Links

Sigma Kappa National Website Please visit our national website to find out more about us! Cal Greeks Learn more about the Greek community at UC Berkeley UC Berkeley University of California, Berkeley National Panhellenic Conference

SK Mission & Policies

" Sigma Kappa provides a strong foundation of support and encouragement for relationship building. We strive to create lifelong friendships and meaningful connections with our sisters as we grow together during our exciting years at UC Berkeley. We hold several events every semester that focus solely on sisterhood bonding and team building to further develop the relationships in our organization. In addition to our monthly birthday nights, we recently took a day trip to San Francisco including a boat tour around the bay, created a beautiful custom quilt representing our sisterhood, and spent a day learning to belly dance together. This semester we are going to a local indoor rock climbing venue to participate in planned activities that hinder trust and team building. At Sigma Kappa, our sisters are our family and every day our family ties are strengthened through the support and love that we forever have for each other. " Jordan Archer Sisterhood Chair

Purpose of Sigma Kappa Membership The purpose of Sigma Kappa Sorority is to unite its members in a bond of sincere friendship for the development of character and the promotion of social, literary, and intellectual culture to support and further the program and objectives of the colleges where its chapters are functioning; to strive for excellent standards of achievement - scholastically, socially, and spiritually; and to make a constructive contribution to the communities in which its collegiate and alumnae clubs are located by encouraging the exercise of the rights and obligations of good citizens and the support of worthwhile civic, social and philanthropic projects.

Sigma Kappa Sorority Mission Statement Sigma Kappa Sorority is a social organization of collegiate and alumnae women committed to promoting the ideals of life-long friendship, intellectual and spiritual fulfillment and service for the greater good.

Sigma Kappa Sorority Vision Statement The vision of Sigma Kappa is to be a premiere Sorority, forever achieving excellence in our chapters and among our members and influencing the lives of others. ONE HEART, ONE WAY.

Our House

Home Sweet Home Built in 1936, our house was one of the first and few that was built specifically to be a sorority house. It even has our crest built into the top of our front door. It was originally shaped as a Lambda (our chapter), but with the later addition of new wings to the house, its shape now resembles a question mark. With its tall ceilings, cottage-like roof, grassy courtyard, and large old-fashioned windows, it has definitely earned its reputation as the "Fairy Tale" house. Deceiving from the cute cottage front, our house actually has the largest square footage of all the sorority houses at UC Berkeley. We have a capacity for approximately 70 women, with spacious doubles (and a few triples and singles) spanning the three wings of our four story home. Our home boasts an elegant living room (complete with a fireplace and grand piano), "date rooms" (which are now used for study rooms), and library (housing the oldest collection of Blue & Gold yearbooks on campus). Along with these spaces and ammenities we also have study rooms, a lanai, large private sun deck, TV room (equipped with OnDemand, TiVo, and over 200 channels), meeting room for Sigmas only, spectacular views of the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge, washers & dryers, three kitchens, grassy courtyard, and a formal dining room. Additionally, our entire house is equipped with DSL and wireless internet. Just a three short blocks from the Cal campus and one block from Memorial Stadium, our house is a warm and comfortable place to come home to every day!

Our spacious living room These are the huge windows that open our living room up to the front of the house. The living room is often used for informal meetings, sisterhood events, and just lounging!

Our sunny "Open Date" room This room was once used as a "date" room where sisters in the house could bring their fiancees or husbands to sit. Today, we use this room as one of our many study rooms. With its huge windows and comfy couches, it is a perfect place to relax in, to read in, or to have a group study session in.

Our formal dining room This is where all the sisters eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner together. We are one of the only sororities at Berkeley with a formal dining room. Every Monday, we have "formal" dinners together here.

Our courtyard Our courtyard, always filled with flowers, is in the center of our home. It's a great place to barbeque, hang out, and relax in the sun!

Social

Sigma Kappa Social Events Sigma Kappas devote a lot of time to school and community service, but we definitely love to take part in the social scene here at Cal. Amidst the stress of academics and work, we make sure to find time for relaxation and fun! Our internal and external social chairs, as well as our sisterhood chair, work hard to plan many exciting events throughout the year. We put on everything from Father/Daughter BBQ's to kickboxing lessons! . . " Being a member of Sigma Kappa provides many fun opportunities that help us make the most of our college years! Every semester we have a diverse range of social events that bring excitement into our busy schedules. We show school spirit in the fall by cheering on our team at Cal football games, hang out with fraternity men each weekend at exchanges, host invites and date parties in San Francisco, and have sisterhood and philanthropy events as well! These social events ensure that there will never be a dull moment. They are part of what makes being Greek so wonderful! " Katelyn Sullivan Internal Social Chair

