Alpha Pi Sigma Sorority Incorporated (ΑΠΣ) is a multicultural Latina-based sorority founded in 1990 at San Diego State University.[1][2][3] It was created to bring together and support the Latina women but is open to non-Latinas.[1][3] The sorority has seventeen chapters in five states.[4]

Alpha Pi Sigma
ΑΠΣ
FoundedMarch 10, 1990; 34 years ago (1990-03-10)
San Diego State University
TypeSocial
AffiliationNALFO
StatusActive
EmphasisMulticultural
ScopeNational
MottoAmigas Para Siempre
Colors  Baby Pink and   Royal Purple
SymbolInfinity
FlowerWhite Calla Lily
Chapters18
NicknameAlphas, Ladies of Elegance
HeadquartersP.O. Box 330865
Pacoima, Los Angeles, California 91333
United States
Websitewww.alphapisigma.org

History

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Thirteen Latina women established Alpha Pi Sigma on March 10, 1990, at San Diego State University.[5][3] They saw the need to unite and support Latina women on university campuses.[6]

The sorority's founders established six purposes that define the organization. The chapters carry out these purposes, including academic excellence, leadership development, cultural awareness, unity and friendship, empowerment, and community service.[1][2][3] However, academic excellence is the sorority's primary value, along with community service.[3]

The sorority is a member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) and holds a strict anti-hazing policy.[7]

Philanthropy

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Both active sisters and alumnae are encouraged to raise funds to support the sorority's national philanthropy.[8] Chapters also select their philanthropies and volunteer in the Latino community.[3] Some examples of the Alpha Pi Sigma efforts are American Cancer Society, autism awareness, lunch distribution, heart disease awareness, a Tijuana-based orphanage, and Relay for Life.[1][9][3]

Chapters

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There are seventeen active chapters of Alpha Pi Sigma in the United States, most in California.[4] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are indicated in italic.

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Reference
Alpha March 10, 1990 San Diego State University San Diego, California [4][3]
Beta March 1, 1996 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Pomona, California [4]
Gamma March 4, 2000–20xx California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California [4]
Delta March 5, 2000 University of California, Riverside Riverside, California [4]
Epsilon August 5, 2001 California State University San Marcos San Marcos, California [4]
Zeta August 26, 2006 California State University, Fresno Fresno, California [4]
Eta March 29, 2008 California State University, Northridge Northridge, Los Angeles, California [4][1]
Theta October 11, 2009 San Francisco State University San Francisco, California [4]
Iota July 9, 2010 University of California, Davis Davis, California [4]
Kappa August 7, 2010 Santa Clara University Santa Clara, California [4]
Lambda August 20, 2010 University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California [4]
Mu April 30, 2011 California State University, Stanislaus Turlock, California [4][2]
Nu April 30, 2011 Boise State University Boise, Idaho [4]
Xi March 23, 2012 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Urbana, Illinois [4]
Omicron April 11, 2013 California State University, Sacramento Sacramento, California [4]
Pi April 20, 2013 Eastern Washington University Cheney, Washington [4]
Rho December 18, 2014 University of San Diego San Diego, California [4]
Sigma December 8, 2018 University of Nevada, Reno Reno, Nevada [4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Arevalo, Stacey. "Meet the Latina Sisters at Alpha Pi Sigma". Daily Sundial. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  2. ^ a b c "Panhellenic Recruitment Gets Underway at Stan State". CSU Signal. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Lozano, Camille (2014-09-25). "Get Involved: Alpha Pi Sigma". The Daily Aztec. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed November 15. 2022.
  5. ^ Heidenreich, Linda (2006-04-01). "Against the Grain: Confronting Hispanic Service Organizations in Times of Increasing Inequalities, 1930 and 2005". Journal of Latinos and Education. 5 (2): 123–137. doi:10.1207/s1532771xjle0502_4. ISSN 1534-8431. S2CID 144741664.
  6. ^ "Fun Facts & Information". Alpha Pi Sigma. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  7. ^ "NALFO History". National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  8. ^ "Philanthropy". Alpha Pi Sigma. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  9. ^ Guzman, Alli (2017-05-18). "Alpha Pi Sigma". Her Campus. Retrieved 2021-09-27.

Further reading

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