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Our Founding

It all started with a few simple emails and interest meetings.  15 unique women engineers getting together for similar reasons with amazing goals for a social engineering sorority.  The simple emails turned into full inboxes and each meeting became learning and bonding experiences as we realized just how far beyond those goals we could take Phi Sigma Rho.

 

In April 2001, Dayton-Gamma Alumna Elana Chapman contacted the Women in Engineering Program to initiate a Phi Sigma Rho interest group.  Starting with just a handful of women, interest grew until 15 Alpha Class members were inducted on December 1st, 2001.  In just 6 weeks, we worked to arrange schedules, meet requirements, learn about Phi Sigma Rho, and discover what it meant to be a Phi Rho.  We were granted our Charter at the February 2002 National Convention.  On March 16th, 2002, the Penn State-Lambda Chapter made Phi Sigma Rho history by having the first ever Chapter Installation, Alpha Class Initiation, and Beta Class Induction in one day.  We welcomed 17 new Beta Class associates to join us in achieving our goals that day.

 

We knew this would not be the last time we made a mark on Phi Sigma Rho history.  We knew that throughout our active and alumnae careers, the Lambda's would cause a stir.  Although getting National recognition was exciting, we were still in the midst of a struggle to gain official recognition from the University.  Although the College of Engineering and the Women in Engineering Program supported our existence, a social sorority with a professional basis did not fit into any of the governing bodies capable of offering us recognition.  So we worked through meetings, hearings, and petitions until the Office of Unions and Student Activities offered us a temporary solution.  On May 2nd, 2003, Phi Sigma Rho was the first, and only, student organization to be recognized directly by the Office of Unions and Student Activities.

 

It is still amazing to walk into a Phi Rho event and see such incredible Sisters each making their own impact on the Sisterhood and the fate of our Chapter.  During our Colony Education process and beyond, Elana called us her “Lambda’s with an attitude” and encouraged our will to fight and love to strive for change.  And we did, and still do, love to fight – to get things done and done right.

 

It took a lot of dedication, hard work, and strength to found our Chapter.  It will take a lot more to continue strengthening the bonds and building upon this foundation.  This desire to achieve and “fight” is the foundation of our Chapter.  It is how we got this far and how future Sisters will develop our Sisterhood to fit their changing needs because it is only together that we build the future

 

Nicolette Yovanof

Alpha Class