Sigma Theta Psi
Encyclopedia
Sigma Theta Psi is a multicultural, academic, and social sorority. The sorority was founded at San Jose State University
in 1991. Sigma Theta Psi is known for their work with breast cancer awareness
throughout sisters' local campuses and communities. Currently, Sigma Theta Psi has nine recognized chapters at universities throughout California and Nevada.
to fill a void of multicultural awareness on their campus. They sought to create a sisterhood that would embrace and celebrate cultural diversity, and that was rooted in the shared principles of respect, honesty, open-mindedness, loyalty, leadership, and academic excellence.
Since its founding, Sigma Theta Psi has remained a sisterhood unparalleled by any other. The multicultural sorority is a well-organized society of dedicated and goal-oriented women, and continues to grow strong today. Today, Sigma Theta Psi has ten chapters at the top universities and colleges in California and Nevada, including San Jose State University
, San Diego State University
, University of Southern California
, Long Beach
, Stanford University
, Mt. Saint Mary's College, California State University, Monterey Bay
, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
, California State University, Sacramento
and (Provisional) University of San Diego
.
and its flower is a purple orchid. As a multicultural sorority, Sigma Theta Psi embraces each sister’s differences and individuality. Each year, chapters organize multicultural events, ranging from step shows to guest speakers.
Sigma Theta Psi is also an academic sorority. Academic excellence is a fundamental pillar of Sigma Theta Psi. All active sisters are required to maintain a minimum grade point average to ensure each member's primary focus on her studies. Sisters are encouraged to strive for the highest level of academic achievement.
The sorority's national philanthropy
is breast cancer
awareness. Their current benefactor is the American Cancer Society
. Sigma Theta Psi's annual event to raise money for this organization and local organizations is their Double D Brunch. This event is a national luncheon hosted in both California and Nevada. The event combines awareness and education with culture and diversity to raise money. Along with this national event, chapters host other programs within their communities to constantly educate others about the impact of breast cancer.
The Sisters of Sigma Theta Psi Sorority are also strongly committed to promoting educational advancement for their local communities, and many chapters participate in youth-centered community service activities and community fundraising.
Sigma Theta Psi prides itself as a unity of women that recognizes and assists new and continuing students in reaching their full potential as leaders in their communities. Encouragement is offered to sisters in every aspect of moral, academic and social support, as well as developing life-long friendships.
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
in 1991. Sigma Theta Psi is known for their work with breast cancer awareness
Breast cancer awareness
Breast cancer awareness is an effort to raise awareness of breast cancer and reduce the disease's stigma by educating people about its symptoms and treatment options...
throughout sisters' local campuses and communities. Currently, Sigma Theta Psi has nine recognized chapters at universities throughout California and Nevada.
Vision
Sigma Theta Psi was formed on November 13, 1991 in San Jose, California by eighteen women seeking to solidify and immortalize the values and responsibilities, which embodied their persons. They strove to share their message of cultural diversity, respect, and compassion with other women. Through unity and sisterhood, the sorority continues to embrace diverse cultures and excel in life ambitions. By the means of honesty, loyalty, respect, open mindedness, leadership and academic excellence, sisters carry forth the vision of these eighteen women.History
The Founding Mothers of Sigma Theta Psi created the sorority on November 13, 1991 at San Jose State UniversitySan José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
to fill a void of multicultural awareness on their campus. They sought to create a sisterhood that would embrace and celebrate cultural diversity, and that was rooted in the shared principles of respect, honesty, open-mindedness, loyalty, leadership, and academic excellence.
Since its founding, Sigma Theta Psi has remained a sisterhood unparalleled by any other. The multicultural sorority is a well-organized society of dedicated and goal-oriented women, and continues to grow strong today. Today, Sigma Theta Psi has ten chapters at the top universities and colleges in California and Nevada, including San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
, San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, Long Beach
Long Beach
-United States:*Long Beach, California, most populous city with this name**Long Beach Airport**Long Beach Naval Shipyard**Long Beach Search & Rescue**Long Beach Unified School District**Port of Long Beach*Long Beach, Indiana*Long Beach, Minnesota...
, Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, Mt. Saint Mary's College, California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Monterey Bay is a small public university in the California State University system on the site of the former U.S. Army base Fort Ord, on the Central Coast of California. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.CSUMB was founded in 1994 with...
, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
, California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento, popularly known as Sacramento State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the California State University system...
and (Provisional) University of San Diego
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
.
Sorority Information
Sigma Theta Psi's colors are purple, black, and gold. Its mascot is a black pantherBlack panther
A black panther is typically a melanistic color variant of any of several species of larger cat. Wild black panthers in Latin America are black jaguars , in Asia and Africa they are black leopards , and in North America they may be black jaguars or possibly black cougars A black panther is...
and its flower is a purple orchid. As a multicultural sorority, Sigma Theta Psi embraces each sister’s differences and individuality. Each year, chapters organize multicultural events, ranging from step shows to guest speakers.
Sigma Theta Psi is also an academic sorority. Academic excellence is a fundamental pillar of Sigma Theta Psi. All active sisters are required to maintain a minimum grade point average to ensure each member's primary focus on her studies. Sisters are encouraged to strive for the highest level of academic achievement.
The sorority's national philanthropy
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
is breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
awareness. Their current benefactor is the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
. Sigma Theta Psi's annual event to raise money for this organization and local organizations is their Double D Brunch. This event is a national luncheon hosted in both California and Nevada. The event combines awareness and education with culture and diversity to raise money. Along with this national event, chapters host other programs within their communities to constantly educate others about the impact of breast cancer.
The Sisters of Sigma Theta Psi Sorority are also strongly committed to promoting educational advancement for their local communities, and many chapters participate in youth-centered community service activities and community fundraising.
Sigma Theta Psi prides itself as a unity of women that recognizes and assists new and continuing students in reaching their full potential as leaders in their communities. Encouragement is offered to sisters in every aspect of moral, academic and social support, as well as developing life-long friendships.
Chapters
Sigma Theta Psi currently has ten chapters.- Founding: San Jose State UniversitySan José State UniversitySan Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
- Alpha: San Diego State UniversitySan Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
- Beta: University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern CaliforniaThe University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
- Gamma: Long Beach, California
- Delta: Stanford UniversityStanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
- Epsilon: Mount St. Mary's CollegeMount St. Mary's CollegeMount St. Mary's College is a private, independent, Catholic liberal arts college, primarily for women, in Los Angeles, California. The college was founded in 1925 by the Sisters of St...
- Zeta: California State University, Monterey BayCalifornia State University, Monterey BayCalifornia State University, Monterey Bay is a small public university in the California State University system on the site of the former U.S. Army base Fort Ord, on the Central Coast of California. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.CSUMB was founded in 1994 with...
- Eta: University of Nevada, Las VegasUniversity of Nevada, Las VegasUniversity of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
- Theta: California State University, SacramentoCalifornia State University, SacramentoCalifornia State University, Sacramento, popularly known as Sacramento State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the California State University system...
- Iota (Provisional): University of San DiegoUniversity of San DiegoThe University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...