HISTORY
Alpha Phi Gamma emerged in the Fall of 1993 and became a reality on February 1, 1994, as the first Asian American Interest Sorority on the campus of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. The Founders were Allex Choi, Candy Cunanan, Christine Nguyen, Sandie Rillera, Kolleen Kim, Grace Hsieh and Jennifer Oku. These Sisters wanted to bring together all women of different nationalities through the bonds of friendship and sisterhood. The sorority was established to promote service and Asian Awareness to the University and to the community, allowing for all the different nationalities to discover what other cultures had to offer.
As with the beginning of any organization, Alpha Phi Gamma has started to grow in order to be able to have a strong impact in the future. Since 1993, our Sisterhood bonds have grown internally and formed foundations in California, Illinois, Arizona, Michigan, Missouri, Colorado, Nevada, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, and Kansas. Seeing our Sisterhood grow over the years is exciting, but more important is that Alpha Phi Gamma has been able to maintain our values and bonds across all our schools. As we continue to grow our Sisters will continue to uphold the values and bonds of our Sisterhood all women of different nationalities, in our communities and universities.
PHILANTHROPY
Alpha Phi Gamma’s official National Philanthropy is the Fight Against Violence Towards Women. The origins of our National Philanthropy began at our First National Conference in 1999. During this gathering, our Sisters voted to focus on a cause that was not as strongly supported as others, but affected the lives of many women around the world. Thus began our passion in helping to fight against violence towards women and marking us as one of the first organizations to focus on this important cause.
Since then, our Sisters across the nation have committed their efforts in volunteering with shelters and organizations, and to help raise funds for this cause. Our Sisters seek to spread awareness of this cause to build support in our communities year-round. In addition, during Domestic Violence Awareness month in October, Alpha Phi Gamma joins together on a national level to volunteer time, raise awareness and help fundraise for this important cause.
In November 2009, Alpha Phi Gamma strengthened their commitment by becoming a member of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). The NCADV is a non-profit grassroots membership organization working to:
- Eliminate Domestic Violence
- Empower Victims of Domestic Violence
- Unite Our Voices
- Alert and Educate the Public
- Build Partnerships
- Join Alpha Phi Gamma and the NCADV to stop domestic violence and make Every Home a Safe Home!
- It is estimated that of all women who were the victims of homicide globally in 2012, almost half were killed by intimate partners or family members, compared to less than six per cent of men killed in the same year [1].
- Women are more likely to experience intimate partner violence if they have low education, exposure to mothers being abused by a partner, abuse during childhood, and attitudes accepting violence, male privilege, and women’s subordinate status[2].
- According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, which includes crimes that were not reported to the police, 232,960 women in the U.S. were raped or sexually assaulted in 2006. That’s more than 600 women every day [3].
- The Centers for Disease Control estimates that the cost of domestic violence in 2003 was more than over $8.3 billion. This cost includes medical care, mental health services, and lost productivity [4].
- 13% of women rape survivors who will attempt suicide [5].
- In February 2017, the Trump administration released [a pair] [of memos] that removed existing protections for undocumented immigrant victims of violent crimes like domestic abuse, forcing undocumented victims and survivors to choose between violence and deportation [6].
- 60% of Americans know a survivor of domestic violence or sexual assault [7].
- Find out more information with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and UNWomen.org.
- Donate a cellphone to NCADV
- Donate to UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women
- Check out our upcoming Philanthropy Events and get involved through our local events.
ACADEMIC & SCHOLARSHIP
Alpha Phi Gamma strives to provide service and Asian Awareness while promoting scholarship and academic excellence. To encourage our purpose, Alpha Phi Gamma recognizes and rewards our schools and Sisters who go up and beyond when demonstrating these principles.
This award goes to the school that has accumulated the most points for APhiG Measures in one academic school year. This school has earned points by having programs designed to increase Sisterhood, promote Asian Awareness, Philanthropy, Academic Excellence, Fundraising, and Socials. This school has gone above and beyond the minimum requirements to be a chapter/colony in good standing according to National Board. This school far exceeds expectations and has set the bar for the following academic year.
This scholarship goes to the three active sisters with the highest GPA for the current Spring semester. Aside from all their responsibilities as an active, they have also managed to do well in their studies, and put their education at the forefront. These sisters have shown they have the time management skills to stay involved in the sorority as well as furthering their educational endeavors.
