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 16 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. Its goal is to share its 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.

founding mothers
(l-r) Samantha Somchanhmavong, Elizabeth Choi, Rei Hirasawa,
Chae Yoo Park, Connie Yang, Karen Eng, Hee Cho Moon

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 pledging 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 pledges.  For weeks they pledged, dedicating themselves wholly to the process, looking to the sisters for guidance. Since charters must pledge at a different school (a host chapter), the Carnegie Mellon University charter pledge class was pledged in by 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 pledge class proved ready for whatever lay 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—an 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 as achieving their goal: becoming sisters of the Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority.

Carnegie Mellon University Charter Class
(top l-r) Jeehee Son, Michelle Kong, Chrissy Lee, Natalie Chen, Helen Kim,
Amy Yuan, Michelle Kim  (bottom) Nancy Chu, Christina Lim,
Carrie Yu, Hannah Kim