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

Recruiment

A place to have fun, a place to grow, a place to call home.

" Welcome to the Lambda chapter of Sigma Kappa at UC Berkeley! Our family consists of diverse women from all across the country, all with their own fabulous personalities and unique interests, yet all possessing the same set of values, flair for fun, academic ambition, and dedication to making a difference in the lives of others. We are proud of who we are, and we support one another to become who we want to be.

Our mission is to provide each and every Sigma Kappa with a solid foundation of lifelong friendship and the best college experience she can possibly have! We would love to share with you the same happiness and amazing memories we’ve had the privilege of enjoying here at Sigma Kappa. In our sisterhood, you know you will always have the good company of your sisters whether you are getting ready for a night out, pulling an all-nighter, going to the gym, shopping in San Francisco, or even just staying in to watch a movie. As a Sigm

a Kappa, you can be sure that you will never find yourself without an extensive social network, an academic support system, or the feeling that you are part of something bigger than yourself.

We encourage all of you to come through Recruitment and get to know the women of the 12 fabulous sororities on campus. We can’t wait to meet you and show you around our beautiful home! "

Ginny Kim

Public Relations Chair

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SK Spring '10 Recruitment Events:

Tuesday, January 26th 6:30-8:00- Meet the Girls!

**Attire is casual

Wednesday, January 27th 6:30-8:00 - House tours!

**Attire is business casual

Thursday, January 28th 6:30-8:00: Preference Night

**Attire is cocktail party

**Invitation only

Sunday, January 31st - BID DAY

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SK Recruitment Contacts:
Tory Le, Vice President of Membership: toryle@berkeley.edu
Claire Copsey, Co-VP of Membership: clairecopsey@berkeley.edu

Yasmin Adlparvar, Continuous Open Bidding Chair: yasminadl@berkeley.edu

Please feel free to email our recruitment chairs at sigmakrecruitment@gmail.com. Our house is located at 2409 Warring St. (cross streets are Channing and Dwight).

Announcement

A Message from the President

" Hello All! I would like to welcome you, on behalf of the Lambda chapter of Sigma Kappa, to Cal and the Greek system! I highly encourage you all to Go Greek and take the opportunity to expand your social, philanthropic and intellectual experience here at Cal.

Sigma Kappa is an impressive assortment of women who have all influenced my life and college experience in incredible ways. My memories of game days, sisterhood activities and even late night study sessions in the dining room will stay with me forever as some of my most valuable times at Cal. College as a whole can be overwhelming, but the support I have from my sisters and the relationships I have built with them ensure that no matter the time of day or the situation I always have a home away from home and a life long friend at my side. Being a member of Sigma Kappa has made my college career, and I hope that you all will be able to find the same exciting support here!

I invite you to check out the rest of our website and discover more of the endless opportunities that Sigma Kappa has to offer and further explore all the wonderful aspects that make up the Sigma Kappa experience! "



DOVE LOVE,
Alexis Bayudan
President of Lambda Sigma Kappa

Officers

SK Officers '10


President:
Alexis Bayudan
ambayudan@gmail.com


Executive Vice President:
Jessica Wilson
jessicawilson6@berkeley.edu

VP New Member Educator:
Ann Hodge
annhodge90@yahoo.com


Co-VP New Member Educator:
Camille Mixter
cmixter@berkeley.edu


VP Membership:
Tory Le
toryle@berkeley.edu

Co-VP Membership:
Claire Copsey
clairecopsey@berkeley.edu


VP Scholarship:
Cristina Passoni
c.passoni03@gmail.com


VP Finance:
Jessica Urban
j_urban@berkeley.edu


VP Alumnae Relations:
Kelsey Cooper
kelseycooper@berkeley.edu


VP Public Relations:
Ginny Kim
ms.ginkim@gmail.com


Panhellenic Delegate:
Kylie Harte
kjharte07@berkeley.edu


External Social Chair:
Lisa Mae Dominia
lmdominia@gmail.com


Internal Social Chair:
Katelyn Sullivan
kcsullivan@berkeley.edu


Sisterhood Chair:
Jordan Archer
jordan.archer@berkeley.edu


Foundation Chair:
Cimeran Kapur
cimerankay@gmail.com


Continuous Open Recruitment:
Yasmin Adlparvar
yasminadl@berkeley.edu


Philanthropy Chair:
Alex Hamb
alexandra.hamb@berkeley.edu


House Manager:
Jasmine Lopez


Activities Chair:
Sara Banilohi
s.banilohi@berkeley.edu


Historian:
Christina Rivera


Ritual Chair:
Jessica Savoni
jsavoni@berkeley.edu


Recording Secretary:
Kate Jessen
jessenk@berkeley.edu


Corresponding Secretary:
Karlie Braufman
karlie@berkeley.edu

Symbols & Insignia

As a member of Sigma Kappa, you are obligated to uphold her high standards and ideals, reflected in her insignia, remembering that Sigma Kappas all over the country are bound by the same tenets.


Badge

On March 7, 1894, the triangle badge was chosen with "unjeweled maroon enamel." Jeweled badges were approved at the 1915 convention when the pearl was adopted as our national jewel. Unjeweled badges have a scroll edge. The badge is worn over the heart strictly as an emblem of membership and only by initiated members.



