Omicron Epsilon Chapter's History
In the summer of 2009, Sister Cornellia T. Notarianni and Sister Kimberly Shores came to Dubuque, Iowa for freshman orientation at the University of Dubuque. Both sisters came from locations with people from all walks of life. Dubuque is a small town in rural Iowa therefore; Cornellia and Kimberly were drawn to each other due to their similar backgrounds. Both sisters tried to make the best of their first week of orientation getting to know the students and faculty. Together they attended events on campus in an attempt to make connections. On one specific Greek event, they came in contact with Sister Christine Traufler from the Almighty Alpha Chapter.
Intrigued by Greek Life and influenced by the local Greek community within their campus, Cornellia and Kimberly began to ask Christine questions about Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority. Christine gave them history of SLG and explained to them that at the time, SLG was the fastest growing Greek organization in the nation. Cornellia and Kimberly’s interest in the sorority was mostly sparked, when Christine told them that the sorority represented more than 110 different nationalities. She explained that although, SLG is Latina-based, it is a multicultural organization promoted to empowering women of all backgrounds. Cornellia and Kimberly stayed in contact with Christine but continued to research other sororities.
By the spring semester of 2010, Cornellia and Kimberly decided that the best organization to fit their personal values was Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority. They felt that the campus needed a national sorority that encompassed diversity and mechanisms of empowerment for all women. At the time, the University of Dubuque did not have an established national sorority; therefore, the women felt it was imperative to provide this opportunity for their campus. They wanted women to be able to have the experience of a lifetime sisterhood and friendship. They chose to continue with Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority not only because of its values in diversity and empowerment for women, but also because they were tremendously influenced by the sisterhood they saw from Alpha Chapter.
In February of 2010, Cornellia and Kimberly contacted Christine to figure out what steps needed to be done to bring the sorority to the University of Dubuque. They developed a relationship with National Headquarters and understood that recruiting and maintaining an interest group was going to be one of the major tasks they needed to accomplish along with paperwork and dues. Together they were able to establish an interest group consisting of 9 other women. However, by the end of summer 2010, all 9 of the women transferred or decided to not continue on.
Cornellia and Kimberly were the only interests left by fall of 2010. During that semester, Sister Shaniece Ruiz came to the University of Dubuque to begin her freshman year of college. After many encounters with Cornellia and Kimberly, and researching about the sorority, Sister Shaniece decided that she wanted to become a member of Sigma Lambda Gamma. At this time Sister Sarai Orozco learned of SLG through an outside source. Sarai was then connected with Cornellia, Kimberly, and Shaniece.
After gaining and losing girls’ interests, Shaniece continued recruiting, connecting Sister Gina Marino with the rest of the interests. Together the five of them met up and strategized a plan to complete the tasks necessary to bringing the sorority to campus. Cornellia and Kimberly spent a lot of time putting together the necessary paperwork while Gina and Shaniece spent time recruiting as many women as they could. By fall 2011, Gina recruited Sister Kayla Parcell, Sister Sasha Crofutt, Sister Donna Shorkey, and Sister Jasmine Taylor, while Shaniece recruited Sister Toya Walter. Together these ten women worked together vigorously to become a colony of SLG at the University of Dubuque.
After many meetings and countless hours of hard work, Sigma Lambda Gamma National Headquarters finally gave these women the approval to become a colony. National Headquarters appointed Sister Christine Traufler and Dawnelle Gordon to educate the founding line.
On February 10, 2012 these ten women were inducted as associate members of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. at the Latino Native American Cultural Center in Iowa City, Iowa. After much progress, time, and dedication, the women were then initiated on April 13, 2012 at 9:04 PM at the Latino Native American Cultural Center in Iowa City, Iowa. At this time the women were given their founding ship name “Ganbaru”.
A year and a half later on October 1st, 2013 at 8:22 PM the colony was charter as the Omicron Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc.
Intrigued by Greek Life and influenced by the local Greek community within their campus, Cornellia and Kimberly began to ask Christine questions about Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority. Christine gave them history of SLG and explained to them that at the time, SLG was the fastest growing Greek organization in the nation. Cornellia and Kimberly’s interest in the sorority was mostly sparked, when Christine told them that the sorority represented more than 110 different nationalities. She explained that although, SLG is Latina-based, it is a multicultural organization promoted to empowering women of all backgrounds. Cornellia and Kimberly stayed in contact with Christine but continued to research other sororities.
By the spring semester of 2010, Cornellia and Kimberly decided that the best organization to fit their personal values was Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority. They felt that the campus needed a national sorority that encompassed diversity and mechanisms of empowerment for all women. At the time, the University of Dubuque did not have an established national sorority; therefore, the women felt it was imperative to provide this opportunity for their campus. They wanted women to be able to have the experience of a lifetime sisterhood and friendship. They chose to continue with Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority not only because of its values in diversity and empowerment for women, but also because they were tremendously influenced by the sisterhood they saw from Alpha Chapter.
In February of 2010, Cornellia and Kimberly contacted Christine to figure out what steps needed to be done to bring the sorority to the University of Dubuque. They developed a relationship with National Headquarters and understood that recruiting and maintaining an interest group was going to be one of the major tasks they needed to accomplish along with paperwork and dues. Together they were able to establish an interest group consisting of 9 other women. However, by the end of summer 2010, all 9 of the women transferred or decided to not continue on.
Cornellia and Kimberly were the only interests left by fall of 2010. During that semester, Sister Shaniece Ruiz came to the University of Dubuque to begin her freshman year of college. After many encounters with Cornellia and Kimberly, and researching about the sorority, Sister Shaniece decided that she wanted to become a member of Sigma Lambda Gamma. At this time Sister Sarai Orozco learned of SLG through an outside source. Sarai was then connected with Cornellia, Kimberly, and Shaniece.
After gaining and losing girls’ interests, Shaniece continued recruiting, connecting Sister Gina Marino with the rest of the interests. Together the five of them met up and strategized a plan to complete the tasks necessary to bringing the sorority to campus. Cornellia and Kimberly spent a lot of time putting together the necessary paperwork while Gina and Shaniece spent time recruiting as many women as they could. By fall 2011, Gina recruited Sister Kayla Parcell, Sister Sasha Crofutt, Sister Donna Shorkey, and Sister Jasmine Taylor, while Shaniece recruited Sister Toya Walter. Together these ten women worked together vigorously to become a colony of SLG at the University of Dubuque.
After many meetings and countless hours of hard work, Sigma Lambda Gamma National Headquarters finally gave these women the approval to become a colony. National Headquarters appointed Sister Christine Traufler and Dawnelle Gordon to educate the founding line.
On February 10, 2012 these ten women were inducted as associate members of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. at the Latino Native American Cultural Center in Iowa City, Iowa. After much progress, time, and dedication, the women were then initiated on April 13, 2012 at 9:04 PM at the Latino Native American Cultural Center in Iowa City, Iowa. At this time the women were given their founding ship name “Ganbaru”.
A year and a half later on October 1st, 2013 at 8:22 PM the colony was charter as the Omicron Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc.