Theta Iota, Fredonia’s chapter of the Sigma Kappa Sorority, observed the group’s Founding Day with a brunch held on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Lucarelli’s Banquet Center in Lackawanna.
The Buffalo Alumnae Chapter joined the celebration, allowing Fredonia’s group to engage with local, graduated members of Sigma Kappa, sharing memories and experiences each has received as being part of the sorority.
Theta Iota’s newly initiated class presented a skit to veteran and older members of the group as part of the festivities. Mimicking a question and answer segment of a beauty pageant, five girls acted as Sigma Kappa’s five founders, the others acting as pageant announcers, judges and audience members. The skit presented facts about the sorority and its founders, helping to reinforce the meaning of the day.
On Saturday, Nov. 1, Sigma Kappa Theta Iota welcomed 21 of its newest members at the sorority’s fall initiation. “We’re so excited for the continuous growth of our chapter with the help of President Virginia Horvath and our newly initiated sisters,” said to chapter Public Relations Chair Danielle Singer.
Over the summer, three members traveled to Las Vegas for the Sigma Kappa National Convention, where Fredonia President Virginia Horvath was initiated as an honorary sister. All Sigma Kappa chapters are encouraged to invite women who they believe exemplify the values of a Sigma Kappa sister in their everyday lives. “[Horvath] was one of two members initiated at National Convention, which is a huge deal,” said Singer. “As an initiated member of Sigma Kappa, [she is] expected to follow The Purpose Statement and Values. These reinforce and complement each other in expressing Sigma Kappa’s reasons for being, what it strives to achieve and how we will conduct the organization and ourselves.”
“We believe that President Horvath [shows] our four values of personal growth, friendship, service and loyalty, bound by a promise. She [shows] all the qualities of a Sigma Kappa,” said Singer. “We are excited to have President Horvath as a sister and for all that is to come with having her support and involvement on campus with Sigma Kappa.”
According to Singer, “Sigma Kappa is a social organization of collegiate and alumnae women committed to promoting the ideals of lifelong friendship, intellectual and spiritual fulfillment and service for the greater good.” The Theta Iota chapter of Sigma Kappa celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2013.
The mission statement of Fredonia’s Theta Iota chapter of Sigma Kappa states, “Through positive recognition and support we will strive to build a stronger sisterhood by creating a balance between mind, body and heart.”
Sigma Kappa Sorority was founded on Nov. 9, 1874 by Mary Caffrey Low, Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, Ida Fuller, Frances Mann and Louise Helen Coburn at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.