Pledge Pin


The pledge pin is a gold Greek letter S shaped like a serpent intertwined through a K. In 1920 this design was officially adopted as our pledge pin. The pledge pin is also worn over the heart by new members of Sigma Kappa. Once initiated, the pin is surrendered to the chapter for their new badge.



Coat-of-Arms


The official coat-of-arms was adopted by Sigma Kappa in 1911. It reflects the familiar symbols of the sorority - the dove, the violet, the serpent, the open motto, the Greek letters and maroon & lavendar. Its significance is revealed only in the ceremony of initiation.



Our Flower


In June 1892,the violet was adopted as our national flower. The delicate flowers grew wild along the banks of the Messalonskee River in Maine where the founders sat in the early days of Sigma Kappa.



Colors

Louise Helen Coburn's early reminiscences give us her memory of white as the color favored in the early days of Sigma Kappa. She said that lavender and maroon, as our colors, occur in the minutes of June 1891. They were being used then and apparently had been approved earlier. A note in the minutes of 1904 speaks of a committee appointed to "write down the true significance" of our colors which is revealed in the ceremony of initiation.



Our Official Jewel


The pearl is the official jewel of Sigma Kappa and was adopted at the Sigma Kappa Convention in 1915. The pearl is recognized as a symbol of purity and gracious character.



Our Symbols

The dove and heart are the official symbols of Sigma Kappa. Both symbols signify love, longevity, and pureness. Other familiar symbols of Sigma Kappa include the serpent and the triangle, or delta.



Our Seal

The seal of Sigma Kappa is used on all official papers, membership certificates and chapter charters









25 Year Badge

The twenty-five year pin is a silver violet surrounded by an open triangle with the numbers 25 in the middle of the violet and the Greek letters Sigma Kappa set to the left side of the triangle.

History

Facts

Date Founded: November 9, 1874
University Founded: Colby College in Waterville, Maine
Open Motto: One Heart, One Way
Colors: Maroon and Lavender
Jewel: Pearl
Symbols: Heart and Dove
Flower: Violet
Chapters: 236 in 40 states
Members: 151,800 worldwide
Philanthropies: Gerontology (the study of aging), with a focus on Alzheimer's disease research and programs directed at improving the lives of older citizens; Inherit the Earth; Maine Seacoast Mission.
Scholarships: The Sigma Kappa Foundation provides scholarships to collegiate and alumnae members each year, including scholarships for leadership, continuing education, and gerontology.

History of Sigma Kappa

Colby College in Waterville, Maine, was the first college in New England to admit women on an equal basis with men students. The first woman student was admitted in 1871, and for two years Mary Caffrey Low was the only woman student at Colby College. In 1873, four more young women from Maine, Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, Ida Fuller, Frances Mann, and Louise Helen Coburn were admitted to Colby and the five young women found themselves frequently together. During the school year of 1873-74, the five young women decided to form a literary and social society. They were told by the college administration that they needed to present a constitution and bylaws with a petition requesting permission to form Sigma Kappa Sorority. They began work during that year with an eager glow of enthusiasm. Their purpose at the outset was that the sorority should become what it is now, a national organization of college women. On November 9, 1874, the five young women received a letter from the faculty approving their petition. Thus, this date has since been considered our Founders' Day.

In our first constitution, chapter membership was limited to 25. The original group was known as Alpha chapter and as our 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 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.

In 1904, Delta chapter was installed at Boston University. Elydia Foss of Alpha chapter had transferred to Boston and met a group of women who refused to join any of the other groups on campus. When asked if Sigma Kappa was a national organization, Elydia replied, "No, but it is founded on a national basis." Elydia then took the necessary steps to make Sigma Kappa a national sorority and it was incorporated in the state of Maine on April 19, 1904. The new status as a national sorority made Sigma Kappa eligible to join what was then called the Interfraternity Conference, now known as the National Panhellenic Conference.

Lambda of Sigma Kappa was established at UC Berkeley in 1910. We are proud to have been a member of the Greek community for nearly 100 years.

Chapter Profiles

Lambda
University of California, Berkeley

Lambda of Sigma Kappa was established at UC Berkeley in 1910.



Scholarships

Scholarships: The Sigma Kappa Foundation provides scholarships to collegiate and alumnae members each year, including scholarships for leadership, continuing education, and gerontology.


Organization Facts

Founded: 1874 at Colby College in Waterville, Maine
Open Motto: One Heart, One Way
Colors: Maroon and Lavendar
Jewel: Pearl
Symbols: Heart and Dove
Flower: Violet
Philanthropies: Gerontology (the study of aging), with a focus on Alzheimer's disease research and programs directed at improving the lives of older citizens; Inherit the Earth; Maine Seacoast Mission.


Address

Lambda of Sigma Kappa
2409 Warring St.
Berkeley, CA 94704


Chapter website: http://www.calsigmakappa.com
Inter/National website: http://www.sigmakappa.org


Recruitment Info

Formal Recruitment begins August 2009.
Check CalGreeks.com for more information, or email us at sigmakrecruitment@gmail.com


Contacts

Alexis Bayudan, President
ambayudan@gmail.com

Tory Le & Claire Copsey, VP's of Membership
sigmakrecruitment@gmail.com

Website maintained by:
Ginny Kim, Public Relations Chair
ms.ginkim@gmail.com