Sigma Sigma Rho
Encyclopedia
Sigma Sigma Rho is a South Asian-based sorority founded on December 10, 1998 at St. John's University in Queens, New York, making it the first sorority of its kind to be established on the United States East Coast.
Sigma Sigma Rho embodies unity among women of South Asian descent, strives to serve society both on a small and large scale, and holds fast in instilling a sense of pride in the background of each individual sister. Sigma Sigma Rho is a sisterhood of women who have chosen this affiliation to achieve their desired personal development and to act for the betterment of local, regional, national and global communities through the efforts of a network of sisters nationwide. The organization defines itself with the saying: "Sisterhood is what we work for, Society is whom we give to, and Remembrance is what lies in our hearts."
Since its inception, the sorority has made strides in serving the community, fostering South Asian cultural awareness, and acting as a valuable asset to the Greek Life community at universities across the nation.
On December 10, 1998, Sigma Sigma Rho was established by ten young women seeking for an existence of a group that defined unity among South Asian women. The name Sigma Sigma Rho was chosen for the organization because it substantially upheld its motives and goals, which are expressed as Sisterhood, Society, and Remembrance.
Today, Sigma Sigma Rho is one of largest South Asian-based national sororities, with hundreds of members across the country. Criteria for membership into Sigma Sigma Rho are that a woman must have exceptional morals and ethics with a demonstrated commitment to academic excellence, and be pursuing courses leading to a degree in an accredited college or university.
The first, "Sigma" in the name defines "Sisterhood" - Sisterhood amongst South Asian women and a belief of unity amongst cultural beliefs and values. What the organization educates society on and women of the south Asian decent is solely based upon the South Asian culture, something that another sorority cannot give to the South Asian female decent. The cultural restrictions and values lie in two different aspects when compared to another sorority. Members carry the roots that they have evolved from and strive to have them foot printed through history and across the nation.
Sigma:
The second, "Sigma" of the name defines "Society," which is one of the sole purposes of the organization. Being of South Asian culture, the goal of members is to be able to surpass the vision of typical women and show society that South Asian women can do something for themselves, their community and for people across the nation. Sisters believe in the importance of working together with other organizations whom strive for similar beliefs, giving their skills, and time to the society in philanthropic need.
Rho:
The third letter, "Rho" in the name defines Remembrance. Members place an emphasis of Remembrance on the background of each individual sister, as well as what their ancestors and South Asian women have been through and carrying out the voices of those individuals in today's society.
Sigma Sigma Rho embodies unity among women of South Asian descent, strives to serve society both on a small and large scale, and holds fast in instilling a sense of pride in the background of each individual sister. Sigma Sigma Rho is a sisterhood of women who have chosen this affiliation to achieve their desired personal development and to act for the betterment of local, regional, national and global communities through the efforts of a network of sisters nationwide. The organization defines itself with the saying: "Sisterhood is what we work for, Society is whom we give to, and Remembrance is what lies in our hearts."
Since its inception, the sorority has made strides in serving the community, fostering South Asian cultural awareness, and acting as a valuable asset to the Greek Life community at universities across the nation.
On December 10, 1998, Sigma Sigma Rho was established by ten young women seeking for an existence of a group that defined unity among South Asian women. The name Sigma Sigma Rho was chosen for the organization because it substantially upheld its motives and goals, which are expressed as Sisterhood, Society, and Remembrance.
Today, Sigma Sigma Rho is one of largest South Asian-based national sororities, with hundreds of members across the country. Criteria for membership into Sigma Sigma Rho are that a woman must have exceptional morals and ethics with a demonstrated commitment to academic excellence, and be pursuing courses leading to a degree in an accredited college or university.
Founders
- Mrs. Tejal Kulkarni
- Mrs. Payal Walsh
- Mrs. Rinku Thomas
- Mrs. Priya Sood
- Mrs. Vandana Kakwani-Pathak
- Mrs. Sonia Wadhwa
- Dr. Nisha Rana
- Ms. Minna John
- Dr. Lovleen Sharma
- Mrs. Eshna Kalam
Facts
Sigma:The first, "Sigma" in the name defines "Sisterhood" - Sisterhood amongst South Asian women and a belief of unity amongst cultural beliefs and values. What the organization educates society on and women of the south Asian decent is solely based upon the South Asian culture, something that another sorority cannot give to the South Asian female decent. The cultural restrictions and values lie in two different aspects when compared to another sorority. Members carry the roots that they have evolved from and strive to have them foot printed through history and across the nation.
Sigma:
The second, "Sigma" of the name defines "Society," which is one of the sole purposes of the organization. Being of South Asian culture, the goal of members is to be able to surpass the vision of typical women and show society that South Asian women can do something for themselves, their community and for people across the nation. Sisters believe in the importance of working together with other organizations whom strive for similar beliefs, giving their skills, and time to the society in philanthropic need.
Rho:
The third letter, "Rho" in the name defines Remembrance. Members place an emphasis of Remembrance on the background of each individual sister, as well as what their ancestors and South Asian women have been through and carrying out the voices of those individuals in today's society.
Qayamat
Sigma Sigma Rho Sorority, Inc. takes much pride in its community. Therefore, Qayamat was established. Qayamat is an annual South Asian Greek and Goddess Competition, an event that reaches out to the entire South Asian Greek community to unify the collegiate youth. Sigma Sigma Rho is the first and only organization to bring together seven South Asian Greek organizations under one roof for a common cause and continues to do so year after year.Establishments
- St. John's University - Queens, NY (Αlpha Chapter)
- Tampa, FL (Βeta Chapter)
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - New Brunswick, NJ (Gamma Chapter)
- Baruch CollegeBaruch CollegeBernard M. Baruch College, more commonly known as Baruch College, is a constituent college of the City University of New York, located in the Flatiron district of Manhattan, New York City. With an acceptance rate of just 23%, Baruch is among the most competitive and diverse colleges in the nation...
- New York City, NY (Delta Chapter) - University of GeorgiaUniversity of GeorgiaThe University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
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- New York City, NY (Zeta Chapter) - Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of TechnologyThe Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
- Atlanta, GA - Georgia State UniversityGeorgia State UniversityGeorgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
- Atlanta, GA - University of TennesseeUniversity of TennesseeThe University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
- Knoxville, TN - Florida State UniversityFlorida State UniversityThe Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
- Tallahassee, FL - University of HoustonUniversity of HoustonThe University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
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- Kennesaw, GA - University of Alabama at BirminghamUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamThe University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System...
- Birmingham, AL - Philadelphia City Wide Colony - Philadelphia, PA
- South Florida Colony - Boca Raton, FL and Davie (Ft. Lauderdale), FL