The History of Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies
Alpha Sigma Kappa – Women in Technical Studies grew out of a Little Sisters of Triangle organization, which dates back to at least 1983. In the late 1980s, Triangle Fraternity’s National Council resolved to phase out their local Little Sister organizations. Hence, our sorority was born.
The University of Minnesota Little Sister Chapter wanted to continue the formal relationship already established. After considering various options, the members felt the only way to keep the premise of the group intact was to form a new sorority. Alpha Sigma Kappa – Women in Technical Studies was founded with eighteen members on May 1, 1989. Appropriately enough, May Day is a holiday which honors and celebrates friendship.
Alpha Sigma Kappa – Women in Technical Studies was founded in the hopes of bringing women pursuing technical studies together in a social setting. Historically, these career fields have been dominated by men.
At the time the sorority was founded, only 17 percent of the students enrolled in the Institute of Technology at the University of Minnesota were female. The presence of a group dedicated to supporting the few women who entered such fields was greatly needed. Today, these fields are seeing more and more women. We feel the need for an organization that develops, encourages and supports the academic and social needs of these women is an important aspect to our society and ourselves.
-Melissa (Matschiner) Carnicelli,
Founding President
Significant Moments of Alpha Sigma Kappa's National History
May 1, 1989: Alpha Sigma Kappa – Women in Technical Studies is founded at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Alpha Chapter has eighteen founding Members.
September 1991: An Interest Group is formed at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. The group is unable to become part of Alpha Sigma Kappa since the campus administration only allows national fraternities/sororities to recruit students.
Spring 1991-Winter 1992: Our sorority is a colony of Alpha Omega Epsilon for one year, but then chooses not to be installed as a chapter upon discovery of significant differences.
March 4, 1996: An Interest Group is formed at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma.
April 29, 1996: The first National Meeting is held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The National Organization is formed with the ratification of the National Constitution and Policies. The symbols that had been in place for numerous years are officially ratified by The National Organization. The first National Board of Directors is elected.
May 1, 1996: The Interest Group at the University of Oklahoma submits their petition for Colony Status. The petition is accepted on May 6, 1996.
July 15, 1996: The National Organization is incorporated as a non-profit organization.
July 15, 1996: The Alpha Alumnae Chapter is formed.
August 3, 1996: The first National Convention is held at the University of Minnesota.
September 21, 1996: The Beta Colony is established at the University of Oklahoma.
September 13, 1997: The Beta Chapter is installed at the University of Oklahoma. The Beta Chapter has fourteen founding Members.
February 1998: The first issue of News & Views, official National newsletter of the Sorority, is produced by Michelle Kuechle (Alpha).
March 27, 1999: The Gamma Colony is established at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky.
August 7, 1999: The Beta Alumnae Chapter is formed.
April 1, 2000: The Gamma Chapter is installed at the University of Louisville. The Gamma Chapter has eleven founding Members.
October 21, 2000: The Delta Colony is established at the University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington, Texas.
October 27, 2001: The Delta Chapter is installed at the University of Texas at Arlington. The Delta Chapter has fourteen founding Members.
August 9, 2003: The Gamma Alumnae Chapter is formed.
August 9, 2003: The Delta Alumnae Chapter is formed.
September 27, 2003: The Epsilon Colony is established at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
November 23, 2003: The Zeta Colony is established at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in Baltimore, Maryland.
October 23, 2004: The Epsilon Chapter is installed at the Iowa State University. The Epsilon Chapter has twenty-nine founding Members.
January 8, 2005: The Epsilon Alumnae Chapter is formed.
March 5, 2005: The Zeta Chapter is installed at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The Zeta Chapter has eleven founding Members.
January 5, 2008: The Zeta Alumnae Chapter is formed.
December 5, 2009: The Eta Colony is established at New Mexico Tech in Socorro, New Mexico.
December 4, 2010: The Eta Chapter is installed at New Mexico Tech. The Eta Chapter has sixteen founding Members.
December 7, 2013: The Theta Colony is established at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.
February 2, 2014: The Educational Foundation of Alpha Sigma Kappa – Women in Technical Studies is established.
May 1, 2014: Alpha Sigma Kappa – Women in Technical Studies celebrates her 25th anniversary of founding.
March 7, 2015: The Iota Colony is established at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Connecticut.
March 28, 2015: The Theta Chapter is installed at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Theta Chapter has nine founding Members.
April 18, 2015: The Kappa Colony is established at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas.
July 31, 2015: The National Board of Directors is expanded to five members, adding the National Director of Operations. The National Director of Communications was re-named to the National Director of Records.
March 5, 2016: The Iota Chapter is installed at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Connecticut. The Iota Chapter has sixteen founding Members.
April 16, 2016: The Kappa Chapter is installed at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. The Kappa Chapter has eight founding Members.
February 25, 2017: The Lambda Colony is established at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.
March 18, 2017: The Mu Colony is established at the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.
July 29, 2017: The Iota Alumnae Chapter is formed.
September 2, 2017: The Nu Colony is established at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida.
January 20, 2018: The Xi Colony is established at the University of California, Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, California.
April 14, 2018 The Mu Chapter is installed at the University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia. The Mu Chapter has seventeen founding Members.
September 15, 2018 The Nu Chapter is installed at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida. The Nu Chapter has fifteen founding Members.
November 3, 2018: The Omicron Colony is established at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Omicron Chapter has fifteen founding Members.
January 26, 2019: The Lambda Chapter is established at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. The Lambda Chapter has four founding Members.
February 9, 2019: The Xi Chapter is established at the University of California, Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, California. The Xi Chapter has eight founding Members.
May 1, 2019: Alpha Sigma Kappa – Women in Technical Studies celebrates its 30th anniversary.
October 26, 2019: The Pi Colony is established at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts.
November 16, 2019: The Omicron Chapter is established at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Omicron Chapter has fifteen founding Members.
July 18, 2020: The Theta Alumnae Chapter is formed.
September 29, 2020: The Rho Colony is established at the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida through a virtual celebration due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
July 24, 2021: The National Board of Directors is expanded to seven Members, replacing the National Director of Administration with the Executive Director and adding the National Director of Communication and National Director of Membership.
October 2, 2021: The Rho Chapter is established at The University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. The Rho Chapter has nine founding Members.
February 12, 2022: The Pi Chapter is installed at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. The Pi Chapter has six Founding Members.
April 2, 2022: The Sigma Colony is established at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
July 23, 2022: The term Colony was changed to Petitioning Group by the voting delegation during National Convention.
October 29, 2022: The Tau Petitioning Group was established at the University of Pittsburgh, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
April 1, 2023: The Sigma Chapter is installed at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Sigma Chapter has ten Founding Members.
March 30, 2024: The Tau Chapter is installed at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Tau Chapter has six Founding Members.