Home        KD History        Philanthropy        Sisters        Pictures        Recruitment        Contact Us        Alumnae

Kappa Delta Facts

 


Banding together with Greek letters as their symbols, four young women kindled a Revolution of Friendship which would grow to enlist thousands of women from across the country. They didn't call it a revolution, and they didn't envision the magnitude of their rainy afternoon meeting. Nevertheless, one girl's suggestion to form a common friendship bond gained the excited approval of others and a movement was begun. The movement was the birth of Virginia's first sorority, known today as Kappa Delta.

 
              Visit our national website!
Mascots and Emblems
The White Rose The Nautilus   The Teddy Bear

Our Open Motto

Let us strive for that which is honorable, beautiful and highest.

Our Motto

The purpose of Kappa Delta Sorority is to promote true friendship among the college girls of our country by inculcating into their hearts and lives those principles of truth, of honor, of duty, without which there can be no true friendship.

Our Object

The object of Kappa Delta Sorority is the formation and perpetuation of good fellowship, friendship and sisterly love among its members; the encouragement of literature and education; the promotion of social interest; and the furtherance of charitable and benevolent purposes.

Our Mission Statement

Kappa Delta Sorority is an national organization for women committed to:

  • Inspiring our members to reach their full potential;
  • Preparing our members for community service, active leadership and responsible citizenship;
  • Creating opportunities for lifetime involvement through innovative and responsive programs, strategic collaborations and partnerships; and
  • Fostering the development of our time-honored values within the context of friendship
 

History of the Zeta Theta Chapter

 


On March 8, 1989, Kappa Sigma Phi local sorority was founded at Trenton State College (now known as The College of New Jersey) by 32 young women.  They shared a vision of a sorority created upon the ideal of "Unity through Individuality". Their colors were Black and Teal, and their mascot was the Baby Harp Seal.  Their philanthropy was Underprivileged Children.  After a short time KSF decided it was time for them to seek the stability of a National Organization, and petitioned to become a chapter of Kappa Delta Sorority .

On November 9, 1991, Zeta Theta Chapter at Trenton State College (now TCNJ) was installed as the 183rd chapter of Kappa Delta Sorority.  The Chapter still upholds the ideal of KSF of " Unity through Individuality", and cherishes the Baby Harp Seal as a beloved local mascot.



Founding Sisters of
Kappa Sigma Phi
Melissa Anderson, Amy Andress, Jenifer Cameli, Laura Cole, Kate Connolly, Elizabeth Decker, Alison Dubroski, Carolyn Gillespie, Chrissie Hartnett, Barbara Hall, Jeanne Hengemuhle, Kim Jones, Jill Kompa, Wendy Keller, Jennifer Latta, Andrea Lignelle, Eileen McElroy, Mary Ann Meidhof, Janet Napoli, Elaine Prendergast, Amy Puzzo, Tia Pursley, Vanessa Sanchez, Becky Schooner, Marci Sorge, Jackie Tarry, Loren Tosi, Monica Turner, Laurie Valentine, Laura Veverka, Meg Wargins, & Julie Woodward  
   

 

 
National Kappa Delta History
"A chilly rain splattered against the windowpanes of the little dormitory room on Professional Hall, the dormitory floor where most of the seniors lived. Saturday meant no classes, and the dreary weather that hung over Farmville was a perfect excuse for the four friends to tuck themselves away in that cozy spot and talk for hours... It was that afternoon that Kappa Delta was born - October 23, 1897 - at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia." -Ordinary Miracles: 100 Years of Kappa Delta Sorority
It was because of the beautiful friendship of Lenora Ashmore,Mary Sommerville Sparks, Julia Gardiner Tyler, and Sara Turner that Kappa Delta began. And today, the ideals of friendship, fellowship and sisterly love have remained constant and strong for 106 years, just as our four founders envisioned it in the beginning.

In 1912, Kappa Delta Sorority was the only Sorority to become a member of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) immediately upon petition. However, this did not come without sacrifice. NPC required all chapters to be four year institutions, and two of our chapters were not, one being our beloved founding chapter (Alpha). The sisters of these two chapters selflessly relinquished their charters for the sake of the future of Kappa Delta. Joyfully, Alpha chapter was re-colonized in 1949 when (now) Longwood University became a four-year baccalaureate institution.
As of January 2004, Kappa Delta has 206 chartered chapters. In addition, Kappa Delta has 487 chartered alumnae associations, the most of any NPC group. With active chapter sizes ranging from 40 to 200, membership has grown to approximately 10,000 collegiate members and over 180,000 alumnae.


                            
                               National Founding Sisters
  Lenora Ashmore Blackiston was unconventional. She was a dreamer and an idealist filled with enthusiasm for new ideas. Nicknamed "Nora," she was a writer and a poet, able to put her thoughts into action. She was the one who first suggested the idea of forming a sorority, but was unable to put her lasting personal marks on Kappa Delta's beginnings because, after Christmas holiday, she transferred to Randolph-Macon Women's College.

Quiet and extremely intelligent, Julia Gardiner Tyler Wilson came from a distinguished and respected family; her grandfather was John Tyler, former U.S. president, and her father was the president of the College of William and Mary. She was characterized as capable, dependable and possessing considerable artistic talent. She illustrated most of the school's first yearbook and designed the Kappa Delta badge. After helping to found the sorority, Julia spent another year at State Female Normal before transferring to Dana Hall, a preparatory school for Wellesley College where she earned her AB degree in 1904. She joined her founding sister Sara at Kappa Delta's 50th anniversary celebration at the 1947 convention.

Daughter of a Virginia senator, Sara Turner White was gracious and friendly, but known as being a bit more straight-laced than most students. She enjoyed her friends and social activities more than she did her studies. Sara did not return to college after that first year, but remained steadfastly involved with Kappa Delta throughout her long life.
  Mary Sommerville Sparks Hendrick was much loved and respected by all students at State Female Normal School. She was known for her fine character and gentle understanding. Mary had concern for others, perhaps because, at 25, she was more mature than the younger students. She was a Bible class leader. Mary stayed on and helped the fledging sorority through its early years.