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 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 high 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.
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 Andrews, Chi: inventor and experimental engineer, improved the engineering of dishwashers, inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame.
- Fay Burnett, Sigma: first nutritionist for Weight Watchers International, writing its first maintenance plan.
- Linda Cross Dowdy, Epsilon Epsilon: creator and owner of Barney, the popular purple dinosaur featured on PBS, authored the best-selling children's book, Barney Goes to the Zoo.
- Anna Harper, Lambda: 1931 Wimbledon tennis champion, National President of Sigma Kappa from 1939 to 1942.
- Susan Johne, Alpha Chi: Kentucky State senator, 1994.
- Judith Guest la Vercombe, Alpha Mu: author of Ordinary People, which has since become a motion picture.
- Betty Jo Peacock Hay, Sigma: president of the National Mental Health Association in 1986, received such honors as the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health Award and Public Citizen of the Year.
- Lauren Roman, Theta Zeta: plays Laura Kirk on the daytime drama, All My Children.
- Rhea Seddon, Lambda: mission specialist for NASA, first flight into space was aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985, taking her Sigma Kappa badge on her flight.
- Margaret Chase Smith, Alpha: 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: plays Jessica Forrester on the CBS daytime drama, The Bold and the Beautiful. Her stage name is Maitland Ward.
- Sarah Weddington, Zeta Nu: 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.