National
History
During the fall of 1989, the foundation
of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. was commenced
by collegiate women who
recognized the need to form an organization that provided
empowerment to women of all cultural backgrounds. Her humble
beginnings
were built at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa where
their vision was to create a network of academic and social
support for Latina women. Sigma Lambda Gamma was founded
by Gloria Cuevas, Julieta Miller, Maria Pineda, Danell Riojas
and Guadalupe
Temiquel. Under the guidance of Esther Materon
Arum and Mary Peterson, the vision came to fruition on
April 9th, 1990, as the University of Iowa Panhellenic Council
officially
recognized the organization as a sorority.
Through the continued commitment and leadership of the founding
mothers, the operation of Sigma Lambda Gamma has thrived on
many college campuses and provides an avenue for educational
excellence to women of many nationalities. Our members recognize
the need for togetherness and support among women of varying
cultures at the university level and they remain dedicated
to the overall success of women in a global environment.
Sigma Lambda Gamma is a sisterhood
of women who have chosen this affiliation as a manner
to achieve personal development
and awareness to the responsibility of community involvement
for the betterment of our local, regional, national and
global communities through the efforts of a network of close
to 3,000
sorority members. Furthermore, we continue to be a pioneer
in the Greek fraternal world through development of innovative
programming initiatives, such as the Young Women’s
Leadership Program and Emotional Intelligence.
Today, Sigma Lambda Gamma is the
largest, historically Latina-based national sorority with
a multicultural
membership in chapters
and alumnae associations throughout the United States – from
Arizona to Wyoming; Florida to Minnesota; New York to Texas;
and many more states between the coasts of California and
Rhode Island. A criterion for membership into Sigma Lambda
Gamma
is open to women of exceptional morals and ethics with
a demonstrated commitment to academic excellence, and who
are pursuing or have completed courses leading to a degree
in an
accredited college of university.
Epsilon Beta Chapter History
The History
of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, INC.
Epsilon Beta Chapter - University of
California, Irvine
In the early winter quarter of the 1998-1999 school year
Pahdlavy Vila met Wendy Padilla a sister from Sigma Lambda
Gamma Nu Chapter at California State University, Dominguez
Hills. This introduction was made through Carlos Comparan,
a brother of Sigma Lambda Beta Theta Alpha Chapter at the
University of California, Irvine (UCI). From this Experience,
and with Wendy Padilla’s encouragement, Pahdlavy Villa
decided to start a chapter at UCI.
With the support of the Theta Alpha Chapter of Sigma Lambda
Beta Fraternity, Evelyn Aguilar, Linda Renteria and Pahdlavy
Villa went out to Ring Road on
September 30, 1999 at Evelyn Aguilar and Linda Renteria’s apartment
to discuss how to become a colony. At this meeting Maribel Jimenez provided
information
about Sigma Lambda Gamma and the steps toward becoming a colony. The interest group that
was formed was named Mujeres Con Una Vision and it consisted of seventeen
women;
Evenlyn Aguilar, Jenifer Bencomo, Donna Cabrera, Janine Curiel, Delia Franco,
Grace Garcia, Patricia Hernandez, Diana Ibarra, Erica Lomeli, Micaela Martinez,
Esperanca Ramos, Linda Renteria, Gwendolyn Rivas, Crisana Rodriguez, Jeanette
Torres, Pahdlavy Villa and Rosa Zavala.
Meetings were held and paperwork was
turned into the national headquarters of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority
to petition for colony status. On
December 4, 1999 Mujeres Con Una Vision was recognized as a colony of
Sigma Lambda Gamma
National Sorority.
On December 19, 1999 at 11:34 a.m. an induction ceremony
was held at Staci Lawerence’s house for ten of the
founding women. These women were Evelyn Aguilar, Donna Cabrerea,
Delia Franco, Diana Ibarra, Erica Lomeli, Esperanza
Ramos, Linda Renteria, Gwendolyn Rivas, Pahdlavy Villa and Rosa Zavala.
On January 21, 2000 at 9:40 p.m. the second induction ceremony
was held at Jasmine
Juarez’s house for the other six women. These women were Jennifer
Becomo, Grace Garcia, Patricia Hernandez, Micaela Martinez, Crisana Rodriguez
and
Jeanette Torres.
On May 8, 2000 at 12:09 a.m. the first group of associates
was inducted into Sigma Lambda Gamma Colony at UCI. This
group consisted of fourteen women,
by the end of the month of May there were ten women left. These women were:
Beatriz
Banuelos, Iliana Chicas, Janine Curiel, Michelle Gangitano, Rachelle Gines,
Dulce Gomez, Erica Martinez, Veronica Orozco, Rocio Rosales and Helen Rueda.
On June 3, 2000 at 10:15 p.m. the founding line of Sigma
Lambda Gamma Colony at UCI, was crossed. These women were
Rosa “Diva” Zavala, Jennifer “Corazonsita” Bencomo,
Linda “Amistad” Renteria, Evelyn “lluvia” Aguilar,
Patricia “Dulce” Hernandez, Jeanette “Trivilin” Torres,
Micaela “ Nena” Martinez, Delia “Mystica” Franco,
Erica “Carinosa” Lomeli,
Diana “Princessa” Ibarra, Donna “Azucar Morena” Cabera,
Esperanza “Luminosa” Ramos, Gwendolyn “Miel” Ricas,
Crisana “Traviesa” Rodriguez, and Pahdlavy “Fuerza” Villa.
On
July 22, 2000 at 8:43 p.m., the colony of Sigma Lambda Gamma National
Sorority at UCI became Sigma Lambda Gamma, Epsilon Beta Chapter at
the University of
California, Irvine. On July 29, 2000 the founding line of the Epsilon
Beta Chapter was initiated into the sorority. Later that night at 10:59:45
p.m.
the Alpha Line was crossed and initiated. These women were Veronica “Mariposa” Orozco,
Janine “Ojitos” Curiel, Rocio “Preciosa” Rosales,
Iliana “Soline” Chicas,
Rachelle “Alma” Gines, Beatriz “Genesis” Banuelos,
Helen “Brisa” Rueda, Michelle “Rubia” Ganigtano,
Erica “Tesoro” Martinez
and Dulce “Altrevida” Gomez.
Donna Cabrera, Diana Ibarra, and Micaela Martinez were
initiated in October 2000. Finally on January 13, 2001 the
last founder, Delia Franco, was
initiated into the Epsilon Beta Chapter of Sigma Lambda Gamma National
Sorority,
INC.
