Evanston, IL Active Beta Omega (ΒΩ ) 2001 Wayne State University Detroit , MI Active Gamma Alpha (ΓΑ ) 2001 University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA Active Gamma Beta (ΓΒ ) 2001 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN Active Gamma Gamma (ΓΓ ) 2001 University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN Active Gamma Delta (ΓΔ ) 2001 Nova Southeastern University Davie, FL Active Gamma Epsilon (ΓΕ ) 2001 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Active Gamma Zeta (ΓΖ ) 2001 University of California, Riverside Riverside, CA Active Gamma Eta (ΓΗ ) 2001 University of Houston Houston , TX Active Gamma Theta (ΓΘ ) 2002 Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX Active Gamma Iota (ΓΙ ) 2002 Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL Active Gamma Kappa (ΓΚ ) 2002 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM Active Gamma Lambda (ΓΛ ) 2002 California State University, Fullerton Fullerton, CA Active Gamma Mu (ΓΜ ) 2003 University of Wisconsin Madison, WI Active Gamma Nu (ΓΝ ) 2003 Emory University Atlanta , GA Active Gamma Xi (ΓΞ ) 2003 Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX Active Gamma Omicron (ΓΟ ) August 23, 2003 University of Washington Seattle , WA Active Gamma Pi (ΓΠ ) 2003 Florida International University Miami-Dade County, FL Active Gamma Rho (ΓΡ ) 2003 Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Active Gamma Sigma (ΓΣ ) 2004 California State University, San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA Active Gamma Tau (ΓΤ ) 2004 California State University, Los Angeles Los Angeles , CA Active Gamma Upsilon (ΓΥ ) 2004 Cal Poly Pomona Pomona, CA Active Gamma Phi (ΓΦ ) 2004 Cornell University Ithaca, NY Active Gamma Chi (ΓΧ ) 2004 University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Active Gamma Psi (ΓΨ ) 2004 San Diego State University San Diego , CA Active Gamma Omega (ΓΩ ) 2005 Georgia Tech Atlanta , GA Active Delta Alpha (ΔΑ ) 2005 University of Georgia Athens, GA Active Delta Beta (ΔΒ ) 2005 Georgia State University Atlanta , GA Active Delta Gamma (ΔΓ ) 2005 University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke, NC Active Delta Delta (ΔΔ ) 2005 University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, NC Active Delta Epsilon (ΔΕ ) 2005 George Mason University Fairfax County, VA Active Delta Zeta (ΔΖ ) 2006 Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY Active Delta Eta (ΔΗ ) 2006 University of Idaho Moscow, ID Active Delta Theta (ΔΘ ) 2006 University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA Active Delta Iota (ΔΙ ) 2006 Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN Active Delta Kappa (ΔΚ ) 2007 St. John’s University Queens , NY Active Delta Lambda (ΔΛ ) 2007 West Virginia University Morgantown, WV Active Delta Mu (ΔΜ ) 2007 Western Illinois University Macomb, IL Active Delta Nu (ΔΝ ) 2007 Loyola University Chicago Chicago , IL Active Delta Xi (ΔΞ ) 2007 Lewis–Clark State College Lewiston, ID Active Delta Omicron (ΔΟ ) 2007 University of California Berkeley, CA Active Delta Pi (ΔΠ ) 2007 University of Delaware Newark, DE Active Delta Rho (ΔΡ ) 2008 University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles , CA Active Delta Sigma (ΔΣ ) 2009 Texas Wesleyan University Fort Worth, TX Active Delta Tau (ΔΤ ) 2008 San Francisco State University San Francisco , CA Active Delta Upsilon (ΔΥ ) 2008 Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA Active Delta Phi (ΔΦ ) 2008 University of Southern California Los Angeles , CA Active Delta Chi (ΔΧ ) 2008 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Active Delta Psi (ΔΨ ) 2009 Towson University Towson, MD Active Delta Omega (ΔΩ ) 2009 California State University, Northridge Northridge (LA), CA Active Epsilon Alpha (ΕΑ ) 2009 Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA Active Epsilon Beta (ΕΒ ) 2009 University of Chicago Chicago , IL Active Epsilon Gamma (ΕΓ ) 2009 University of Illinois Chicago Chicago , IL Active Epsilon Delta (ΕΔ ) 2009 DePaul University Chicago , IL Active Epsilon Epsilon (ΕΕ ) 2009 Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA Active Epsilon Zeta (ΕΖ ) 2009 University of Vermont Burlington, VT Active Epsilon Eta (ΕΗ ) 2009 Villanova University Villanova, PA Active Epsilon Theta (ΕΘ ) 2010 East Carolina University Greenville, NC Active Epsilon Iota (ΕΙ ) 2010 Cal Poly Humboldt Arcata, CA Active Epsilon Kappa (ΕΚ ) 2010 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Active Epsilon Lambda (ΕΛ ) 2010 Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach, FL Active Epsilon Mu (ΕΜ ) 2010 SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, NY Active Epsilon Nu (ΕΝ ) 2011 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC Active Epsilon Xi (ΕΞ ) 2011 California State University, Fresno Fresno, CA Active Epsilon Omicron (ΕΟ ) 2011 Binghamton University – SUNY Binghamton, NY Active Epsilon Pi (ΕΠ ) 2011 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Active Epsilon Rho (ΕΡ ) 2011 Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX Active Epsilon Sigma (ΕΣ ) 2012 University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA Active Epsilon Tau (ΕΤ ) 2012 Lewis University Romeoville, IL Active Epsilon Upsilon (ΕΥ ) 2012 University of California, Davis Davis, CA Active Epsilon Phi (ΕΦ ) 2012 University of North Carolina Charlotte, NC Active Epsilon Chi (ΕΧ ) 2012 University of California, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA Active Epsilon Psi (ΕΨ ) 2012 University at Albany, SUNY Albany, NY Active Epsilon Omega (ΕΩ ) 2013 University of Memphis Memphis, TN Active Zeta Alpha (ΖΑ ) 2013 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Active Zeta Beta (ΖΒ ) 2013 University of West Georgia Carrollton, GA Active Zeta Gamma (ΖΓ ) 2014 Iowa State University Ames, IA Active Zeta Delta (ΖΔ ) 2014 Boise State University Boise, ID Active Zeta Epsilon (ΖΕ ) 2014 Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Active Zeta Zeta (ΖΖ ) 2014 California State University, East Bay Hayward, CA Active Zeta Eta (ΖΗ ) 2015 Idaho State University Pocatello, ID Active Zeta Theta (ΖΘ ) 2015 Johnson C. Smith University Charlotte, NC Active Zeta Iota (ΖΙ ) 2015 Heritage University Toppenish, WA Active Zeta Kappa (ΖΚ ) 2015 SUNY Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY Active Zeta Lambda (ΖΛ ) 2015 Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI Active Zeta Mu (ΖΜ ) 2015 Duke University Durham, NC Active Zeta Nu (ΖΝ ) 2015 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY Active Zeta Xi (ΖΞ ) 2016 University of Missouri Columbia, MO Active Zeta Omicron (ΖΟ ) 2016 Southern Illinois University Carbondale Carbondale, IL Active Zeta Pi (ΖΠ ) 2016 Salisbury University Salisbury, MD Active Zeta Rho (ΖΡ ) 2016 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TX Active Zeta Sigma (ΖΣ ) 2016 Washington State University Pullman, WA Active Zeta Tau (ΖΤ ) 2017 Aurora University Aurora, IL Active Zeta Upsilon (ΖΥ ) 2017 Northern Illinois University DeKalb, IL Active Zeta Phi (ΖΦ ) 2017 Denison University Granville, OH Active Zeta Chi (ΖΧ ) 2017 University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO Active Zeta Psi (ΖΨ ) April 29, 2017 California State University, Dominguez Hills ? Carson, CA Active Zeta Omega (ΖΩ ) April 7, 2018 University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC Active Eta Alpha (ΗΑ ) 2018 University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Active Eta Beta (ΗΒ ) 2018 SUNY Cortland Cortland, NY Active Eta Gamma (ΗΓ ) May 11, 2019 University of California, San Diego San Diego , CA Active Eta Delta (ΗΔ ) 201x ? California State University, Sacramento Sacramento, CA Active Eta Epsilon (ΗΕ ) October 31, 2020 California State University, Chico Chico, CA Active Eta Zeta (ΗΖ ) November 13, 2020 Stephen F. Austin State University Nacogdoches, TX Active Eta Eta (ΗΗ ) November 28, 2021 George Washington University Washington, D.C. Active
^ a b In 1922 Manhattan College was relocated from its original location in Manhattan, to the nearby borough of the Bronx, without being renamed. ^ a b The College of New Rochelle was closed in 2019 , after bankruptcy of the school. Alumnae chapters [ edit ] Alumnae chapters Designation City Alpha Alpha (ΑΑ ) New Brunswick, New Jersey Alpha Beta (ΑΒ ) Hartford, Connecticut Alpha Gamma (ΑΓ ) Austin, Texas Alpha Delta (ΑΔ ) Silver Spring, Maryland Alpha Epsilon (ΑΕ ) New York City , New York Alpha Zeta (ΑΖ ) Fort Lauderdale, Florida Alpha Eta (ΑΗ ) Los Angeles , California Alpha Theta (ΑΘ ) Seattle , Washington Alpha Iota (ΑΙ ) Nashville, Tennessee Alpha Kappa (ΑΚ ) Madison, Wisconsin Alpha Lambda (ΑΛ ) Chicago , Illinois Alpha Mu (ΑΜ ) Detroit , Michigan Alpha Nu (ΑΝ ) Philadelphia , Pennsylvania Alpha Xi (ΑΞ ) Alexandria, Virginia Alpha Omicron (ΑΟ ) Phoenix, Arizona Alpha Pi (ΑΠ ) Boston , Massachusetts Alpha Rho (ΑΡ ) Raleigh, North Carolina Alpha Sigma (ΑΣ ) Atlanta , Georgia Alpha Tau (ΑΤ ) Albuquerque, New Mexico Alpha Upsilon (ΑΥ ) Orlando, Florida Alpha Phi (ΑΦ ) Dallas , Texas Alpha Chi (ΑΧ ) San Francisco , California Alpha Psi (ΑΨ ) Denver , Colorado Alpha Omega (ΑΩ ) Paterson, New Jersey Alpha Alpha Alpha (ΑΑΑ ) Houston , Texas Alpha Alpha Beta (ΑΑΒ ) San Diego , California Alpha Alpha Gamma (ΑΑΓ ) Atlantic City, New Jersey Alpha Alpha Delta (ΑΑΔ ) Charlotte, North Carolina Alpha Alpha Epsilon (ΑΑΕ ) Tri-Cities, Washington Alpha Alpha Zeta (ΑΑΖ ) Richmond, Virginia
Omega chapter (Ω ) [ edit ] Omega chapter is dedicated to members of the sorority who are deceased. Historically, the sorority has honored these members with the title "Lambda Angels". During each national banquet a moment of silence is taken, and information about each member is incorporated into the program that reflects on each Lambda Angel’s accomplishments and the great loss that the Sisterhood has experienced, in their passing. In recent years a ceremony has been conducted at the national annual convention.
References [ edit ] External links [ edit ]
Currently active members of NALFO Former members of NALFO