History of Omega Alpha:
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 (UTPA) would be ideal to host a chapter of Sigma Lambda Beta. The two brothers then held three in
formational meetings during the Fall semester of 1996. The first informational meeting was held on October 25, 1996. Two additional meetings were held with over ten students who were enthusiastic about starting a settlement Sigma Lambda Beta. Next, they searched for and found Dr. Rodolfo Rocha for an advisor. They believed Dr. Rocha would help in sending the group in a positive direction. Dr. Rocha has a Ph.D. in Chicano Studies and is very well informed and concerned with the issues that are important to Mexican and other Latino cultures. On September 3, 1997, the first line of brothers from UTPA were initiated into Sigma Lambda Beta: Bro. Fernando Barreto and Bro. Marcos Palacios. They continued a tradition of Brotherhood started 11 years before them at The University of Iowa. Later, on May 20, 1999, the first brother graduated from UTPA, Bro. Juan J. Lopez. 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 the 22nd of November, 1999. The final draft was submitted to the National Board of Directors on November 26 by Brother Omar Lopez. After many hours of hard work and dedication, the brotherhood at the UTPA 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 was 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 grown at a rapid rate. From 2000 to 2002, the chapter more than doubled in active members, with great achievements also been accomplished, as having at least one brother graduate each semester from school. 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 Las Mujeres Unidas on several occasions for his hard work and dedication. The Omega Alpha Chapter has supported the formation of three 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 were sorely missed. Yet a new class of brothers, including Caesar 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 than willing to lend their home out for different events and meetings. All this led to the chapter finally functioning at its highest degree for all four levels: fundraising, programming, socials, and recruitment, along with the graduation of two more brothers. The end of the year came with the most significant events in December: the crossing of the SIGMA line and the ten Year establishment of SLB at UTPA. The school year of 2015 - 2016 brought about new challenges and opportunities for the fraternity. The merger of The University of Texas at Brownsville & The University of Texas - Pan American issued in a new beginning for the University and the Omega Alpha Chapter. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) was founded on September 1, 2015 and with it the challenge of how to expand the reach of the chapter to the university and its five various campuses around the Rio Grande Valley. A new constitution was drafted to better serve any future brothers that came to the university. The new constitution was inclusive to any brother regardless of what campus they attended. Together, the brothers of the Omega Alpha chapter continue to strive to increase their presence and influence throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
