Sigma Kappa's Founder's Day

Sigma Kappa Sorority may seem like just another Greek chapter on the University of Maryland’s campus, but Sigma Kappa’s history goes beyond this campus.

Every year the women of the Beta Zeta chapter, the chapter on the University of Maryland’s campus, remember the date of their founding: Nov. 9, 1874.

“Every year we hold some sort of celebration around our Founders’ Day to honor the date,” Beta Zeta’s Vice President of Alumni Relations Scoti Dodson said.

Sigma Kappa was not founded at the University of Maryland, however. Colby College in Waterville, MN is the university that founded the sorority. This was the first college to admit women and the first five admitted into the university decided to create this sorority, according to Dodson.

Every year is different, but this year on Saturday Nov. 10 from 1-4 p.m. the sisters of Sigma Kappa got together at their chapter house on Fraternity Row and shared snacks and memories as well as had a formal programming section, according to Dodson.

Their formal programming section first honored the story and memory of their founders, reminding each woman how they came to be a sorority and to be thankful so that these women had the opportunity to become sisters. This section then moved into a group memory share.

“Sisters and alumni shared their favorite moments and aspects of being a Sigma Kappa,” Dodson said. “Some of them created laughs, others tears.”

Sigma Kappa alumnae from the Baltimore chapter and from the National Capita Region chapter attended the event as well, making for a diverse set of memories.

“I love that we have alumni come,” junior Beta Sigma member Sarah Gibbons said. “They were once where we were and it’s fun to see what memories they have compared to ours.”

Both chapter members and alumnae shared their experiences.

“It was really special for everyone who participated,” Dodson said.