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| Kataclysmic History |
| The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has the largest Greek community in the nation. However, for a select group of women none of the organizations on campus satisfied or fulfilled their needs, or those of all Latinas on campus. In the fall of 2003, Nadia Ramirez began an exhaustive search for the right organization. Her research led them to Lambda Pi Upsilon in New York and the Tri-State Area. Lambda Pi Upsilon encourages the empowerment of women of color and upholds the importance of family. In the coming months Katrina Rosado, who had never really understood or been interested in Greek life, learned about Lambda Pi Upsilon and joined the women in hopes of bringing the organization to campus. Later Susan Diaz De Leon, heard about the groups endeavor and took it upon herself to learn more about the organization and joined in the pursuit to bring Lambda Pi Upsilon to campus. During the fall of 2004 Katrina Rosado, Nadia Ramirez, and Susan Diaz De Leon took their first steps towards walking the Lambda Way. They began their journey to become even more powerful, strong-willed and proud young women. The group of women knew it would be a challenge to bring the organization to Illinois, but they dared to risk and carried on. With the guidance of their O.T. Jessica Villafane, A.O.T. Bianca Evertsz-Seda, and their respective Big Sisters Yanira Cantres, Hazel Garcia-Rivera and Leonor Ovalles, the three dedicated and hard-working women continued to persevere and surpass the obstacles ahead while gaining the knowledge to empower their futures. Finally on January 2, 2005, Hermana Katrina Rosado, Hermana Nadia Ramirez and Hermana Susan Diaz De Leon made it through the Jungle of Darkness and became the Founding Sisters of the Kataclysmic Kappa Chapter of Lambda Pi Upsilon Sorority, Latinas Poderosas Unidas Inc. at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A year later, two proud and ambitious young women took it upon themselves to follow the path to the Lambda Way. On January 21, 2006, Hermana Carmen Castro and Hermana Nora Garcia made it through the Jungle of Darkness as the Alpha Line of the Kataclysmic Kappa Chapter of Lambda Pi Upsilon Sorority,Latinas Poderosas Unidas Inc. Together these five Divas continue to dedicate themselves to the principles the Six Pillars of Strength set forth. Today they look back at their struggles and growth with Love, Dignity and Pride, using everything they learned to persevere ahead... * * * The Kataclysmic Kappa Divas would like to acknowledge all those involved in our process who made it possible for us to be the FIRST Lambda Divas in the MIDWEST. * * * |