About: Sigma Kappa National

About

Sigma Kappa National

Quick Facts about Sigma Kappa

National Website: www.sigmakappa.org
Founded: 1874, at Colby College in Waterville, Maine
Open Motto: One Heart, One Way
Colors: Maroon and Lavender
Jewel: Pearl
Symbols: Heart and Dove
Flower: Violet

Sigma Kappa's Purpose

The purpose of Sigma Kappa Sorority is to unite its members in a bond of sincere friendship for development of character and 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 high standards of achievement-scholastically, socially, and spiritually; and to make a constructive contribution to the communities where 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.

Our Badge

The current badge is a 1" triangle, with our letters in the center. The badge is worn as an emblem of membership and only by initiated members. The badge must only be worn with "pin attire" (business casual). The triangle badge was chosen as the official membership badge in 1894. The original design for the membership badge is now the new member pin. Sigma Kappa approved jeweled badges in 1915, when the pearl was adopted as our national jewel. Unjeweled badges have a scroll edge. Badges are either made of silver, white gold or yellow gold, and bejeweled badges have a combination of pearls, amethysts, or rubies.

New members wear the badge shown below the triangle badge. The new member pin is only worn during the new member period, before initiation. Adopted in 1920, the current design is a snake in the form of the Greek letter Sigma (Σ) woven around the letter Kappa (Κ).

Many variations of the SK Membership Badge

New Member Pin
Photos: SigmaKappa.org

Sisters Eliza and Alyse pose with National Sorority President Laura Owlsley and with a large trophy we won at COTS this year for our chapter's academic performance.

The five founders of Sigma Kappa

History

Our story begins in 1871, when the first college in New England admitted a woman on equal terms with her male peers. Colby College in Waterville, Maine made history with the acceptance of Mary Caffrey Low. Two years later Mary was joined by four more women: Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, Ida Fuller Pierce, Frances Mann Hall, and Louise Helen Coburn. These five young women bonded over their unique experience. A mere year later they decided to form a literary and social society founded on the principles of life-long friendship, intellectual and spiritual fulfillment and service for the greater good.

On November 9, 1874 Sigma Kappa was formed. Our first constitution limited membership to 25 women. The original group was known as Alpha chapter and as our sorority grew, Beta chapter and Gamma chapter were also established at Colby College. However, growth was not curbed outside the walls of Colby College. In 1904, Boston University installed the Delta Chapter, making the way for Sigma Kappa to have a national presence. Sigma Kappa became a national sorority on April 19, 1904 and subsequently joined the National Panhellenic Conference. Today we have 107 chapters is 36 states and 120 alumnae chapters in 40 states, all comprised of 148,592 members and growing.

Famous Sigma Kappas

Margaret Andrew Chi, Ohio State University Inventor and experimental engineer, improved the engineering of dishwashers; inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame.
Fay Burnett Sigma, Southern Methodist University First nutritionist for Weight Watchers International, writing its first maintenance plan.
Linda Cress Dowdy Epsilon Epsilon, University of Georgia Children's book author, actively involved in the launch of Barney, purple dinosaur of PBS fame. Worked with other characters including Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Angelina Ballerina.
Anna Harper Lambda, UC Berkeley 1931 Wimbledon tennis champion, National President of Sigma Kappa from 1939 to 1942.
Susan Johne Alpha Chi, Georgetown College Kentucky State senator, 1994.
Judith Guest La Vercombe Alpha Mu, University of Michigan Author of Ordinary People, the first unsolicited manuscript to be accepted by Viking Press since 1949, and became a motion picture.
Betty Jo Peacock Hay Sigma, Southern Methodist University Former president of the National Mental Health Association; founded & funded the Betty Jo Hay Distinguished Chair in Mental Health, an award for students at UT Southwestern; received the Sandy Brandt Volunteer Award (NMHA's highest honor for volunteers); appointed by the US Senate to the National Commission on Children; member of Hogg Foundation's commission on children and their families, among many other groups.
Lauren Roman Theta Zeta, University of Virginia Plays Laura Kirk on the daytime drama, All My Children.
Rhea Seddon Lambda, UC Berkeley NASA astronaut and mission specialist. First flight into space was aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985, taking her Sigma Kappa badge on her flight.
Margaret Chase Smith Alpha, Colby College First U.S. woman senator, first woman to sit in both houses of Congress, recipient of the U.S. Air Force's most prestigious award, the American Spirit Award and Presidential Medal of Freedom Award.
Ashley Welkos Gamma Theta, California State University Long Beach Most commonly known as Rachel McGuire from the hit prime time series, Boy Meets World. Plays Jessica Forrester on the CBS daytime drama, The Bold and the Beautiful. Most recently appeared in the 2004 film White Chicks. Her stage name is Maitland Ward.
Sarah Weddington Zeta Nu, University of Texas at San Antonio First woman elected from Austin to be a member of the Texas House of Representatives in 1972, assistant to President Jimmy Carter, argued before the U.S. Supreme Court for Roe v. Wade case, which she won in 1973.