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Alpha Sigma Kappa
ΑΣΚ
Women in Technical Studies
FoundedMay 1, 1989; 35 years ago (1989-05-01)
University of Minnesota
TypeSocial
AffiliationIndependent
StatusActive
ScopeNational
MottoA Posse Ad Esse
("From Possibility to Reality")
Colors  Royal Blue and   Silver
SymbolInfinity sign
FlowerWhite carnation and white rose
JewelBlue Topaz
MascotLioness
PhilanthropyDonorsChoose
Chapters15
Members3,000+ lifetime
Headquarters
United States
Websiteask-wits.com

Alpha Sigma Kappa – Women in Technical Studies (ΑΣΚ – WiTS) is a social sorority for women in the fields of mathematics, architecture, engineering, technology and the sciences.

The sorority was founded at the University of Minnesota in 1989 by a group of women who had formerly been affiliated with the Sisters of Triangle Fraternity program. Alpha Sigma Kappa became a national organization in 1996.

History

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Alpha Sigma Kappa originally grew from a Little Sisters of Triangle organization at the University of Minnesota. In the late 1980s, Little Sister programs were being phased out by fraternal organizations across the country; Triangle Fraternity's National Council resolved to do so with their local Little Sisters organizations.[1] To maintain a formal relationship, the University of Minnesota's Little Sisters group chose to found Alpha Sigma Kappa. The sorority was created on May 1, 1989, by eighteen Founding Sisters.[2] The founding sisters include:[3]

  • Sonja (Antolik) (Fisher) Jones
  • Jacqueline (Dandurand) Seal
  • Jean Etzell
  • Kelly (Gram) Riehle
  • Jennifer (Holland) Richards
  • Mara Hollinbeck
  • Sharon Kosmalski
  • Sara Krawlewski
  • Melissa (Matschiner) Taphorn
  • Donna Monson
  • Nicholie (Olsen) Bufkin
  • Jennifer (Parker) Zylko
  • Cheryl (Perusich) Kussow
  • Ann (Romani) Felteau
  • Karen (Schlangen) Steele
  • Leanne Wolske
  • Joan Zak
  • Elizabeth Zimmermann

When Alpha Sigma Kappa was founded, scientific careers were filled primarily by men. In 1989, only seventeen percent of the students enrolled in the Institute of Technology at the University of Minnesota were female.[4] The Founding Sisters of the organization wished to create a sorority dedicated to supporting women who entered these fields. Alpha Sigma Kappa was intended to bring women pursuing technical studies together in a social setting: working to develop, encourage, and support the academic and social needs of these women.[2] At the time of its founding, Alpha Sigma Kappa was the only social sorority for technical women whose scope included those in architecture and non-engineering sciences.[4]

The stated purpose of Alpha Sigma Kappa is to promote friendship, academic achievement, unity within the organization, and philanthropy throughout the community. The sorority supports women in their academic goals and promotes women in technical fields through leadership, friendship, and support.

On March 4, 1996, an Interest Group of women was formed at the University of Oklahoma, which would ultimately become the Beta chapter on September 13, 1997. The National Organization of Alpha Sigma Kappa was officially formed on April 29, 1996, at the first national meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Between 1999 and 2005, four more chapters were installed.[5] In 2010, Alpha Sigma Kappa became the first sorority established on the campus of New Mexico Tech.[6] Since 2015, the organization's growth has accelerated rapidly, establishing a presence on an additional ten universities across the United States as a social sorority for women in STEM.[7][2]

In 2014, the Alpha Sigma Kappa Educational Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, was created to support women in technical fields by managing academic scholarships.[2][8]

Symbols

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The Greek letters Alpha Sigma Kappa represent social aspects; "Women in Technical Studies" specifies its membership.[9] The sorority's colors are royal blue and silver.[10] Its flower is the white rose and its jewel is the blue topaz.[10] Alpha Sigma Kappa's symbols are the infinity sign and the lioness.[10]

Membership

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Active membership in Alpha Sigma Kappa requires that a student pursues a major with a minimum of 1/3 of all credit hours in architecture, computer science, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, or biological sciences, with a minimum of 1/6 of all credit hours as upper division courses in these fields. Specific majors at each university are defined in the respective chapter or Petitioning Group bylaws.[11]

Once a woman is Initiated, her membership is for a lifetime. Alumnae remain connected through alumnae chapters as well as informal networks of social and professional support.[12][13]

The National Organization of Alpha Sigma Kappa is not affiliated with a National Panhellenic governing body; however, chapters may be affiliated with councils at their respective universities.[14][15][16][17]

Philanthropy

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The National philanthropy for Alpha Sigma Kappa is DonorsChoose. Individual chapters may choose local classroom projects to support through this organization, emphasizing assisting STEM projects.[18]

Additionally, chapters of Alpha Sigma Kappa organize and participate in local philanthropic events in their communities. Many events work to promote science and technical careers to young women.[19][20] However, these events provide direct service or raise funds for a variety of nonprofit organizations, including: the American Cancer Society, Charity: Water, Girl Scouts of the USA, and the Susan G Komen Foundation.[21][22][23][24][25]

Chapters

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Collegiate chapters

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Following is a list of collegiate chapters of the Alpha Sigma Kappa sorority.[26][27] Active chapters are indicated in bold; inactive chapters are in italics.

