User:Ninahho/Theta Kappa Phi

Theta Kappa Phi (ΘΚΦ) (also known as Thetas) is an Asian American interest sorority founded on June 4, 1959 at the University of California, Los Angeles. The foundation and vision of Theta Kappa Phi emerged from the aspirations and goals of nine freshman women, now known as the Charter Members. One charter member and pioneering force of Theta Kappa Phi’s establishment was Margaret Ohara Shinohara. After being mistaken for a woman of Irish descent (O’Hara), she was given a Panhellenic Scholarship upon acceptance to UCLA. After discovering that she was of Japanese-American descent, Margaret was denied admittance and membership into all of the Greek sororities on the row.

With the help of Mrs. Rex P. Enoch (an active Panhellenic member and organizer of the UCLA chapter of Alpha Delta Pi), Margaret and the eight other Charter members established a sorority for themselves and future Asian American women to join. Theta Kappa Phi has continued to thrive from its support of the late and distinguished Dr. Robert S. Kinsman, the sorority’s first faculty advisor, and his wife Mrs. Barabara Kinsman (an honorary Theta), both of whom have faithfully supported the sorority for 45 years.

Theta Kappa Phi continues to uphold the values its Charter members envisioned: sisterhood, scholarship, and service. Each year, new students are able to experience this sisterhood bond while enhancing their skills, abilities, scholastic excellence, and providing service to the nearby community.As each year goes by, new students are able to experience the intimacy and fond memories that the Charter Members felt that first year.



Theta Kappa Phi provides a closely knit structure of support for new students while enhancing the skills, abilities, and college experience of all its members. Sorority activities focus on sisterhood, service, academics, fundraising and social, making the “Theta experience” well-rounded and memorable.

Purpose
The purpose of the Theta Kappa Phi Alumnae Association shall be to provide service to the community and to the sorority, to promote life-long friendships among the members, and to uphold the traditions of the sorority.

History
Theta Kappa Phi was founded on June 4th, 1959, and became the first official Asian American interest sorority at UCLA. Thetas offered UCLA women something special... A unique sisterhood different from all other sororities on campus. The foundations of Theta Kappa Phi emerged from the aspirations and goals of nine young freshmen women, now known as the Charter Members, who fostered a memorable bond together and wanted to share that friendship with others.



Every story has a beginning and ours began with our Founding Mother, Margaret Ohara. Margaret Ohara, after being mistaken for someone of Irish descent (O'Hara), was given a Panhellenic Scholarship upon acceptance to UCLA. After discovering her true Japanese-American identity, Margaret was denied admittance and membership into all of the Greek sororities on the row. Yet Margaret, along with eight other women, had a dream of their own. With the help of Mrs. Rex P. Enochs, an active Panhellenic member and organizer of the UCLA chapter of Alpha Delta Pi, the Charter Members succeeded in establishing a true sorority for themselves and others to come. The good fortune of the sorority continued when the late and distinguished, Dr. Robert S. Kinsman, served as the founding faculty advisor along with his wife, Mrs. Barbara Kinsman (an honorary Theta), for 45 devoted years.

As each year goes by, new students are able to experience the intimacy and fond memories that the Charter Members felt that very first year together. Theta Kappa Phi provides a closely knit structure of support for new students, while enhancing the skills, ambitions, and college experiences of all its members. All it takes is heart... and Thetas always have heart to give.

Sisterhood


Faith.... Love... Trust... these three simple words exist at the core and heart of Theta Kappa Phi. Sisterhood is built during pledgeship and blossoms beyond our college years. As Theta sisters, we share experiences, develop memories, and grow together. Throughout the year, sisterhood events give us a chance to take time out of our busy college lives to relax and spend time with each other. Events such as our annual ski trip, road trips to Las Vegas, sleepovers, datenights, and countless food and boba runs bring us closer together, giving us endless Kodak moments and funny stories to reminisce over.

Each sister is diverse and unique in her own special way--and that is what makes Thetas so wonderful. The colorful array of personalities, qualities, and interests are brought together and shared, complementing one another in many unexpected ways. Thetas give girls a chance to develop this sisterhood, which is only the beginning of an everlasting friendship.

