Sisters through History
The quest to bring Sigma Alpha to the campus of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale began during the fall semester of 1993. The interest in an agricultural sorority stemmed from the Alpha Gamma Rho Rhomates, an auxiliary of the agriculture fraternity. The Rhomate organization formed a special committee in December of 1993 to research the National Sigma Alpha Professional Sorority.
To become an activated chapter within Sigma Alpha, the ladies at SIUC had to submit four reports of progress to the Sigma Alpha National Board, do four service projects (one agriculturally related), two social functions and have three guest speakers.
Service Projects Completed:
February 6th, 1995…made valentine cards for the Carbondale Health Center
February 11th, 1995…participated in the Jackson County Heart Association Walk-a-thon for heart disease research
April 2nd, 1995…participated in a three-mile walk for Multiple Sclerosis
April 3rd-7th, 1995…gave tours of the beef, swine, equine, and dairy centers at SIUC to grade school students, children from Head Start, and mentally handicapped adults from the surrounding area
April 8th, 1995…participated with “Friends of the Lake on Campus” in planting native prairie grasses and wild flowers to reduce erosion
April 22nd, 1995…collected garbage in populated areas during Carbondale Spring Clean Up
November 5th-7th, 1995…collected money for the College of Ag. in the annual telefund
On December 2nd, 1995, the Alpha Gamma chapter of Sigma Alpha was activated at SIUC. The founding eleven members were Katrina Spear, Christi Andras, Mary Baker, Challie Donaldson, Kerry Hemborough, Jessica Hoffman, Margaret Jahanke, Leslie Luft, Colleen Moss, JeriAnn Warnes, and Stacey Woodyard.