The Ultimate Guide to the National Panhellenic Conference: Part Three

Hey, A-Listers! It’s finally here! The third and final installment of our National Panhellenic Conference Guide! We’re going to round out our NPC lovelies and introduce you to the last (but certainly not least) nine chapters to keep an eye out during this recruitment season. Read on, A-Listers, for the best recruitment chapter guide a girl can ask for.

KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA

Nickname: KKG (written); Kappa (written & spoken)

Founded: October 13, 1870 at Monmouth College in Illinois (there’s even a Kappa museum in town!); part of the Monmouth Duo with Pi Beta Phi

Symbols: Golden Key (Symbol & Badge); Fleur-de-lis (Flower); Blue Sapphire (Jewel); Owl (Mascot); Minerva (Patron Goddess)

Philanthropy: Reading is Fundamental

Colors: Dark Blue & Light Blue

Tagline: Aspire to Be.

Kappa Kappa Gamma, one of the earliest players and founders of NPC, currently has over 160 chapters around the country and in Canada. Adopting “Reading is Fundamental” as its national philanthropy in 2004, Kappas and Kappa alumnae are consistently involved in annual service related projects. Kappa was also one of the first sororities in the NPC to remove official “hand signs” from their canon, acknowledging that some hand signs may be misconstrued and ill-representative of Kappa as a sorority. However, with a rich 140 year history, Kappa encourages their members to strive for life-long learning and positive impact.

PHI MU

Founded: March 4, 1852 at Wesleyan College

Symbols: Lion (Mascot); Barbed Quatrefoil (Symbol); Rose-colored Carnation (Flower);

Philanthropy: Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

Colors: Rose & White

Motto: “Les Soeurs Fideles” or “The Faithful Sisters”

Tagline: Vibrant.

Phi Mu, originally known as the Philomathean Society and the second oldest women’s organization, adopted its current letters upon joining NPC in 1904. Phi Mu’s letters make up the Greek word for “promise.” Their tagline, “Vibrant,” is also used to describe the sorority’s chosen values: love, honor, and truth. The only official sorority corporate sponsor of the Children’s Miracle Network, Phi Mu annually donates over $500,000 nationally.

PHI SIGMA SIGMA

Nickname: Phi Sig (written & spoken)

Founded: November 26, 1913 at Hunter College

Symbols: Sphinx (Mascot & Symbol); Sapphire (Jewel); American Beauty Rose (Flower)

Philanthropy: The Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation

Colors: King Blue & Gold

Motto: “Aim High”

Tagline: Once a Phi Sigma Sigma, Always a Phi Sigma Sigma

Phi Sigma Sigma made history in 1913 when it became the nation’s first non-sectarian sorority, meaning it allowed women of all faiths and backgrounds to join. With chapters in Canada, Phi Sig has over 100 active chapters and more than 70,000 members worldwide. Their philanthropy, the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation, provides educational grants and scholarship opportunities to the sisters of Phi Sigma Sigma. The sorority still advocates and supports its former national philanthropy, The National Kidney Foundation, through monetary aid and awareness campaigns. Since its creation, the sorority upholds two “Twin Ideals” of the “Brotherhood of Man” and alleviating the world’s pain.

PI BETA PHI

Nickname: Pi Phi (written & spoken)

Founded: April 28, 1867 at Monmouth College in Illinois; part of the Monmouth Duo with Kappa Kappa Gamma

Symbols: Arrow (Symbol & Badge); Wine Carnation (Flower); Angel (Symbol)

Philanthropy: Read > Lead > Achieve

Colors: Silver Blue & Wine

Founded as the I.C. Sorosis society, Pi Beta Phi adopted its current letters at their national convention in 1888. One of the founding members of the NPC in 1902, Pi Phi’s mission statement is to promote friendship, develop women of intellect and integrity, cultivate leadership potential and enrich lives through community service. Pi Phi boasts over 200,000 initiated sisters, with alumnae ranging from Olympians, state senators, and actresses like Jenna Dewan-Tatum and Jennifer Garner.

SIGMA DELTA TAU

Nickname: SDT (spoken & written); Sig Delt (spoken & written)

Founded: March 25, 1917 at Cornell University as a Jewish sorority

Symbols: Torch (Symbol & Badge); Lapis Lazuli (Jewel); Golden Tea Rose (Flower)

Philanthropy: Child Abuse Prevention & Jewish Women International

Colors: Café Au Lait & Old Blue

Motto: “One Hope of Many People”

Tagline: Empowering Women.

