Gamma Alpha Omega (ΓΑΩ) is a Latina-founded Greek letter intercollegiate sorority, established in 1993 on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. The sorority has installed 28 collegiate chapters and 13 alumnae chapters.

History

Gamma Alpha Omega was founded at the University of Arizona on January 25, 1993 as a multicultural sorority for Latina women.[1][2][3] It founders were eight Latina students: Amy Alvarez, Annette Escalante, Patsy Guardado, Clara Lopez, Valerie Mendoza, Roxana Quinones, Sandra Saenz, and Michelle Seañez.[4]

Gamma Alpha Omega was formed to promote "achievement and quest of higher education amongst all women". [2] Although established by Latinas it was open from the start to women of all backgrounds.[5] Its mission is noted with four goals:[6][2]

  • Increase the number of women with college educations and advanced degrees.
  • Provide mentors for youth, women and underrepresented communities,
  • Support individual leaders in each member
  • Provide lifelong support for sisters, rooted in the pillars of Honesty, Integrity, Leadership, Scholarship and Unity.

The sorority founded its second chapter at the University of Arizona on August 8, 1993.[3][7] On January 24, 1997, Gamma Alpha Omega expanded beyond Arizona with the founding of Gamma chapter at the University of Washington.[3][5] In 2000, the sorority became a founding member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) when it emerged as a national association of Latino fraternal groups.[8]

Gamma Alpha Omega incorporated in the state of Arizona in April 2001.[9] In January 2016, Gamma Alpha Omega withdrew from NALFO alongside several other founding fraternity and sorority members of the council.[8]

Symbols

ΓΑΩ's official logo, the White Rose within a Blue Diamond.

Gamma Alpha Omega's motto is Nos Una Crescemus or "United We Will Grow".[2] Its pillars are honesty, integrity, leadership, scholarship and unity.[2]

At its founding the sorority chose the colors forest green, navy blue and white.[2][6] Its mascot is a white Bengal tiger with blue eyes.[2][10] Its flower is the white thornless rose.[2][10] Its jewels are the emerald, sapphire and diamond.[2][10] Its fruit is the red apple.[2][10]

The sorority publishes a digital magazine twice annually called The ROSE Vine.[11] Its nicknames are the Gammas and Tigresas.[6][12]

Activities

Gamma Alpha Omega's national philanthropies are Emeralds for Education and HIV Awareness.[6][13] Emeralds of Education is a youth mentoring program established by the sorority in 2011.[13]

Governance

Governance of the sorority is vested in a National Executive Board, including a national president, vice president, vice president of collegiate affairs, vice president of communication, vice president of expansion, vice president of finance, vice president of programming, vice president of standards, and vice president of alumnae affairs.[14] In addition, its national administration also contains regional and national directors that assist with the different regions, areas, and departments with the national office and headquarters.[14] Its national headquarters are in Tempe, Arizona.[3]

The sorority meets in a national convention every two years during odd-numbered years.[15] Regional conferences are held in the off years between national conventions.[15]

Chapters

Collegiate chapters

In the following list of Gamma Alpha Omega collegiate chapters, active chapters noted in bold and inactive chapters or institutions noted in italics.[3][16]

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status Reference
Alpha January 25, 1993 Arizona State University Phoenix, Arizon Active [2]
Beta August 8, 1993 University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona Active [7][17]
Gamma January 24, 1997 University of Washington Seattle, Washington Active [5]
Delta 1998 Washington State University Pullman, Washington Active [18]
Epsilon 1998–20xx ? University of Wisconsin–Parkside Somers, Wisconsin Inactive
Zeta 1998–200x ? Loyola University Chicago Chicago, Illinois Inactive
Eta 1999 University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho Active [19]
Theta 1999–xxxx ?; 2022 University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Oshkosh, Wisconsin Active [20]
Iota October 29, 1999 Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas Active [21]
Kappa 2000 Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon Active [6]
Lambda 2000 University of Houston Houston, Texas Active
Mu 2001 University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin Active
Nu April 12, 2002 Baylor University Waco, Texas Active [22]
Xi 2001 University of Houston–Downtown Houston, Texas Active [10]
Omicron 2002 Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Arizona Active [23]
Pi 2002–20xx ? California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt Arcata, California Inactive
Rho 2003–20xx ? California State University, Northridge Northridge, Los Angeles, California Inactive
Sigma 2003 University of the Pacific Stockton, California Active [24]
Tau 2008–20xx ? University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign–Urbana, Illinois Inactive
Upsilon 2009 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Active [25][26]
Phi 2010–20xx ? University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Whitewater, Wisconsin Inactive
Chi September 30, 2011 University of Wisconsin–Madison Madison, Wisconsin Active [12]
Psi 2011 Eastern Washington University Cheney, Washington Active [27]
Omega Memorial
Alpha Alpha 2012–20xx ? University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico Inactive
Alpha Beta 2013 California State University, Fresno Fresno, California Active [28]
Alpha Gamma 2017–20xx ? New Mexico Highlands University Las Vegas, New Mexico Inactive
Alpha Delta 2018 Heritage University Toppenish, Washington Active [29]
Alpha Epsilon September 4, 2019 Texas A&M University College Station, Texas Active [13]
Alpha Zeta 2020 Carroll University Waukesha, Wisconsin Active [30]
2024 Xavier University Cincinnati, Ohio Active [31]

