Sigma Pi Alpha
{{Short description|American Latina collegiate sorority}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2022}}
{{hatnote|the Chicana/Latina sorority formed at Cal Berkeley in 1996. Not to be confused with the local sorority of the same name, founded in 1991 at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri}}
{{Infobox Fraternity
| name = Sigma Pi Alpha
| letters = {{lang|grc|ΣΠΑ}}
| crest = Sigma Pi Alpha logo.png
| image_size = 150px
| founded = {{start date and age|1996}}
| birthplace = University of California, Berkeley
| affiliation = Independent
| status = Active
| type = Social sorority
| emphasis = Latina
| scope = Regional
| motto = {{lang|es|Mujeres Con Cultura, Fuerza y Hermandad}}
| pillars = Community Service, Campus Involvement, Culture, Academics, Sisterhood
| chapters = 13
| colors = {{Color box|#347235}} Midnight Green, {{Color box|#F8F6F0}} Pearl, {{Color box|#0f0f0f}} Onyx, and {{Color box|#FDD017}} Shimmering Gold
| flower = Calla Lily
| mascot = Golden Bear
| nickname = ELLA, Sigma
| address =
| city =
| state = California
| ZIP code =
| country = United States
| homepage = {{url|http://www.sigmapialpha.org/|www.sigmapialpha.org/}}
}}
Sigma Pi Alpha Sorority, Inc. ({{lang|grc|ΣΠΑ}}) is a Chicana/Latina-based, Greek letter, intercollegiate sorority founded in 1996 at the University of California, Berkeley. Although Sigma Pi Alpha is a Chicana Latina organization by tradition, membership is open to all college females. A sister of Sigma Pi Alpha is also known as an ELLA or a Sigma.
History
Sigma Pi Alpha was established in 1996 at the University of California, Berkeley, and has expanded to other locations in California. The sorority is not part of the Greek Panhellenic System. It is a non-profit grassroots organization and does not affiliate with any national fraternity or sorority council. It is governed by its own direct National Council.
Symbols
The letters worn by sisters represent their sisterhood, their commitment to each other, and their goals. The Greek letters were specifically selected by the sorority's nine founding mothers to symbolize their Chicana/Latina heritage by spelling ELLA, meaning she/her in the Spanish language.
Goals
1. To enhance Chicana/Latina heritage within the sorority.
2. To be involved within the campus and our communities.
3. To promote higher education in future generations.
4. To address academics, sisterhood, and personal and individual needs.
5. To create a sisterhood in which we can communicate and express ourselves with trust and security.
6. To form a sisterhood where we can receive support and a commitment that will last a lifetime.
7. To follow a code of conduct representative to us as a sorority and Chicana/Latina women.
Chapters
Undergraduate chapters are present at the following schools. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are indicated in italic.
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Chapter !! Charter date and range!! Institution !Location !Status !Reference | ||
| Alpha | {{dts|1996}} | University of California, Berkeley
|Active |
| Beta | {{dts|2001}} | University of California, Riverside
|Active |
| Gamma | {{dts|2002}} | University of California, Santa Cruz
|Active |
| Delta | {{dts|2003}} | San Francisco State University
|Active |
| Epsilon | {{dts|2003}} | California State University, San Bernardino
|Active |
| Zeta | {{dts|2003}} | University of California, Davis
|Active |
| Eta | {{dts|2004}} | California State University, Sacramento
|Active |
| Theta | {{dts|2005}} | Sonoma State University
|Active |
| Iota | {{dts|2007}} | University of California, San Diego
|Active |
| Kappa | {{dts|2008}} | California State University, Los Angeles
|Active |
| Lambda | {{dts|2010}} | San Jose State University
|Active |
| Mu | {{dts|2016}} | California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
|Active |
| Nu | {{dts|2016}} | University of California, Irvine
|Active |
| Sigma | {{dts| 2003}} | Eternal chapter
| |Active |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}{{Fraternities and Sororities |collapsed}}
Category:Student organizations established in 1996
Category:Student societies in the United States
Category:Latino fraternities and sororities
Category:1996 establishments in California
Category:Women's organizations based in the United States