Continuing to promote cultural awareness and the empowerment of Latinos through education , Brothers John Magee of the Alpha Chapter (University of Iowa) and Anthony Ramírez of the Mu Alpha Chapter (Eastern Michigan University) agreed that the University of Texas-Pan American would be one of the universities that would carry the most pride in its Latino roots. The two brothers then held three informational meetings during the Fall semester of 1996. The first informational meeting was held on October 25, 1996. The first person to show up that day would be Fernando Barreto.

Brother John Magee drew up a constitution which met the university's requirements. Both brothers then, after meeting over 10 male students who were willing to try to start a settlement for the largest Latino fraternity in the world, searched for and found the advisor whom they believed would send the group in the most positive direction. Dr. Rodolfo Rocha has a Ph.D. in Chicano Studies and is very well informed and concerned with the issues that are/were affecting the Mexican and other Latino cultures.

On December 16, 1996, the University of Texas-Pan American recognized Sigma Lambda Beta as an official interest group. The following semester the group was involved in several events including fundraisers. By July 20, 1997, the petitioning group was recognized as an official colony of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc. With the coalition of Brothers, Isaias Cantú, Anthony Ramírez and Aaron Pérez of Eastern Michigan University and also John Magee and Rey Ríos of the University of Iowa, on September 3, 1997 the first line of brothers from UTPA became initiated into Sigma Lambda Beta. Their names were Fernando Barreto and Marcos Palacios.
They continued a tradition of Brotherhood started 11 years before them at the University of Iowa.

Continuing the tradition...

Following in the footsteps of brothers before them, the colony at UTPA worked hard every semester to meet the high national standards that had previously been set forth by gentlemen of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity Inc. Through the commitment to the welfare of the Latino populations year after year, the UTPA colony was able to create a strong base for its organization, as well as a strong tradition. It was decided on July 20, 1999 by the membership that the colony would petition Chapter Status from the National Board in Fall of 1999.

Throughout the Fall semester Brothers Omar Lopez, Hilario Molina, David Mendez, and Josue Lopez prepared the petition. Due to the many revisions to the petition, its sixth and final draft was not ready until 22nd of November 1999. The final draft was submitted to the National Board of Directors on November 26th by Brother Omar Lopez. After many hours of hard work and dedication, the brotherhood at the University of Texas-Pan American reached the goal it had been striving for. On December 6, 1999, ten days before the official three year founding anniversary, the National Board of Directors granted the brotherhood of Sigma Lambda Beta at The University of Texas-Pan American Chapter Status. The UTPA Brotherhood is now national recognized as the

Omega Alpha Chapter of
Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc

Since the Fall of 2000, the Omega Alpha Chapter has begun to grow at a rapid rate. From 2000 to 2002 the chapter more then doubled in active members. Great achievements have also been accomplished. Since 2000, the Omega Alpha Chapter has had at least one brother graduate each semester. Through the hard work of brothers Steve Rios, Rene Rivera and Carlos Rangel, the brotherhood concreted working relationships with the United Farm Workers and Mujeres Unidas. Brother Hilario Molina has been recognized by Los Mujeres Unidas on several occasions for his hard work and dedication. The Omega Alpha Chapter has supported the formation of 3 new entities of Sigma Lambda Beta at other south Texas schools, while growing itself in both active brothers and professionalism.

With the graduation and progression away from school life, lead brothers such as Ignacio Escobedo, Carlos Rangel, Mike Castillo, Steve Rios, Rene Rivera and many others was sorely missed. But a new class of brothers including Ceasar Alvarado, Hugo Gamino, JC Valadez, Javier Garza, Ivan Zapata, and Eli Garcia, stepped up to the challenge of taking the chapter to the next level of progression.

The 20 Year Anniversary of SLB was a good time for the chapter in 2006. Alumni such as Josh & Ivan Lopez were more then willing to lend their home out for different events and meetings. All this led to the chapter finally functioning at it’s highest degree for all four levels: fundraising, programming, socials, and recruitment, along with the graduation of 2 more brothers. The end of the year came with the most significant events in December: the crossing of the SIGMA line and the 10 Year establishment of SLB at UTPA.

~12.2006

History is being made today. Are you part of it?