Sigma Lambda Beta
Encyclopedia
Sigma Lambda Beta is the largest Latino-based social fraternity
established on cultural understanding and wisdom. Founded on April 4, 1986 at the University of Iowa
, Iowa City, Iowa
, the organization is committed to create and expand multicultural leadership, promote academic excellence, advance cultural awareness and service while influencing its mission amongst all dedicated collegiate men worldwide. With over 144 entities consisting of colonies, chapters, and alumni associations across the country and in Puerto Rico
, Sigma Lambda Beta is the largest historically Latino
Fraternal Greek Lettered
intercollegiate
fraternity in America.
, Baltazar Mendoza-Madrigal, wanted to further expand the possibility of a Latino-based organization with multicultural membership that would grow just as notable. The purpose of creating such an organization came from the social and cultural dynamics at the time. Minorities on campus were under represented and lacked interaction amongst each other. Thus, Mendoza along with seventeen other men began to explore the idea of establishing a Latino-based fraternity in order to unify all under represented minorities and to promote cultural understanding along with academic excellence.
The men met officially on March 7, 1986 with some of the Latino students at the University of Iowa
On April 4, 1986, the members finalized the philosophy of the organization and the eighteen men who came to study in the US from Latin America, Africa & Asia became the eighteen Founding Fathers of Sigma Lambda Beta. They were inducted as brothers at the university's Danforth Chapel with the following principles in mind: brotherhood, scholarship, community service and cultural awareness.
(NIC), a confederation of 72 men's college fraternities with over 5,300 chapters on more than 800 campuses throughout Canada and the United States. The NIC represents over 350,000 collegiate members and four and one half million alumni. Its volunteer leaders and professional staff serve fraternity leaders in university, government, and media relations. The promotion of scholarship, leadership, service, and friendship among fraternity members is the NIC's purpose.
Formal
Informal
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
established on cultural understanding and wisdom. Founded on April 4, 1986 at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
, the organization is committed to create and expand multicultural leadership, promote academic excellence, advance cultural awareness and service while influencing its mission amongst all dedicated collegiate men worldwide. With over 144 entities consisting of colonies, chapters, and alumni associations across the country and in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, Sigma Lambda Beta is the largest historically Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
Fraternal Greek Lettered
Greek alphabet
The Greek alphabet is the script that has been used to write the Greek language since at least 730 BC . The alphabet in its classical and modern form consists of 24 letters ordered in sequence from alpha to omega...
intercollegiate
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
fraternity in America.
History
In the early spring semester of 1986 at the University of IowaUniversity of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, Baltazar Mendoza-Madrigal, wanted to further expand the possibility of a Latino-based organization with multicultural membership that would grow just as notable. The purpose of creating such an organization came from the social and cultural dynamics at the time. Minorities on campus were under represented and lacked interaction amongst each other. Thus, Mendoza along with seventeen other men began to explore the idea of establishing a Latino-based fraternity in order to unify all under represented minorities and to promote cultural understanding along with academic excellence.
The men met officially on March 7, 1986 with some of the Latino students at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
On April 4, 1986, the members finalized the philosophy of the organization and the eighteen men who came to study in the US from Latin America, Africa & Asia became the eighteen Founding Fathers of Sigma Lambda Beta. They were inducted as brothers at the university's Danforth Chapel with the following principles in mind: brotherhood, scholarship, community service and cultural awareness.
- In 1991, SLB became the first Latino-based fraternity to be established at a historically black university, Prairie View A&M UniversityPrairie View A&M UniversityPrairie View A&M University is a historically black university located in Prairie View, Texas and is a member of the Texas A&M University System. PVAMU offers baccalaureate degrees in 50 academic majors, 37 master’s degrees and four doctoral degree programs through nine colleges and schools...
. - In 1992, SLB spans "coast to coast" with the establishment of SUNY-Stony Brook (Pi chapter) and California State University-Dominguez Hills (Tau Chapter).
- In 1992, SLB joined the North-American Interfraternity ConferenceNorth-American Interfraternity ConferenceThe North-American Interfraternity Conference , is an association of collegiate men's fraternities that was formally organized in 1910, although it began on November 27, 1909. The power of the organization rests in a House of Delegates where each member fraternity is represented by a single delegate...
, a national umbrella association of collegiate men's fraternities. - In 1996, SLB became a founding member of the Concilio Nacional de Hermandades Latinas, the first national umbrella council for Latino Greek Lettered Organizations (1996–2000).
- In 2000, SLB became a founding member of the Latino Fraternal Council, a national umbrella council composed by five of the largest Latino fraternities in the country (2000-2001).
- In 2004, SLB joined the National Association of Latino Fraternal OrganizationsNational Association of Latino Fraternal OrganizationsThe National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations is an umbrella council for 19 Latino Greek Letter Organizations established in 1998...