Alumnae chapters

Following are the alumnae chapters of Gamma Alpha Omega.[16]

Chapter Location Status References
Greater Phoenix Alumnae Chapter Phoenix, Arizona Active
Greater Seattle Alumnae Chapter Seattle, Washington Active
Greater Milwaukee Alumnae Chapter Milwaukee, Wisconsin Active
Greater Houston Alumnae Chapter Houston, Texas Active
Chicago Alumnae Chapter Chicago, Illinois Active
Greater Whitewater Alumnae Chapter Whitewater, Wisconsin Active
Madison Alumnae Chapter Madison, Wisconsin Active
Dallas/Ft.Worth Alumnae Chapter Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas Active
Palouse Alumnae Chapter Palouse, Washington and Idaho Active
Corvallis Alumnae Chapter Corvallis, Oregon Active
Portland Alumnae Chapter Portland, Oregon Active
Fresno Alumnae Chapter Fresno, Texas Active
TriCities Alumnae Chapter Tri-Cities, Washington Active

See also

References

  1. ^ "Greek Spot Light: Gamma Alpha Omega". University Wire. 2015. Retrieved 2019-04-14 – via The University of Sydney Library.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Quick Facts". Gamma Alpha Omega. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  3. ^ a b c d e Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (January 13, 2025). "Gamma Alpha Omega". Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed March 12, 2025.
  4. ^ "National". Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
  5. ^ a b c "Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Incorporated | Husky LInk". University of Washington. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc. | Office of the Dean of Students". Oregon State University. 2014-08-27. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  7. ^ a b "About". Beta Chapter GAO. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  8. ^ a b "Member Organizations". National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  9. ^ "WSU | GAO". wsugreek.orgsync.com. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc". University of Houston-Downtown. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  11. ^ "The ROSE Vine". Gamma Alpha Omega. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  12. ^ a b "Chi Chapter, Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc. | Fraternity & Sorority Life". University of Wisconsin-Madison. 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  13. ^ a b c "Gamma Alpha Omega". Multicultural Greek Council at Texas A&M University. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  14. ^ a b "Leadership". Gamma Alpha Omega. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  15. ^ a b "Programming". Gamma Alpha Omega. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  16. ^ a b "Chapter Locator". Gamma Alpha Omega. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  17. ^ "Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc. | Fraternity & Sorority Programs". University of Arizona. 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  18. ^ "Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority Inc". Washington State University. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  19. ^ "Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority". University of Idaho. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  20. ^ "Sorority Life at UW Oshkosh | Student Engagement & Campus Life at Reeve Union". University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  21. ^ "Home". Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc at Texas Tech University. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  22. ^ "Chapter HerStory". Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Incorporated - Nu Chapter. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  23. ^ "Chapters in our community". Northern Arizona University. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  24. ^ "Multicultural Greek Organizations". University of the Pacific. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  25. ^ "Untamable Upsilon Chapter". Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority Upsilon Chapter. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  26. ^ "Multicultural Sorority and Fraternity Council | Fraternity & Sorority Life". University of Oregon. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  27. ^ "Diversified Greek Council – Student Engagement". Eastern Washington University. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  28. ^ "Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Fresno State". California State University, Fresno. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  29. ^ "Student Clubs At Heritage University | Get Your Club On!". Heritage University. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  30. ^ "Fraternity and Sorority Life". Carroll University. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  31. ^ Eremionkhale, Thelma. "Xavier welcomes first Latina sorority: Gamma Alpha Omega". Xavier University. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_Alpha_Omega
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