Deadline to submit transcripts is May 15th, 2018.
This award goes to the school that has had a true commitment to community service and philanthropic causes by having the most volunteer hours accumulated in one academic school year. This school has decided to make serving others a priority and a goal for the year.
This award goes to the sister that has had a true commitment to community service and philanthropic causes by having a high amount of volunteer hours accumulated in one academic school year. Because philanthropy goes beyond volunteering it is also based on how the Sister has made a difference in her community as well. This sister has decided to make serving others a priority and a goal for the year. Hours will be collected from the previous Fall semester or Fall/Winter Quarters.
Sisters, if you are one of the top community service hours at your school please fill out the community service scholarship!
This award goes to the school that has the best performance among the rest of the schools during National Conference. This school has all the moves, talent, and skills to be the show stoppers of the night.
The Omega Chapter (Primero-Arabe) Scholarship was dedicated in memory of Aileen Primero (1985-2007) and Janice Arabe (1981-2009). These two sisters exemplified what it was to be a sister of Alpha Phi Gamma.
This award is given to an outstanding Sister of Alpha Phi Gamma. This Sister must strive to show all points of our values in everything they do.
Application Checklist:
❏ Online application
❏ Provide contact information of references (two Sisters, cannot be applicant’s Big or Little Sis)
❏ GPA submission
❏ Career plan/passion essay (min. 500 words)
Deadline to apply is March 31, 2018
Leadership is important and so is representation. We offer a scholarship each year to a Sister who wants to travel to a national leadership conference. It is a good way for our Sisters to experience new things, learn from keynote speakers, and to represent themselves and Alpha Phi Gamma on a national level. The Sister may be asked to present a take away and share it nationally (i.e. essay, video, slideshow, etc.) of what she learned while at conference during a guest speaker section.
*Deadline to apply is April 30, 2018
Baby Panda Bear Scholarship
This award is given strictly on a need base. This is for a Sister who has financially hit hard times, and has some significant event that contributes to them not being able to pay for school. In order to be eligible this Sister must be continuing enrollment despite the issue that has arisen.
Conference Presentation Discounts
Conference Scholarships are available to Sisters who apply to provide a short presentation on a skill or subject matter close to heart. Topics range from serious, to academic, to a showcase of a Sister’s talent. This is an opportunity for Sisters to add their own personality and passion in the National Conference while receiving a scholarship to offset costs. National Board will select the recipients in early Spring 2018. Actives and Alumni enrolled in higher education are encouraged to apply.
Deadline: TBD
How to Apply:
❏ Online application
❏ Presentation (20-30 minutes)
❏ Short topic description (max 250 words)
Conference Videographer Scholarship
National Board is in search of a talented Sister who is interested in documenting our national conference and creating videos to use as future marketing videos. National Board will provide free registration to conference and monetary compensation for the member’s hard work in creating the promotional videos. In order to apply you must:
Checklist:
❏ Must be in attendance at Conference 2018 to film:
Travel
Registration/Check-in
Workshops
Business
Keynote Speakers
Sisterhood Activities
Sisterhood Dinner
Battle of the Sisters
Award Recipients
Philanthropy
National Stroll
❏ Must provide their own camera & misc equipment; Resolution to be no less than 1080p, 4K recommended
❏ Complete Videographer Application
Once conference is over, the videographer shall submit the following videos to National Board:
❏ The National Conference Video Recap 2018 by 7/29/18
❏ The National Expansion Marketing Video 8/15/18
Deadline: TBD
The Post-Graduate Scholarship is awarded to two Sisters who seek to further expand their knowledge and enter into graduate school. The Sister must be enrolled in a graduate program and submit a copy of their acceptance letter and transcripts with their application.
Deadline: TBD
Application Checklist:
❏ Online application → Post-Graduate Scholarship Application
❏ Acceptance letter from graduate school
❏ Provide contact information of references (two Sisters, cannot be applicant’s Big or Little Sis)
❏ Essay about career plan/passion for what you plan to do in the future (min 500 word)
This scholarship is for sisters who have just crossed into Alpha Phi Gamma. Newly-crossed
Sisters will be entered to win this scholarship automatically.
Academic chairs will need to fill out an online form and send the unofficial transcript for each Neophyte being nominated for this award.