Sigma Delta Tau, traditionally a Jewish organization, now welcomes women of all walks of life while paying homage to its Judaic heritage. The torch, its symbol, signifies the ideals of enlightenment and leadership while its logo incorporates stars to represent the Star of David and the diversity of the organization overall. SDT’s mission nationally is for their members is to build lasting friendships and foster personal growth.

SIGMA KAPPA

Nickname: SK (written & spoken)

Founded: November 9, 1874 at Colby College

Symbols: Dove (Symbol); Heart (Symbol); Wild Purple Violet (Flower); Pearl (Jewel)

Philanthropy: Gerontology with an emphasis in Alzheimer Research

Colors: Lavender & Maroon

Motto: “One Heart, One Way”

Tagline: Live with Heart.

Sigma Kappa has installed over 120 collegiate chapters in 36 states with just as many alumnae chapters throughout the country. Their philanthropy, Gerontology, aims to improve the lives of senior citizens; every year the national sorority and the Sigma Kappa Foundation participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, raising half a million dollars annually. Inherit the Earth and the Maine Sea Coast Mission are two other causes the sorority supports on a national basis.

SIGMA SIGMA SIGMA

Nickname: Tri Sigma (written & spoken); Tri Sig (written & spoken)

Founded: April 20, 1898 at State Female Normal School of Virginia, now known as Longwood University; considered part of the “Farmville Four”

Symbols: Sailboat (Symbol); Purple Violet (Flower); Pearl (Jewel)

Philanthropy: Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation

Colors: Royal Purple & White

Motto: “Faithful Unto Death”

Tagline: Empowered.

The Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation, the national philanthropy of Tri Sigma, focuses on their initiative of Sigma Serves Children, annually supporting causes like the March of Dimes. Tri Sigma upholds the core values of wisdom, power, faith, hope, and love. Tri Sigma’s constitution and much of its founding history is attributed to the help of James Miller Leake, a brother of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Tri Sigma Sigma currently has over 100 chapters open in the United States, with notable alumnae like Carrie Underwood.

THETA PHI ALPHA

Nickname: TPA (written & spoken); Theta Phi (written & spoken)

Founded: August 30, 1912 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor as the successor to a small Catholic sorority

Symbols: Compass (Symbol); Sapphire & Pearl (Jewels); Penguin (Mascot); White Rose (Flower); St. Catherine of Sienna (Patron Saint)

Philanthropy: Glenmary Home Missioners; The House That Theta Phi Alpha Built

Colors: Silver, Gold, & Blue

Motto: “Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.”

Tagline: Ever Loyal, Ever Lasting

Theta Phi Alpha, with roots in the Catholic Church, was founded to be inclusive of Catholic women when other Greek groups on campus were not. Today, TPA is inclusive of all women from various backgrounds. TPA’s philanthropy, Glenmary Home Missioners, works to provide lower socio-economic households and individuals, usually concentrated in and near the Appalachian Mountains, with food, clothing and other materials for a better life.

ZETA TAU ALPHA

Nickname: ZTA (written & spoken); Zeta Tau (written & spoken); Zeta (written & spoken)

Founded: October 15, 1898 at State Female Normal School of Virginia, now known as Longwood University; considered part of the “Farmville Four”

Symbols: Five Pointed Crown (Symbol); White Violet (Flower); Themis (Patron Goddess)

Philanthropy: Think Pink, Breast Cancer Research & Awareness

Colors: Turquoise Blue & Steel Gray

Motto: “Seek the Noblest”

Zeta Tau Alpha has initiated over 245,000 members into its sisterhood as of date. Partnered with the American Cancer Society, the Bright Pink organization, and the National Football League, ZTA educates and fundraises for Breast Cancer research and awareness across the nation. ZTA is an international organization with active collegiate and alumnae chapters in Canada. A silver “Chain of Chapters” represents each collegiate chapter installed throughout ZTA’s history; when a new chapter is installed, a new link is added to the chain reminding all its members that they are part of a larger whole.

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That’s a wrap A-Listers! We hope this guide has been helpful and enlightening, especially for those of you hoping to go through recruitment this Fall or Spring! Have any suggestions of things to add or any favorite memories from your chapter? Let us know! Comment below or find us on Instagram or Facebook!