National History
In September of 1975, Founding Father Agustin Garcia entered Kean College as a freshman. A politically active individual, he ran for a position on the Freshman Student Council and became the first Latino elected to the Kean College student government. A man of vision, he was concerned over the disunity among the Latin students and took it upon himself to begin to organize the Latinos at Kean. From September to November of 1975, Founding Father Garcia and a group of other students met to find the solution to uniting the different Latino groups on campus. Founding Father Garcia initiated these meetings and reached out to all Latino students, irrespective of their ethnic background. The major topics of discussion at these meetings were the need to become politically conscious and active as Latino students and the unification of all Latinos. At a meeting on November 11, 1975, Founding Father Garcia proposed the idea of founding a fraternity. He believed this structure would best meet the needs of the Latinos by promoting unity through brotherhood............ The history book was released in November of 1994 at the fraternity's nineteenth annual awards banquet in Wayne, New Jersey. Below are excerpts from the history book regarding the essence of the fraternity and the fraternity's symbolism for the "Conquistador." "Lambda Theta Phi provides the Latino college student with the opportunity to be part of a congenial family with a mission. What is this mission? To cultivate a spirit of brotherhood, to value an education, to promote unity among all Latinos, to be proud of and cherish our heritage, to assert roles of leadership, to develop character, to practice chivalry, to serve mankind, to aim for the stars. In short, to raise the social and cultural conscience of the Latin male college student." "Lambda Theta Phi has conquered new lands-the campuses of institutions of higher learning. Lambda Theta Phi has conquered a multicultural people-each and every brother, by becoming a Lambda, has taken an oath to uphold the ideals of the Fraternity, tenets we cannot confine to a college campus, but which constitute a lifetime commitment, something many may be unable to relate to. Lambda Theta Phi is building the Latino leaders of tomorrow, those who will provide the guidance and leadership for our community and nation." "The twenty-first century quickly approaches. It will be accompanied by growth and change. As an organization, we will have to adapt to changing times. Let us not fear the future. Our unity and ideals shall illuminate our path to conquer the twenty-first century." "Lambda Theta Phi, Latin Fraternity, Incorporated.
Ayer,
Hoy,
Mañana...
Siempre."
No materials from "The History of Lambda Theta Phi, Latin Fraternity Incorporated" can be reprinted without the expressed written consent of Lambda Theta Phi, Fraternidad Latina, Inc and Jesus Pena, Esq. (The following excerpts are not reprinted in the book's order. Some of the text was omitted for space.)
Chapter History
In the midst of September 1998, three men with a dream came together. They had a dream of starting up a Latin Fraternity in the University of South Florida's campus. Jose Fernandez, Alexander Bravo, and Henry Yanes held their first meeting in the parking garage of the University. They contemplated on the idea of the fraternity and decided to embark their journey by searching the web. After prolonged hours of research, their search was over. They came across the best Latin Fraternity in the Nation its name; Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. Not long after this, Jose and Alex drove to Orlando to visit the Alpha Alpha chapter of the fraternity and meet the brothers. They came back with an ambition to be part of this brotherhood. The search now began for other men with a strong will for leadership. The second meeting was held in the Tampa Room of the Marshall Center at nine in the evening. By this time, two more had joined the group, Hector Guerra and Randall Miranda. During this meeting brother Ramon Rivera, a transfer student from UCF joined us in preparing us for the task at hand. Our minds were set and our ambition was growing. During the meetings that followed, three more men joined us, Sean Cotto, Erick Aponte, and Andrew Obando. These were the chosen eight. The ones that will cross the line between going to college and preparing for a job, and going to college and preparing for life. They were ready to make a difference. These eight men on November First nineteen ninety-eight became the Alpha Line of the Alpha Psi Chapter of Lambda Theta Phi, Latin Fraternity, Inc. Today Alpha Psi chapter has grown to gain recognition in the USF campus as well as in the Tampa Bay community. Our brother's ambition and desire to be the best and set the example as our founders did, has enabled this chapter to succeed. In just our second year since our founding, we won the Chapter of The Year Award for the State of Florida, Chapter of the year Nationally amongst Lambda Theta Phi and Amongst all Latino Greeks. We have also won, USF's Outstanding Fraternity of the Year. We have become the youngest chapter to have ever accomplished such feats. We have set our mark amongst the other Greeks on campus, We have set an example Nationally since 1975, and locally since 1998. Alpha Psi chapter will continue to make a difference in the Latin community in the future as it has in the past, as it represents Lambda Theta Phi to the fullest!
