Gamma Eta

Gamma Eta Sorority, Inc.
ΓΗ
Founded October 18, 1995 (1995-10-18)
University of Florida
Type Social
Motto Hoy y Siempre
Colors

     Purple

     Teal
Symbol Sun and Fleur de Lis
Flower Sunflower
Publication The Sunrise
Philanthropy Breast Cancer Awareness
Chapters 4, with 3 colonies
Homepage gammaetasorority.org

Gamma Eta (ΓΗ) is the first social sorority to be founded in the State of Florida. Eighteen women came together to create the sorority at the University of Florida in Gainesville on October 18, 1995. The sorority is dedicated to creating a culturally aware atmosphere in which women from diverse ethnic backgrounds can develop a sense of pride, sisterhood, and support in order to ensure professional and academic success. Gamma Eta was chartered and incorporated on August 2, 1999.

As a diverse sorority, Gamma Eta is composed of college-educated women of diverse cultural backgrounds, including Caucasian, Hispanic, African, Asian, Middle Eastern (West Asia), and Indian.

Gamma Eta is a part of the National Multicultural Greek Council.

History

Founding

Founding Mothers

Ilena Camilo
Claudia Forestieri
Maria Portilla
Marena Ramirez
Vanessa Ramirez
Maria Torres
Giselle Arvelo
Alexa Davila
Ana Del Valle

Vivian Estalella
Beatriz Lugo
Deborah Mazzeo
Diana O'Hara
Diana Ramirez
Adnybel Rosario-Ortiz
Leemarie Ortiz
Joann Schadenfroh
Yahdira Torres

In the years leading up to 1995, there were many questions regarding the role of the Latino community at the University of Florida. There was a low retention rate for Latino students and a large cultural disconnect at the University of Florida campus. In direct response to those issues, the Founding Mothers led the efforts to create Gamma Eta for women of diverse backgrounds to provide a social and academic support system.

Gamma Eta Society

First known as Gamma Eta Society, the founding mothers faced numerous barriers in becoming formally recognized as an official sorority. Despite these obstacles, the founders initiated the first Founding Class in the Spring of 1996. A few months after Gamma Eta's incorporation, the sorority was admitted to the local Multicultural Greek Council as an Associate Member on November 22, 1999.

Pillars of success

Chapters

Undergraduate chapters

Alumnae chapters

Philanthropy

Gamma Eta's national philanthropy is breast cancer awareness in official partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Individual chapters at the collegiate and alumnae levels also support a secondary philanthropy.

References

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