As the first Latina sorority in the nation, Lambda Theta Alpha runs off the principles of unity, love and respect.
These values are what brought together the Epsilon Pi chapter here at MSU.
Apparel and textile design senior Melisa Valdes was raised in Mexico and came to the U.S. to go to college, where she found a home in Lambda Theta Alpha.
“It gave me the opportunity to find a group of Latina women who were focused not only on Latino culture, but on empowering women as a whole,” Valdes said.
She said she values the sisterhood’s emphasis on academic excellence, leadership and community activism.
“As a multicultural group on campus, we want to prove to our community that it doesn’t matter if you’re a minority, you can still make it,” Valdes said.
Genomics and molecular genetics senior Kathe Freiberger said for her, Lambda Theta Alpha provides a strong support system.
Freiberger said the other members have become more than just friends to her. She said the sorority’s smaller size allows them to form strong bonds and this is what makes their sisterhood unique.
The principles of Lambda Theta Alpha are what initially drew Freiberger in.
“It’s about respecting people and building a community,” Freiberger said.
One of the sisters’ goals is empowering women by inspiring them to be better and to succeed no matter what ethnicity they are, she said.
“We’d like to make an impact on the female population on campus,” Freiberger said.
Food industry management sophomore Marissa Sustaita said as an academic sorority it is important to the sisters that they maintain their 100 percent graduation rate.
Sustaita said their focus on academics is what makes them unique as a sisterhood.
She said while many people have a negative view of sororities, she wants their emphasis on academics, as well as the community service they do around campus, to change that mindset.
“It’s very important that people know that sororities are part of a positive impact in the community,” Sustaita said.
As the fastest growing sorority in the nation, she said Lambda Theta Alpha hopes to continue expanding and keeping their chapter alive at MSU.
Sustaita said they want to welcome sisters into their sorority so they can live by the values held by Lambda Theta Alpha.
“It’s very important to us that all of our sisters succeed socially, academically, in every aspect of their lives,” Sustaita said.
April 13-17 is Founder’s Week for Lambda Theta Alpha, and Valdes said they dedicate the whole week to a variety of cultural and educational workshops, as well as events that relate to the Latino community for people to attend.