EXCHANGES Sigma Kappa enjoys many "exchanges" with numerous fraternities on the Cal campus. These exchanges are exclusive social events with only the women of SK and the men of a various fraternities. To name just a few, we've had a football game day exchange withSAE, celebrated St. Patrick's Day with the men of Pi Kappa Alpha, gone to an Oakland A's baseball game with FIJI, took a bus to the Stanford Big Game with Sigma Chi, went to sushi restaurants with Phi Tau, and watched the Superbowl with the men of ZBT. Many of our exchanges are themed and serve as a fun way to make even more friends within the Greek community! FIJI & Sigma Kappa pictured below:

DATE PARTIES Sigma Kappa's annual formal date parties are the "Violet Ball"--Sigma Kappas around the nation share in this tradition-- and the "Masquerade Ball". Each sister is allowed to bring one guest as her date. The entire chapter and our dates travel together to a rented venue in beautiful San Francisco on a chartered bus!

INVITATIONS Sigma Kappa hosts two themed invitationals every semester. Invitationals, or "invites", give us an opportunity to invite a few friends to a night of fun and dancing with our sisters and their friends. We rent out clubs or bars in San Francisco and around the Bay Area for our invites, providing for an excellent night of dancing, bonding, and having a blast with our friends as well as with our sisters. Invites are always themed, giving everyone an opportunity to be extra creative with costumes and props! We have had everything, from "Love Fest" to "The Phases of Britney Spears". Costumes are always fun, crazy, and creative!

Philanthropy

Sigma Kappa Foundation: Community Service & Philanthropy Sigma Kappa Sorority provides many opportunities for members to become involved in community service and philanthropic projects. Chapters across the country support Sigma Kappa philanthropies, which include the following listed organizations. For more information please visit our national website'sphilanthropy page.

Maine Seacoast Mission Since 1918 Sigma Kappa has paid homage to its Maine roots by supporting the activities of the Maine Sea Coast Mission. The Maine Sea Coast Mission delivers critical services to people in need while striving to redress the root causes of those needs. With the help of the 75-foot mission vessel, Sunbeam V, direct programs and services include church and pastoral work, assistance to those in sickness and poverty, financial aid, food banks, recycled clothing shops, crisis intervention, youth programs, and ministries in the field. The Mission serves the islands from mid-coast to Downeast Maine, as well as mainland Hancock and Washington counties.

Alzheimer's Association In 1984 Sigma Kappa responded to an increasingly critical problem facing older Americans by adding Alzheimer's Disease research and education to its philanthropic activities. Research grants are made each year to universities and other institutions actively engaged in the fight against Alzheimer's Disease.

Inherit the Earth This program ties Sigma Kappa's interest in older citizens with its interest in the environment. Through Inherit the Earth, collegians, alumnae and older citizens work together to improve local environments.

Gerontology In 1954 Sigma Kappa became the first national sorority to recognize the need for continued, comprehensive work on the study of aging and the needs of elderly populations. Collegiate and alumnae members throughout the country volunteer their time and talent in support of numerous projects to assist and benefit the elderly.

Sigma Kappas in the Community Sigma Kappa raises money and awareness for our charities at UC Berkeley through various events throughout the year for the Greek community, alumnae, parents, and the public as well. We have hosted annual Casino Nights, a Bare Escentuals make-up charity, as well as soccer tournament. This Spring 08 semester, we are throwing our first Masquerade Ball to raise money for Alzheimer's Research! Additionally, we work on numerous projects throughout the year such as: -Alzheimer's 3 Mile Memory Walk -Halloween Boo Grams -Baking for senior citizens -Relay for Life Philanthropy -Breast Cancer Walk Sigma Kappa also supports the rest of the Greek community at Cal by participating in their philanthropic events throughout the year. We were the 2005 champions of Sigma Chi's 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament between the sororities as well as the winners of Pi Phi's Arrowbands lipsinking and dancing competition and took 2nd place in Greek Week! Sigma Kappa also collaborates with other Greek chapters on campus to raise money for various charities. This past fall, we did a Breast Cancer Walk with the men of Tau Kappa Epsilon (pictured to right) to raise money for the "Making Strides" charity. Women within the chapter are also very involved in volunteer work and organizations other than our chapter's main philanthropy. A large number of women are involved in Habitat for Humanity (pictured above left), OASES (tutoring elementary school children), Krayola (teaching kids art), and tons of other great causes on and around the Cal campus!

