THETA ALPHA SIGMA GREATER HARTFORD ALUMNAE CHAPTER
SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC.
SIGMA GAMMA RHO - HER STORY
NATIONAL HISTORY
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was organized on November 12, 1922, in Indianapolis, Indiana, by seven young educators: Mary Lou Allison Gardner Little, Dorothy Hanley Whiteside, Vivian Irene White Marbury, Nannie Mae Gahn Johnson, Hattie Mae Annette Dulin Redford, Bessie Mae Downey Rhoades Martin, and Cubena McClure. The group became an incorporated national collegiate sorority on December 30, 1929, when a charter was granted to the Alpha chapter at Butler University. Since its inception, the dynamic women of Sigma Gamma Rho have built and sustained a well-known and well-respected reputation for leading positive change to help uplift the community through sisterhood, leadership, and service.
Sigma Gamma Rho has welcomed more than 100,000 collegiate and professional women from every profession. The sorority has more than 500 chapters in the United States, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Germany, South Korea, U.S. Virgin Islands, West Africa, Belize and the United Arab Emirates to name a few. The organization also has active affiliate groups devoted to empowering women at different stages in life. The Rhoer Club Affiliates (teenage girls ages 12-18), the Rhosebud Club Affiliates (young girls ages 8 -11) and the Philos Affiliates (friends of the sorority) also assist alumnae chapters with various service efforts and programs.
THETA ALPHA SIGMA HISTORY
"THE FIRST"
After delivering on the challenge of bringing the first Connecticut Sigma Gamma Rho undergraduate chapter, Nu Mu on May 8th, 1993 at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, three of the eight charter members sought to continue Sigma's growth on the graduate level when they bonded with two transfer sorors in the area to form Connecticut's FIRST Sigma Gamma Rho Alumnae (Graduate) Chapter. On June 25, 1995, Sorors: Andrea Barge, Erica Garcia, Tracey Hall, Rhonda Mongroo, and Paula Smith established Theta Alpha Sigma Chapter in the Greater Hartford Area. With members that hailed from the Springfield, Mass area down to the Bridgeport/New Haven areas, Theta Alpha Sigma has been home to many women working towards a common goal.
"SPREADING THE LOVE OF SIGMA"
Sigma Gamma Rho's growth in Connecticut was of extreme importance to Theta Alpha Sigma. This determination gave the chapter members the stamina to visit local colleges and universities searching for the finest in young womanhood, dedication and service. Having these leadership qualities being exemplified already in the Nu Mu Chapter at UCONN, this encouragement lead to the successful chartering of several additional undergraduate chapters. In 2000, we spread our wings to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst as NER UMASS who later chartered on May 26, 2004 as the Pi Xi Chapter, in 2003. We ventured to the southern part of CT to the University of Bridgeport as NER UB who later charted on January 7, 2006 as the Rho Alpha Chapter. Then, most recently, on November 14, 2009, we rejuvenated membership through the reactivation of the Mu Iota Chapter (Chartered on November 2, 1991) at the American International College (AIC) in Springfield Mass.
In order to best suit the needs of our undergraduate chapters at UCONN, UMASS and the University of Bridgeport and to better serve the various northern and southern Connecticut communities in which our members resided in, Theta Alpha Sigma decided to "divide and conquer" this great state of Connecticut. In 2005, Sorors Andrea Barge, Petrinea Cash-Deedon, Erica Garcia, Chandira Jenkins, Paula Rice, Cynthia Roque, Pamela Washington and Terri Williams went on to bring Sigma Gamma Rho exclusively to the southernmost part of Connecticut and chartered the Iota Chi Sigma Alumnae Chapter, covering the New Haven/Bridgeport area and assuming advisor-ship over the Rho Alpha Chapter at the University of Bridgeport and the newly Spring 2009 duel-chartered Sigma Beta and Sigma Gamma Chapters at Quinnipiac University, and Southern Connecticut State University.
Theta Alpha Sigma was instrumental in the spread of Sigma throughout Connecticut and remains the chapter most New England Sorors call home.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC. IN ACROSS THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT AT THE LINKS BELOW:
University of Connecticut (Undergraduate)
Greater New Haven Alumnae (Graduate Chapter)
University of Bridgeport (Undergraduate)
Southern Connecticut State University (Undergraduate)
SIGMA FACTS
Mission Statement:
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority's aim is to enhance the quality of life within the community. Public service, leadership development, and education of youth are the hallmarks of the organization's programs and activities. Sigma Gamma Rho addresses concerns that impact society educationally, civically, and economically.
Sorority Flower: Yellow Tea Rose
Sorority Colors: Royal Blue and Gold
Sorority Mascot: French Toy Poodle
Sorority Slogan: "Greater Service, Greater Progress"
Five Essential Programs
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Operation BigBookBag
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Women’s Wellness Initiative
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Swim 1922 In Partnership With USA Swimming
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Project CRADLE Care
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Annual Youth Symposium
VISIT OUR NATIONAL WEBSITE SGRHO1922.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC.
