We, the sisters of 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 Founding Mothers, 1995 (L-R) Samantha Somchanhmavong, Elizabeth Choi, Rei Hirasawa, Chae Yoo Park, Connie Yang, Karen Eng, Hee Cho Moon
On March 9, 1995, seven extraordinary women came together to establish Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. at Binghamton University. These seven founders: Elizabeth Choi, Karen Eng, Rei Hirasawa, Hee Cho Moon, Chae Yoo Park, Samantha Somchanhmavong, and Connie Yang united with a single vision of providing women with the chance to use their pride in their heritage to become leaders of society.
The sorority was conceived through the notion of an organization that would provide a culturally sound and educationally inspiring grounding for Asian American women. These seven women envisioned themselves laying the cornerstones of what was to become a culturally revolutionary and unprecedented organization. This cultural based sorority was to unite young women of differing 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, actively speak for, and represent Pan-Asian culture.
Held together by the bond of sisterhood and striving to educate each other and the rest of the community, our founding mothers not only channeled Asian American awareness through voice, but also by action. They taught each other about strength and ambition while discovering their own true unparalleled identities in the process. These first sisters of Kappa Phi Lambda also extended their hands to the community through charitable works of both service oriented and philanthropic natures. By doing so, they were able to make a real and impacting difference in the world around them. All the while, they were given the opportunity to educate others about the beauty and complexity of Pan-Asian culture. Kappa Phi Lambda formed to provide the campus, and on a large scale, the society, with yet another option for learning, and another outlet for activity
In the Fall of 2002, five women--Sarah Yun, Jennifer So, Charmaine Wong, Alice Lin, and Michelle Lee--set out to reach the goal of sisterhood through Kappa Phi Lambda. Realizing the lack of Asian interests and the need to represent Asian women at Northwestern University, these five women were determined to establish a new and unique organization. They wanted to promote a deeper understanding for pan-Asian culture, contribute to the community, and build a bond of sisterhood that would survive on campus for eternity. Although they faced many hardships and difficulties, this diverse group of women learned to love one another and work together through their strengths and weaknesses. The colony of Kappa Phi Lambda was chartered at Northwestern University on November 23, 2002. Since then, Kappa Phi Lambda has continued to grow on campus and in less than two years, expanded in size and gained chapter status. Kappa Phi Lambda has also helped to establish and earn recognition from the Northwestern Multicultural Greek Council (MGC).
Embracing the values of sisterhood, community service, cultural diversity, and academic excellence, Kappa Phi Lambda hopes to instill these values at Northwestern University for generations to come. It envisions a foundation in which dedicated women can strive to unite all those who hold the same values and goals. Kappa Phi Lambda exists to promote diversity and service, and to develop everlasting kinship through compassion, honesty, leadership, and strength.
The blazon of the crest of Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. is as follows:
Be it known to all these present that the herein described coat of arms with crest has been designed and designated specifically for the honorable Kappa Phi Lambda of the United States of America in accordance with the finest tradiitons of heraldry. The arms of the said Kappa Phi Lambda are blazoned as follows, quarterly sanguine and argent, first, an orchid proper, second, a diamond sceptre proper, third, two candles argent alighted, fourth, a globe proper, all within a border agent and surmounted by a vallary crown bearing the greek letters Kappa Phi Lambda, behind the shield, a phoenix wings displayed sable. The motto is Fraternite, Servitium, Varietas, which means 'Sisterhood, Service, Cultural Diversity.'
Colors :: Scarlet Red, White, Heather Grey
Flower :: Orchid
Mascot :: Phoenix
Gem :: Diamond