(2004–2010). - In 2010, SLB was established at Huston-Tillotson University in Texas, making it the first entity of SLB at a private historically black university.
Founding Fathers
- Baltazar Mendoza-Madrigal
- Thomas Carrasquillo
- Manuel Chavarria
- Luis Jimenez
- Luis Marquez
- Mario Buendia
- Enrique Carbajal
- Rudolfo Garza
- Jose Fong
- Eric Montes
- Olakunle Oyeyemi
- Kuy Ou
- Jaime Ramirez
- Olivero Rivera
- Juan Jose Rojas Cardona
- Eugenio Soria
- Juan Valdez
- Ricardo Zamudio
Mission
The mission of all Beta men is to nurture and further a dynamic, value-based environment which utilizes its diverse multicultural membership as a catalyst:- To create and expand multicultural leadership.
- To cultivate honorable friendships.
- To advance male success in college and beyond.
- To promote culture in a positive manner.
- To exhibit standards of excellence in morality, ethics and education.
- To better serve the needs and wants of all people by disseminating the diverse culture which we all share.
- To nurture values of fairness, opportunity, and the equality of all men regardless of their race, culture, or ethnicity in society.
- To help progress our country and the world by enhancing our understanding of one another.
National Recognition
Sigma Lambda Beta is a member of the North-American Interfraternity ConferenceNorth-American Interfraternity Conference
The North-American Interfraternity Conference , is an association of collegiate men's fraternities that was formally organized in 1910, although it began on November 27, 1909. The power of the organization rests in a House of Delegates where each member fraternity is represented by a single delegate...
(NIC), a confederation of 72 men's college fraternities with over 5,300 chapters on more than 800 campuses throughout Canada and the United States. The NIC represents over 350,000 collegiate members and four and one half million alumni. Its volunteer leaders and professional staff serve fraternity leaders in university, government, and media relations. The promotion of scholarship, leadership, service, and friendship among fraternity members is the NIC's purpose.
National Philanthropies
Since 1986 Sigma Lambda Beta has made an impact in communities all over the US through service that the fraternity prides itself in. The fraternity concentrates its ability to help underprivileged communities through its local chapter philanthropies. Service at the local level varies accordingly and may consist a wide range from tutoring, mentoring programs, motivational speaking, voter registration drives to fund raising for a cause. On a national level, SLB acknowledges two philanthropies that all chapters participate in.Víctor Correa CPR Awareness Day
Health Education & The Community- The Victor Correa CPR Awareness Day was created in honor of Brother Victor "Ziggy" Correa Ortiz. Correa was born and raised in Puerto Rico and came to the United States to earn his degree in engineering at the State University of New York, Stony Brook. As a freshman and newly inducted brother, Correra went back to Puerto Rico to visit his parents. Unfortunately, during that winter Correa drowned while wading off the shores of Puerto Rico. Bystanders were not informed on how to administer CPR at the time to save his life. Today, brothers of SLB are encouraged to become CPR certified and also provide an opportunity for members of their communities to be certified through the Victor Correa CPR Awareness Day (November).
Collegiate Leadership Development
Latinos, Politics & Policy- Brothers of Sigma Lambda Beta train and serve through the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute in the seven-week Collegiate Leadership Development Program. The program is an interactive, bilateral, policy-oriented training program for Latino student leaders, university staff, faculty, and administrators. The program is designed to focus on how to formulate, exercise, and influence policy. Given the setting, this policy analysis program focuses on university policies pertaining to the outreach, recruitment and retention of Latino students; the recruitment and retention of Latino staff, faculty and administrators; beginning or expanding a Latino studies curriculum; financial aid; involvement in student government; support for Latino student organizations; and financial literacy.
National Events
Sigma Lambda Beta organizes various social, business, professional and personal development events for its members annually. Most of them are held in different states from year to year.Formal
- Convention (BETAcon): A business convention where delegates from every chapter vote on bylaws of the fraternity and discuss various business topics of interest for the development of the organization. Convention takes place every other summer.
- The Leadership Institute: A personal development event where brothers take part in various workshops, bonding exercises, and networking events with other chapters around the nation. This retreat takes place every other summer, in years between Convention at a host university.
Informal
- Founders: An annual social event that is hosted to celebrate the founding and existence of the fraternity. Brothers are also recognized across the nation for their contributions to the fraternity. The weekend of events take place during the beginning of April, near the founding date of the organization, as chapters nationwide alternate its location.
- Festival Del Sol: An annual social held in TampaTâmpaTâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, Florida on Labor Day weekend. (September) - Homecoming: An annual social held in Tucson, Arizona at the University of ArizonaUniversity of ArizonaThe University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
(November) . - Spanish Fly: An annual social held in Tallahassee, Florida during MLK weekend. (January)