National history
Kappa Phi Lambda was founded on March 9, 1995 at Binghamton University by seven founding mothers. These inspirational women – Elizabeth Choi, Karen Eng, Rei Hirasawa, Hee Cho Moon, Chae Yoo, Samantha Somchanhmavong, and Connie Yang – united with a single vision of providing women with the chance to use their pride in heritage to become leaders of society. There was a need for an organization of this kind that would give inspiration and education to its community, and thus, Kappa Phi Lambda was born.
The founding mothers envisioned themselves laying the cornerstones of what was to become a unique and revolutionary organization. They taught each other about strength and ambition while discovering their own true identities in the process. This sorority would unite young women of diverse heritages and encourage them to make use of their strong voices and thoughts. This sorority is open to women of all nationalities and backgrounds who want to learn about and actively represent Pan-Asian culture.
The founding mothers not only channeled Asian American awareness through voice, but also through action. These first sisters of Kappa Phi Lambda extended their hands to the community through charitable actions. By contributing their time and funds, they were able to make a powerful impact on the world around them.
Since its founding, Kappa Phi Lambda has since become one of the fastest growing and strongest Asian American interest sororities in the nation. Today, well over a decade after the founding mothers established Kappa Phi Lambda, the sorority has grown to a total of 28 locations. All sisters nationwide abide by the mission set forth by our founding mothers, but each school is also unique in its own right. This is symbolic of the women we seek: unique, intelligent leaders who want to make a difference. Several years ago, seven beautiful women lit the fire that is Kappa Phi Lambda and watched it grow. As our sisterhood expands, that fire now burns brightly within every individual sister, carrying with it the vision that our founding mothers conceived.
“We, the sisters of the Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Incorporated, strive to strengthen Sisterhood amongst women by providing Service and promoting Cultural Diversity to our members and our community, thus securing the bond of kinship for posterity. Kappa Phi Lambda exists to further educate individuals about Pan-Asian culture, while keeping our own identities. We aim for academic excellence, keeping in mind the importance of education and learning as the key to strength, awareness, and fulfillment.”
Our three pillars
SisterhoodAlthough it is difficult to describe, the bond of sisterhood is a common light that burns passionately in each sister. We embrace a unique relationship based on friendship, respect, and a shared vision. Wherever we go, and no matter how long ago we were initiated, each sister is connected and important to the sorority. With a network of sisters spanning across the globe, we can find comfort in knowing that Kappa extends so much further beyond our own universities! There’s no sisterhood like the KAPPA SISTERHOOD. |
ServiceContributing to the community and supporting important causes are core values of Kappa Phi Lambda. Whether through our national cause, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) or through local chapter involvement, the Pillar of Service empowers sister to tackle tough socioeconomic issues such as domestic violence, hate crimes, economic injustice, human trafficking and immigration rights.
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Cultural diversityThe sisters of Kappa Phi Lambda strongly believe in the Pillar of Cultural Diversity. We believe that by educating our community about the beauty and complexity of Pan-Asian cultural heritage, we also uphold the importance of understanding all cultures. The events we host on each campus enrich our cultural awareness and help to educate others. The events we attend, hosted by other organizations, in turn enhance our appreciation of other cultures. Although we are an Asian / Asian American interest sorority, by no means are we Asian exclusive. Across the nation, sisters represent over 50 different ethnicities and over 30 different native languages.
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