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha May 1, 1989 University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Active [a]
Beta September 13, 1997 University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma Active [b]
Gamma April 1, 2000 – 2007 University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky Inactive [b]
Delta October 27, 2001 – 2006 University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, Texas Inactive [b]
Epsilon October 23, 2004 Iowa State University Ames, Iowa Active [b]
Zeta March 5, 2005 – 2023 University of Maryland, Baltimore County Baltimore County, Maryland Inactive [b]
Eta December 4, 2010 New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro, New Mexico Active [b]
Theta March 28, 2015 Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Active
Iota March 5, 2016 University of New Haven West Haven, Connecticut Active
Kappa April 15, 2016 University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Active
Mu April 14, 2018 University of Richmond Richmond, Virginia Active
Nu September 15, 2018 University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Active [b]
Lambda January 26, 2019 – 2021 DePaul University Chicago, Illinois Inactive
Xi February 9, 2019 University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California Active [b]
Omicron November 16, 2019 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia Active [b]
Rho October 2, 2021 University of South Florida Tampa, Florida Active
Pi February 12, 2022 Boston University Boston, Massachusetts Active
Sigma April 1, 2023 University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Active [28]
Tau March 30, 2024 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Active [28]
  1. ^ Chapter formed from Triangle Little Sisters (local chapter), established in 1983.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Chapter was established as a colony a year before being chartered.

Alumnae chapters

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Following is a list of the alumnae chapters of the Alpha Sigma Kappa sorority. Active chapters are indicated in bold; inactive chapters are in italics.

Chapter Charter date Institution Location Status References
Alpha Alumnae University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus Minneapolis, Minnesota Active [29]
Beta Alumnae University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma Active [29]
Epsilon Alumnae Iowa State University Ames, Iowa Active [29]
Zeta Alumnae University of Maryland, Baltimore County Baltimore, Maryland Active [29]
Iota Alumnae University of New Haven West Haven, Connecticut Active [29]
Theta Alumnae Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Active [29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Campus Life: California; Fraternities Phase Out 'Little Sister' Groups". The New York Times. 17 September 1989.
  2. ^ a b c d "Alpha Sigma Kappa History". Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  3. ^ "Alpha Sigma Kappa UMN". Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Silverman, Alexa (November 27, 2012). "STEM Sisterhood". The American Association of University Women. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  5. ^ Anderson, Jessica. "Women continue progress for technical sorority". IowaStateDaily.com.
  6. ^ "the women of tech: the first 125 years" (PDF). Gold Pan.
  7. ^ Vlahos, Maria (20 April 2016). "Alpha Sigma Kappa Initiates Its Beta Class". ChargerBulletin.com.
  8. ^ "Alpha Sigma Kappa Educational Foundation". Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  9. ^ "About ΑΣΚ". Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "About ΑΣΚ – Alpha Sigma Kappa". Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  11. ^ "RamLink: Alpha Sigma Kappa". Colorado State University. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  12. ^ "Alpha Sigma Kappa Opportunities". Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  13. ^ "Alpha Sigma Kappa Alumnae". Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  14. ^ Young, English (8 September 2004). "Council hosts information sessions today". TheShorthorn.com.
  15. ^ Krul, Karina (26 February 2017). "Independent Greek Council Hosts Recruitment". ChargerBulletin.com.
  16. ^ Baragary, Jenny. "New sorority hoping for membership in Council". IowaStateDaily.com.
  17. ^ "let's meet panhellenic". Be Greek at UMN. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  18. ^ "Alpha Sigma Kappa Philanthropy". Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  19. ^ Jennett, Luke (30 January 2005). "ISU event teaches girls about scientific job fields". DesMoinesRegister.com.
  20. ^ Hall, Bennett (6 March 2012). "OU sorority to host Women in Science Day this weekend at museum". OUDaily.com.
  21. ^ "Alpha Sigma Kappa UMN philanthropy". Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  22. ^ "Alpha Sigma Kappa UMBC". Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  23. ^ "Fun and funky experiments demonstrate the wonder of engineering to local Girl Scouts". archive.news.iastate.edu. Iowa State University News Service.
  24. ^ Fuentes, Sebastian (3 March 2004). "Canning it Up". TheShorthorn.com.
  25. ^ Canino, Teresa (14 October 2015). "Marine Biology Club Hosts Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser". ChargerBulletin.com.
  26. ^ "Active Chapters – Alpha Sigma Kappa". Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  27. ^ Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (April 10, 2023) "Alpha Sigma Kappa". Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed April 23, 2023.
  28. ^ a b "Petitioning & Interest Groups – Alpha Sigma Kappa". Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  29. ^ a b c d e f "Alumnae Chapters – Alpha Sigma Kappa". Retrieved 2023-04-23.
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