Our History
National Kappa Delta
The Kappa Delta National Sorority was founded by four young women at the State Female Normal School (now Longwood College) in Farmville, Virginia, on October 23, 1897. On that day, Lenora Ashmore, Mary Sommerville Sparks Hendrick, Julia Gardiner Tyler Wilson, and Sara Turner White solidified the ties of friendship with the birth of Kappa Delta. Their original ideals of friendship, fellowship, and sisterly love have remained constant and strong for more than 100 years, and their sisterhood has today grown into an association of over 200 chartered chapters and over 180,000 initiated sisters nationwide. Such beloved values are reflected in the Kappa Delta open motto, Ta Kala Diokomen, meaning "Let us strive for that which is honorable, beautiful, and highest."
Epsilon Rho - University of Rochester
The Epsilon Rho Chapter of Kappa Delta Sorority was installed on April 21, 1979. What once started as a group of 21 women attending the University of Rochester has flourished into a magnificent sisterhood of 50 members. We currently reside on the sixth floor of Wilder Tower, in which we have three suites. Some great amenities we have include a double-sized and single lounge fully furnished with comfy couches and televisions, study resources, and a kitchen. The majority of our sisters reside here and it really is home sweet home!
Our chapter prides itself on our diversity of interests and extent of involvement on campus. We range from varsity athletes, to honor society and student government executives, to recruitment counselors, to teaching assistants, to resident advisors, and to tour guides, just to name a few. In addition to our activities on the college level, we strive to extend our abilities beyond campus, city-wide and nationally. This endeavor can be seen in our philanthropic workâVisit the Events and Philanthropy sections for more!
A Few Notable Kappa Deltas
Georgia O'Keefe (painter)Ellen A. Dow (the "rapping granny" in The Wedding Singer)
Patricia Polito Miller (Co-owner/President of Vera Bradley)
Pearl Sydenstricker Buck (novelist, Pulitzer Prize winner)
Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar (astronaut)
Dr. Cynthia Clark Wedel (social psychologist, author)
Trischa Zorn (Paralympic swimmer)
Donna Stone (founder, Prevent Child Abuse America)
Ali Landry (Miss U.S.A. 1996, television personality)
Debra Sue Maffett (Miss America 1983)
Janet Marie Smith (architect of Camden Yards)
Claudia Kennedy (highest ranking female officer in U.S. Army)
Ruth Johnson Colvin (founder, President, Literacy Volunteers of America)