Sigma Lambda Beta

MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

"Since our founding in 1986 at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, Sigma Lambda Beta has been rooted in the values of Brotherhood, Scholarship, Community Service, and Cultural Awareness. While we are historically a Latino-based fraternity, our brotherhood embraces men of all backgrounds who share our vision of leadership, diversity, and service. What makes Sigma Lambda Beta unique is that our brotherhood goes beyond words, it is a feeling. It is knowing you are surrounded by people who will always love you, support you, and challenge you to grow. It is a bond that creates a home away from home, where you can truly discover who you are and what you can achieve. Our purpose extends beyond serving only our own community. We are committed to uplifting those around us and helping each other strive for success academically, personally, and professionally. With chapters internationally, Sigma Lambda Beta continues to empower men to achieve excellence, foster inclusive brotherhood, and advocate for positive social change. When I arrived at college, I often questioned who I was, where I belonged, and whether I could make a difference. As a first-generation student and someone who grew up in a family of predominantly women, Sigma Lambda Beta gave me more than an opportunity, it gave me a home. It reminded me that I do belong, that I do deserve to be here, and that I can have an impact. In this fraternity, I found not just a network, but a family that helped me grow as both a person and as a Latino in higher education. Our brotherhood welcomes anyone from all walks of life who seeks the same sense of purpose and community."

About Sigma Lambda Beta

Philanthropy

The Sigma Gamma Chapter of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Incorporated proudly hosts our annual philanthropy, Victor Correa CPR Awareness Day, an event dedicated to promoting lifesaving skills and honoring the memory of our brother, Victor Correa Ortiz. Victor was a promising mechanical engineering student at Stony Brook University in New York. In his freshman year, shortly after his crossing into Sigma Lambda Beta, he returned to Puerto Rico to visit his family. While spending time at the beach, Victor was tragically pulled underwater and drowned. No bystander present that day knew or was willing to administer CPR that might have saved his life. In response to this heartbreaking loss, our fraternity created Victor Correa CPR Awareness Day as both a memorial and a call to action. Our mission is to ensure that no one is prevented from learning how to save a life because of cost or access. We believe money should never be a barrier to acquiring lifesaving skills. That is why our event not only educates students and community members about the importance of knowing CPR, but also provides free CPR training and certification to all participants. Each spring at UCSB, we invite students, faculty, staff, and local community members to take part in this event. In addition to hands-on training, we share Victor’s story to emphasize the real-world importance of preparedness and action. By equipping people with the knowledge and confidence to respond in an emergency, we turn personal tragedy into positive change. Through Victor Correa CPR Awareness Day, the Sigma Gamma Chapter honors Brother Victor’s memory and extends his legacy by creating a safer, more informed community, one in which cost is never an obstacle and everyone has the opportunity to be trained to save a life.

Recruitment requirements

- Enrolled Full Time Student (12+ Units)

- Minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.5

- 3.0 GPA Or Above If Its A Students First Quarter At A University

- Must Submit Official Transcript

Annual Events

Each year, the Sigma Gamma Chapter of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Incorporated proudly hosts a variety of events that embody our principles of Brotherhood, Scholarship, Community Service, and Cultural Awareness while strengthening our ties to the UCSB campus and surrounding community. In early January, we organize Banda Night, a lively celebration of music and culture that raises funds for an annual scholarship honoring our late brother, Hector “Hermes” Serrano. Brother Hector believed deeply in people achieving their dreams, committing to their education, and striving for success. This scholarship reflects his legacy by helping students pursue their educational goals and continue on the path he envisioned. Each spring, we hold our new member presentations, a cherished tradition that formally welcomes new brothers into Sigma Lambda Beta and into Greek life at UCSB. These presentations showcase our fraternity’s values, unity, and pride, while serving as a public celebration of the growth of our chapter. In April, our Higher Education Retention & Diversity Outreach Program (H.E.R.D.) brings high school students to UCSB to experience college life firsthand. Focused specifically on low-income and underrepresented youth, this program encourages them to pursue higher education and envision themselves as future scholars and leaders. Finally, we host our annual philanthropy, the Victor Correa CPR Awareness Day, during which we offer free CPR certification to students and community members. This event both honors Brother Victor Correa and equips participants with lifesaving skills that benefit the wider community. Through these annual events, the Sigma Gamma Chapter continues to honor our history, uplift our community, and create meaningful opportunities for engagement, leadership, and service, living out the ideals on which Sigma Lambda Beta was founded.

History

Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Incorporated began as a vision in the mid-1980s at the University of Iowa. Latino students on campus were looking for a way to unite their community, celebrate their culture, and create opportunities for leadership and service. In 1985, Founding Father Baltazar Mendoza-Madrigal started laying the groundwork for what would become a truly historic organization. After months of planning and conversation, a meeting with 18 honorable men was held on March 7, 1986 at what was then the Chicano Indian American Cultural Center. The energy from that gathering led to the formal founding of Sigma Lambda Beta on April 4th, 1986. From day one, the fraternity was built on four core principles: Brotherhood, Scholarship, Community Service, and Cultural Awareness. Our founding fathers chose Royal Purple and Pure White as the official colors to symbolize dignity, unity, and integrity, and adopted the motto “Opportunity for Wisdom, Wisdom for Culture” to capture their commitment to leadership, scholarship, and cultural understanding. Although historically Latino-based, Sigma Lambda Beta has always welcomed, and will continue to welcome men of all backgrounds who embrace these values. Almost four decades later, Sigma Lambda Beta has grown into one of the largest historically Latino-based fraternities in the world, with over 120 collegiate and alumni entities across more than 30 states and beyond. On November 2nd, 2008, the fraternity’s legacy reached the University of California, Santa Barbara with the founding of the Oh So Stunning Sigma Gamma Chapter. Since that day, our chapter has carried forward the ideals of Sigma Lambda Beta, creating a home where men from all walks of life can find a sense of belonging, develop as leaders, and make an impact not only on their own communities but in the world around them. It’s a place that reaffirms you belong, that you matter, and that together we can achieve more than we ever imagined.