We, the sisters of the Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, 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.
National History
On March 9, 1995, seven young women at Binghamton University set forth to create an organization that would represent their values and ideals on Asian-American culture. Values such as sisterhood, community service, and cultural diversity are what set these seven immaculate women apart from others. With this clear vision of such a sorority, Kappa Phi Lambda has now expanded to over 25 colleges and universities, and is undoubtedly still growing at an amazing rate. Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority encompasses various races and does not deny anyone of a different ethnicity. Our goal is to share our values with those who believe in the same ventures we strive for. With the importance of academic excellence, sisterly bonds, and Asian-awareness, Kappa Phi Lambda has and will successfully leave behind a legacy of eternal sisterhood that its seven founding mothers worked so hard to achieve.
The Founding Mothers
Samantha Somchanhmavong, Elizabeth Choi, Rei Hirasawa,
Chae Yoo Park, Connie Yang, Karen Eng, Hee Cho Moon
Chapter History
On November 3, 2002, eleven young women established a Kappa Phi Lambda Colony at Carnegie Mellon University. The journey was an arduous one; from weekly meetings, fundraising events, and community service events as an unaffiliated interest group formally known as B.L.I.S.S. (Building Leadership, Integrity, and Spirit through Sisterhood), to making an application for the Sorority in the form of a comprehensive package about the group’'s goals and aspirations, to intaking in the fall -- the "Heaven’s Eleven" grew tighter and stronger, learning important values of the Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, until finally, they took the final step - —becoming sisters of the Sorority.
The girls made their first trip to New York City from Pittsburgh early in their fall semester and began the process as intakes. For weeks they worked hard, dedicating themselves wholly to the process, looking to the sisters for guidance. Since charters must intake at a different school (a host chapter), the Carnegie Mellon University charter intake class went through the intake process through Rutgers University (Eta Chapter), located in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
The road to eternal sisterhood was an eventful, learning, emotional, and often highly demanding course. The girls knew never to feel discouraged, however, and to keep their heads up no matter what the situation. Through the many trials and tribulations, the charter intake class proved ready for whatever laid ahead, brave and undaunted with fear. They stood unified as one voice, proud and full of heart, energy, and intensity. They called themselves "Heaven’s Eleven" - an inseparable class of strong minds and hardy souls— - eleven to lead the future.
On Saturday, November 3, 2002, the eleven young women triumphantly pulled up in a van on the Carnegie Mellon University campus after yet another long drive, to be greeted and congratulated at achieving their goal: becoming sisters of the Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority.
The Charters
(top) Jeehee Son, Michelle Kong, Chrissy Lee, Natalie Chen, Helen Kim, Amy Yuan, Michelle Kim
(bottom) Nancy Chu, Christina Lim, Carrie Yu, Hannah Kim
Community Service
We pride ourselves in our commitment to community service. Locally, we have volunteered and participated in numerous service activities in the Pittsburgh area:
- Light Up Night
- American Red Cross & Central Blood Bank Blood Drives
- Martin Luther King Celebration at Schenley Park
- Boys and Girls Club of Greater Pittsburgh
- Race For the Cure of Pittsburgh
- Great Replacement Race of Pittsburgh
- Giant Eagle Food Drive for Pittsburgh Food Share
- Sandwich-making for the Pittsburgh Food Bank
- College City Weekend
Philanthropy
Kappa Phi Lambda's national philanthropy is the fight against Domestic Violence. Locally, our sisters have worked in collaboration with the Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh in our philanthropic efforts. We have also participated in philanthropic events that were sponsored by other organizations on campus:
- Share Your Soles
- Relay for Life
- Domestic Violence Awareness Week on campus, including clothing & cell phone drives
- Kappa Phi Lambda Car Wash
- Krispy Kreme Fundraising Event
- Delta Delta Delta Dance Marathon (proceeds went to St. Jude Children's Hospital)
Cultural Diversity
Cultural diversity and awareness is one of our major focuses. The sisters of Kappa Phi Lambda have organized various cultural events and have participated in many other events hosted by other organizations on campus:
- Brought in speakers such as Cathy Bao Bean, Magdalene Hsu-Li, and Johnny Hi-Fi
- 3-D: Deliberate, Discuss, Debate
- Kappa Phi Lambda Kitchen
- Lunar Gala
- Asian Heritage Month
- Taiwanese Students Association Culture Night
- Lambda Phi Epsilon APA Pageant
- Pi Delta Psi Iron Chef Competition
Awards
In Kappa Phi Lambda's Pi Chapter at Carnegie Mellon University, we work hard to spread our pillars and our cause to the students on campus as well as to the community as a whole. Through our hard work, the Student Affairs - Greek Life Office has awarded us with several awards, including many consecutive years winning the "Outstanding Multicultural Initiatives" award. Other awards include:
- Chapter Excellence (2009-2010)
- Chapter Improvement (2009-2010)
- Outstanding Multicultural Initiatives (2007-2010)
- Excellence in Community Service (2009-2010)
- Greek Awards of Distinction to Tiffany Mon *flurrie* (2008-2010) and Elizabeth Koh *Tectonic* (2009-2010)
- Chapter of the Year Award (2009-2010)
- Sisterhood Award (2009-2010)
We also received awards from the Kappa Phi Lambda National Office: