Kappa Phi Gamma National Sorority, Inc. (ΚΦΓ), also referred to as KPhiG, is an American South Asian interest collegiate sorority. It was founded in 1998, at the University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas. The sorority is affiliated with the National APIDA Panhellenic Association.

Kappa Phi Gamma
ΚΦΓ
Kappa Phi Gamma Crest
FoundedNovember 8, 1998; 25 years ago (1998-11-08)
University of Texas at Austin
TypeSocial
AffiliationNAPA
StatusActive
EmphasisSouth Asian interest
ScopeNational
Motto"Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal."
PillarsCharacter, Leadership, Scholarship, Sisterhood, Service, Culture, Womanhood, and Self
Colors  Green,   Black, and   White
FlowerFire and Ice rose
JewelEmerald
MascotRoyal Bengal tiger
PhilanthropyCancer Awareness
Chapters10 active
Colonies8
Members850+ lifetime
NicknameKPhiG
Headquarters801 Creekline Way
McKinney, Texas 75070
United States
Websitewww.kappaphigamma.com

History

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Kappa Phi Gamma was founded on November 8, 1998, at the The University of Texas at Austin as the first South Asian sorority in the United States.[1][2][3][4] Its founders were:[1][5]

  • Divya Agrawal
  • Reema Biswas
  • Leena Vasant Chaphekar
  • Mitzi Chamakala Chollampel
  • Samina Chowdhury
  • Smitha Dawson
  • Bella Desai
  • Hirva Raj Doshi
  • Meena Gandhi
  • Jaya George-Abraham
  • Mita Haldar
  • Priscilla James
  • Teena Makil
  • Sarah Nalini Mammen
  • Yogita Mathur
  • Anshu Motwani
  • Roseleen Noorani
  • Kaysha (Gopi) Patel
  • Bincy Jacob Puthenmadathil
  • Rekha Reddy
  • Anushu Sawhney
  • Miloni Shah
  • Jalpa Sheth
  • Sumita Sheth
  • Jamie Anita Sunny
  • Sindhu Mariam Thomas
  • Aisha Waliany

As of 2024, it has chartered 20 chapters and charters and has initiated more than 850 members.[2] It is a member of the National APIDA Panhellenic Association.[4] Its national headquarters are located at 801 Creekline Way in McKinney, Texas.[6]

Symbols

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Kappa Phi Gamma's motto is a quote from Pamela Vaull Starr: "Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal."[7][8][2] Its principals or pillars are Character, Leadership, Scholarship, Sisterhood, Service, Culture, Womanhood, and Self.[1][7][9]

The colors of Kappa Phi Gamma are green, black, and white.[2][1][8] Its symbol is the Royal Bengal Tiger.[1][2][8] Its flower is the Fire and Ice rose.[7][1][8] Its jewel is the emerald.[7][1] Its nickname KPhiG.[2][8]

Activities

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The sorority helps support campus celebrations of Diwali, an Indian New Year celebration.[10]

Kappa Phi Gamma's national philanthropy is cancer awareness and research.[11][2] Each spring, Kappa Phi Gamma sorority chapters from around the nation plan C.A.R.E. Week, a cancer awareness fundraising event.[11][12][13] C.A.R.E. stands for Cancer Awareness, a Real Effort.[13] Kappa Phi Gamma has raised over $95,000 and has donated its services to over 40 charities, including the Bite Me Cancer Foundation, Bringing Hope Home, the Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation, MD Anderson Cancer Center, My Hope Chest, and Pink Door.[11][12][14][15][10] It has a partnership with Sunshine Kids Foundation from 2023 to 2026.[11][14]

Annually, Kappa Phi Gamma presents The Emerald Endowment, an annual scholarship for a non-member female student who has demonstrated excellence in leadership, scholarship, and service.[16]

Chapters

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In the following list, active chapters are noted in bold and inactive chapters are noted in italics.[17][18][19] The sorority refers to its colonies as charters.[18]