Involvement

Sigma Kappas' Involvement In & Around the Cal Campus Sigma Kappa sisters are found in positions of leadership not only within our chapter house, but across the CAL campus as well! We strive for scholastic achievement and exemplify our leadership through our involvement in on-campus clubs, honor societies, and internships. Our sorority encourages each member to pursue her interests and partcipate in other activities in order to make her experience in college the best it can possibly be! Whatever you might be interested in, we've got a sister involved in a club, job, or internship to match! Take a look at just a few of our many interests:

Organizations ACLU interns Alpha Kappa Psi (Business Honor Society) Alumni Scholars Association American Red Cross at Cal Associated Students of Psychology Asian Business Association ASUC (Associated Students of UC) Bears for UNICEF Berkeley Organization for Animal Advocacy Berkeley Model United Nations Berkeley College Republicans Cal Berkeley Democrats Cal Crew Team Cal Football Team (trainers) California Alumni Scholars Association Cal Habitat for Humanity Cal Ski and Snowboard Club CAL Sports Medicine Club Danceworx Fashion and Student Trends Hillel Hall Association Intramural Sports: Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball Krayola (teaching art at elementary schools) Lifeguard Mixed Student Union Movement Dance Group Order of Omega (Greek Honor Society) Panhellenic Council - VP Risk Management PEERS at Cal Philip Morris Internships/jobs Premedical Honor Society Psi Chi (National Psychology Honor Society) Raza Recruitment and Retention Center Rally Committee officers/members Regents' and Chancellor's Scholar Association Student Learning Center Tutors Society of Engineering Science Student to Student Peer Counseling Suitcase Clinic YWCA volunteers/mentors

Majors and Minors American Studies Anthropology Architecture Art History Art Practice Asian American Studies Astronomy Biochemistry Bioengineering Biology, Integrative Biology, Molecular and Cell Biophysics Business Chemical Engineering Chemistry City and Regional Planning Civil and Environmental Engineering Classics Cognitive Science Computer Science Development Studies Economics Education Engineering English Environmental Planning Ethnic Studies Film Studies Geography German History Industrial Engineering International and Area Studies Italian Studies Journalism Legal Studies Mass Communications Nutritional Science Peace and Conflict Studies Philosophy PEIS Political Science Psychology Public Health Rhetoric Social Welfare Sociology

Scholarship

Academics at SK Scholarship is one of the four main pillars of the Greek community. We are proud to say that all-Greek average GPA is above the non-Greek average GPA at Cal. Sigma Kappa's mission and priority is to aid in the academic success and intellectual growth of all of its members. Our VP of Scholarship chair works avidly throughout the year to schedule meetings and study times for each of our members. She will meet privately with any member who seeks academic assistance to help each individual work towards her goal. Our Scholarship chair has helped set up review sessions for sisters in the same classes, helped set up appointments for sisters with advisors or the SLC (student learning center), helped in resume and interview processes, and set up monthly meetings with members. Our house is also perfectly set up for this goal: it has a library, a larger study room with tables and chairs, as well as two rooms with comfy couches and tables for studying. All are equipped with wireless internet and electrical outlets. In our library, sisters can store old books, study files, exams, and readers for other sisters' use and for reference. Our study room has a 24 hour quiet policy in order to ensure the best possible study environment! Sisters who share classes often hold study sessions and/or study together for midterms and finals together in one of the house's study rooms. We also host "Scholarship dinners" every semester, in which sisters can invite their professors or graduate-student-instructors to a formal dinner at our house. This is an excellent opportunity for sisters to get to know their professors better. We also have events throughout the school year in our house which help sisters to apply for graduate schools, write their resumes, and prepare for interviews - these have been hosted at our house by the Cal Career Center and even a few by major corporations and companies.

Scholarships Offered Scholarships are provided by the Foundation for both undergraduate and graduate study to assist with educational expenses. In addition to scholarships which are granted from unrestricted gifts to the Annual Fund, there are an increasing number of scholarships being endowed. Often they are named to honor or memorialize a Sigma Kappa sister or a family member and may be restricted to a general field of study or for members of a specific chapter. Sigma Kappa scholarships are awarded annually to collegiate and alumnae members of the Sorority. 2006-07 Scholarships for Collegiate Members: -Founders' Scholarship -Frances Warren Baker Memorial Scholarship -Barber-Owen-Thomas Scholarship -Beta Nu/Caryl Cordis D'hondt Scholarship - Beta Omega Scholarship -Beta Sigma Scholarship -Christine Kerr Cawthorne Scholarship -Maridell Braham Condon Scholarship -Wilma Sackett Dressel Scholarship -Epsilon Epsilon -Epsilon Tau Scholarship -Marian Johnson Frutiger Scholarship -Lucile Cheever Graubart/ Lambda Scholarship -Elise Reed Jenkins Memorial Scholarship -Joan Reagin McNeill Scholarship And tons more.... 2006-07 Scholarships for Graduate Students and Alumnae: -Margaret J. Andrew Memorial Scholarship -Gerontology Scholarship -Alzheimer's/Gerontology Scholarship -Walta Wilkinson Carmichael Scholarship -Michigan Scholarship -Jean B. Teare Volunteers' Scholarship