Academics
Theta Kappa Phi not only focuses on sisterhood and service to the community, but academics as well. It is important to us that every sister maintains her GPA and does well in her courses. After all, you are a UCLA student first! There are many older actives to provide help and assistance in classes that they have already taken. Test banks with old exams and notes, along with study sessions, help motivate each other to succeed.

Each quarter, Thetas recognize every sister who made the honor roll and at the end of the year, the annual Dr. Robert S. Kinsman Scholarship, open to all sisters, is awarded to the Theta sister who has shown the most leadership, and excelled academic academically and overall.

Theta Kappa Phi is committed to the academic achievements of its members and strives to maintain that standard. As a result, Theta Kappa Phi is the only Asian Greek organization that offers two $1000 scholarships every year.

Service
Community service is one of the pillars upon which Theta Kappa Phi was founded. Thetas recognize the importance of giving back to our community to help improve the lives of others and to build a better future. Annual philanthropy events include the Revlon Run Walk to raise breast cancer awareness, Little Tokyo Sparkle, WAT Thai Tutorial, Christmas Caroling at Keiro Nursing Home, Project Chicken Soup, L.A. Tofu Festival, Manhattan Beach Clean-Ups, UCLA Run/Walk, Reading to Kids, Alexandria House, and many more. Fundraising provides the sorority an opportunity to raise funds for our events, and to support important causes and charities. There are about four annual major fundraisers: Battle of the Pledge Dances, Mardi Gras Party, and Bowling and Basketball Tournaments, along with car washes, bake sales, and TV tapings.



Social
Another vital aspect of Thetas is the social networking as it goes much deeper than surface interactions. Beyond building close friendships within the sorirty, social activities establish bonds and relations with other amazing people you might otherwise never get to meet. From ice-skating to tailgating, to bowling and the exchanges, all the social events that Thetas participate in help our members network and develo people skills that are important for success in the future.



Alumnae Association
The Theta Kappa Phi Alumnae Association has been a significant presence and guiding force for the sorority. Its formal establishment was made after the passing of Margaret Ohara Shinohara in 2001. Margaret provided guidance and support to the sorority as its advisor for over 35 years. She was a consistent presence and the alumnae association was created to continue her work.

The Alumnae Association provides direction to the sorority and is a link to all the alumnae members of Theta Kappa Phi. Each year, the Alumnae Association facilitates the recognition of various active sorority members in sisterhood, service, and academics. We are also the only Asian Greek Council Organization which awards scholarships: The Margaret Shinohara Memorial Scholarship for outstanding leadership and service to the university and community, and the Kinsman Family Scholarship for academinc excellence. Due to the magnanimous donations of the Shinohara family and Dr and Mrs. Sakaguchi, the endowment for the Maragret Shinohara Memorial Scholarship, awarded to a Theta who demonstrates outstanding leadership and service to the university, and community, is fully funded.

Kinsman Family Scholarship
Over forty years ago, the Theta alumnae established an annual scholarship named in honor of Dr. Robert S. Kinsman, originally named the “Dr. Robert S. Kinsman Scholarship”. This scholarship is awarded to an active sorority member who distinguishes herself academically. When Mrs. Kinsman passed away on June 19, 2002, the alumnae renamed the fund the “Dr. & Mrs. Robert S. Kinsman Scholarship”. After the deaths of Dr. Kinsman, on March 3, 2006, and his daughter, Sarah, on August 10, 2006, the fund has been renamed “The Kinsman Family Scholarship”. Through the generous contributions of Sue Kinsman Crimen and the rest of the Kinsman family, the scholarship award is currently $1,000 per year. However, this scholarship does not have the security of a UCLA endowment fund.

As the Theta Kappa Phi sorority is now looking forward to celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2009, we have targeted the endowment of the Kinsman Family Scholarship for our fundraising at this reunion. The goal is to raise $50,000 to help establish the scholarship as an endowed fund through the UCLA Foundation. Endowed gifts to the university will help ensure that scholarship funds will be available to award in perpetuity and to support deserving UCLA students for many years to come. Endowing the Kinsman Family Scholarship at UCLA will allow us to make certain that the award is comparable to other scholarships of its caliber.

The financial burden of attending UCLA is more challenging than ever before, as UC tuition continues to rise. More than ever, our ability to offer scholarship money enables us to provide much needed help to students, so they can concentrate on their studies rather than worrying about how to pay for their education.