Chater Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha November 8, 1998 University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas Active [20][6]
Beta September 22, 2000 University of Texas at Dallas Dallas, Texas Active [21]
Gamma April 23, 2001 Baylor University Waco, Texas Active [22][23]
Delta October 13, 2001 – 20xx ? University of Houston Houston, Texas Inactive
Epsilon October 23, 2002 – 20xx ? Boston University Boston, Massachusetts Colony [24]
Zeta August 15, 2003 University of Maryland, College Park College Park, Maryland Active [25]
Eta November 8, 2003 – 2xxx  ? New York City, New York Colony [26]
Theta March 6, 2005 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia Active [27]
Iota February 24, 2007 Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Active [28]
Kappa Unassigned
Lambda January 27, 2008 George Mason University Fairfax County, Virginia Active [29][3]
Mu August 31, 2008 Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Active [5][a]
Nu October 10, 2009 Drexel University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Active [30][31]
Xi August 6, 2010 Fort Lauderdale, Florida Inactive
Omicron September 4, 2010 Rutgers University–New Brunswick New Brunswick, New Jersey Active [32]
Pi March 17, 2012 New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, New York Colony [33]
Rho December 12, 2015 Rutgers University–Newark Newark, New Jersey Colony [34][9]
Sigma May 18, 2016 New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, New Jersey Colony [35]
Tau December 3, 2016 University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, Massachusetts Colony [36][37]
Upsilon April 14, 2018 University of Connecticut Storrs, Connecticut Colony [7][38]
Phi November 16, 2019 Adelphi University Garden City, New York Colony [39]
  1. ^ This school was known as the University of the Sciences from 1998 to 2022, when the chapter was installed.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Our Story". Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority, Incorporated. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority, Inc. | Center for Fraternity & Sorority Development". University of Connecticut. 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  3. ^ a b Munisar, Erica (2023-10-20). "Forming a Strong Bond Through Diversity". The Fourth Estate. George Madison University. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  4. ^ a b "About". National APIDA Panhellenic Association. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  5. ^ a b "History". Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority Inc. Mu Chapter. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  6. ^ a b "Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority, Inc. | Sorority and Fraternity Life". University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  7. ^ a b c d e "About". Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority Upsilon Charter. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority, Inc. | Fraternity & Sorority Affairs | UIUC". University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  9. ^ a b "Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority, Inc". Rutgers University–Newark. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  10. ^ a b Shah, Angela (1999-11-26). "Minorities Find Community in UT's Ethnic Greek Groups". Austin American-Statesman. pp. B13. Retrieved 2024-09-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b c d "Our Philanthropy". Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority, Incorporated. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  12. ^ a b "C.A.R.E. Week". Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority - Nu Chapter, Drexel University. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  13. ^ a b Wang, Sarah (2023-04-06). "Kappa Phi Gamma supports cancer awareness at first in-person CARE Week since pandemic". The Baylor Lariat. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  14. ^ a b "Philanthropy". Kappa Phi Gamma Iota Chapter. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  15. ^ "Kappa Phi Gamma Selects BHH as their National Philanthropy for 2016!". Bringing Hope Home. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  16. ^ "Emerald Endowment". Kappa Phi Gamma Iota Chapter. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  17. ^ William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), section showing Kappa Phi Gamma chapters". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 1 January 2022. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  18. ^ a b "Chapters and Charters". Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority, Incorporated. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  19. ^ "Chapters & Colonies". Kappa Phi Gamma Iota Chapter. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  20. ^ "KPhiG - Home Page". Archived from the original on 2015-05-01. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  21. ^ "Home". Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority Beta Chapter. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  22. ^ "About Us". KPhiG Gamma Chapter. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  23. ^ "Kappa Phi Gamma (Sorority)". Baylor University. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  24. ^ "About". Kappa Phi GammaEpsilon Colony. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  25. ^ "History". Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority Zeta Chapter. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  26. ^ "Eta Colony". Eta Colony. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  27. ^ "About Us". Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority Theta Chapter. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  28. ^ "Home". Kappa Phi Gamma Iota Chapter. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  29. ^ "About Us". Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority, Inc. - Lambda Chapter. February 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  30. ^ "History". Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority - Nu Chapter, Drexel University. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  31. ^ "Kappa Phi Gamma, Sorority Inc. | Drexel Connect". Drexel University. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  32. ^ "Home | Kappa Phi Gamma". Kappa Phi Gamma Omicron Chapter. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  33. ^ "About Us". Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority Pi Charter. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  34. ^ "Home". Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority Rho Chapter. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  35. ^ "Home". Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority, Inc. Sigma Charter. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  36. ^ "Home". Kappa Phi Gamma Tau Charter. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  37. ^ "Kappa Phi Gamma | UMassGives 2024". University of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  38. ^ "Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority, Incorporated | UConntact". University of Connecticut. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  39. ^ "Home". KPhiG Phi Chapter. Retrieved 2024-09-01.