Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Incorporated () is a multicultural fraternity with historically-Latino roots. It was founded in 1986 at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.
History Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity was founded at the University of Iowa on April 4, 1986. Its founder was Baltazar Mendoza-Madrigal, along with seventeen other men. Mendoza-Madrigal, a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, was inspired by the significant contributions of his fraternity to the African American community and recognized a similar need within the Latino community.
The founding meeting, held on March 7, 1986, at the Chicano Native American Cultural Center (now the Latino Native American Cultural Center), brought together diverse students from different cultural backgrounds to discuss the feasibility of the new fraternity. The overwhelming support and collective enthusiasm at the meeting led to the formal establishment of the fraternity, with its ideology and philosophy solidified on its founding date. The list of the Founding Fathers of the Fraternity are the following:
Bro. Mario Buendia Bro. Enrique Carbajal Bro. Thomas Carrasquillo Bro. Manuel Chavarria Bro. Jose Fong Bro. Rodolfo Garza Bro. Luis Jimenez Bro. Luis Marquez Bro. Baltazar Mendoza-Madrigal Bro. Eric Montes Bro. Kuy Ou Bro. Olakunle Oyeyemi Bro. Jaime Ramirez Bro. Olivero Rivera Juan Jose Rojas-Cardona (Disaffiliated) Bro. Eugenio Soria Bro. Juan Valdez Bro. Ricardo Zamudio
In early 1990, former founding Brother Juan Jose Rojas-Cardona was expelled from the fraternity after him and five other members of the University of Iowa's student government were found guilty of embezzling nearly $2,000 in funds. That same year Sigma Lambda Beta assisted with the establishment of Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority. Soon after the creation of the sorority, Sigma Lambda Beta, along with Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta sorority, and Sigma Lambda Gamma, formed the First Inter-Racially Mixed (F.I.R.M) Family network. F.I.R.M. was created to embody a shared commitment to unity and mutual support across the four different Greek letter organizations.
In the 21st century, Sigma Lambda Beta's membership grew beyond its Hispanic-Latino origins. The organization eventually withdrew from the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) due to its increasingly multicultural membership and focus, which no longer aligned with the regulations required of NALFO's membership criteria.
In 2025, the fraternity had 777 active collegiate members and 14,000 total initiates. Its national headquarters is in North Liberty, Iowa.
Symbols Sigma Lambda Beta's motto is "Opportunity for Wisdom, Wisdom for Culture". Its principles or pillars are Brotherhood, Scholarship, Community Service, and Cultural Awareness.
The fraternity's colors are royal purple and pure white. Its flower is the red carnation. Its mascot is the white stallion mustang. Its publication is . Its nicknames are Betas, Lambda Betas, and SLB.
Chapters Sigma Lambda Beta has chartered 151 chapters in over thirty states in the United States. It also has 3 associate chapters and 42 alumni networks.
Activities BetaCon is the fraternity's biennial convention. Its Leadership Institute is a three-day conference held every other year, alternating with BetaCon, where collegiate brothers are taught how to enhance their leadership and organizational skills to better meet the mission of the fraternity.
Philanthropy The Víctor Correa CPR Awareness Day was created in honor of Victor "Ziggy" Correa Ortiz, a Sigma Lambda Beta member who drowned during an accident where none of the bystanders knew how to administer CPR. The fraternity encourages its members to host CPR training and awareness events.
In 2001, members of the fraternity formed the Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity Inc.'s Educational Foundation as a 501(c) tax-exempt organization. The money raised by the Sigma Lambda Beta Education Foundation is used mainly to fund educational and leadership development programs for Sigma Lambda Beta, as well as for scholarships that are made available to undergraduate and graduate student members.
Chapter misconduct The Sigma Lambda Beta chapter at the University of California, Davis, was placed on revocation of registration until at least spring 2025 due to hazing-related incidents.
See also List of social fraternities and sororities
References
External links Sigma Lambda Beta National Website Sigma Lambda Beta Educational Foundation