HISTORY

Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. is a sorority based on the Latino Culture. The history of this organization goes back to 1985 in Troy, New York. The sorority itself was founded on September 29, 1990 by 13 aspiring young women from 4 different schools in the state of New York. These women were from State University of NY at Albany, University at Stony Brook, College at New Paltz and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

The Founders of SIA are: (in alphabetical order)
Dora Maria Abreu
Elizabeth Coats
Tina Colberg
Eulogia Diaz
Angelica Hernandez
Teresa Herrero
Norma G. Porras
Miriam Ramirez
Saida Rodriguez
Grecia Sanchez
Maria Trujillo
Clara Vazquez
Dulce Williams

PURPOSE & GOALS

Our Sorority is dedicated to educating the community about Latino culture - our history, struggles and endeavors. We hope to educate and unify not only the many diverse Latino cultures but other ethnic groups as well. SIA strives to provide a sense of pride for our heritage and in doing so hopes to abolish ignorance, prejudice and racism in the community at large.

At the moment SIA is composed of chapters in the New York State area as well as in the states of Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland and is considered national. The chapters are composed of undergraduate, graduate and professional women.

Our Sorority takes pride in becoming involved in the community. We strive to serve the needy by participating in local, national, and international causes.

OUR GOALS ARE:

1) To constantly strive towards increased awareness of the Latino culture, as well as other cultures, to the community at large.
2) To promote sisterhood and leadership among ourselves.
3) To serve as models of excellence in academics and achievements among women.

We encourage all women, whether they are in the Hermandad or not, to promote a diverse cultural and social environment. Our endeavor is to work as sisters united in these common goals; however, we value personal identity and individualism highly. Through the bonds of sisterhood, we develop leadership, scholarship, sportsmanship and friendship.

Our official colors are Red, Gold, and Royal Blue with White and Black as our background colors. Our motto is "Semper unum et Inseparabilis" - Always One and Inseparable. The Rose, Unicorn and Pegasus are the symbols of our rare and precious organization.