A Rhapsody in Gold for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

The Kappa Lambda chapter celebrates 50 years and a milestone $1.2 million scholarship endowment.

More than 200 members of the Kappa Lambda chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. gathered on campus during the weekend of Sept. 22-24 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the chapter’s chartering at Syracuse University.

In addition to its Golden anniversary, chapter members celebrated the successful culmination of a 10-year endowment campaign that raised a historic $1.2 million for the Our Time Has Come Scholarship Fund.

Weekend events included a Red and White Sneaker Ball, a public service project, a church service, and the pinnacle event, the Rhapsody in Gold Gala, held at Goldstein Auditorium on Saturday night. Members and special guests—which included including Chancellor Kent Syverud and his wife, Dr. Ruth Chen, Dean of Hendricks Chapel Rev. Brian Konkol and his wife Kristen, soror Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff to Chancellor, Gisele Marcus ’89 and Sharon R. Barner’79, members of the Syracuse University Board of Trustees; and Rachel Vassel ’91, G’21, associate vice president of multicultural advancement—recognized and celebrated the extraordinary monetary donation to the University in support of underrepresented students.

“These are uncertain times for many students. We are so pleased that this endowment will establish long-term, ongoing financial support to ensure successful outcomes for first-generation students or those with limited resources,” says Candice Carnage ’90, co-chair of the 50th-anniversary steering committee and a member of the Multicultural Advancement Advisory Council at Syracuse University.

The fundraising campaign and endowment was inspired by Gisele Marcus ’89, a Kappa Lambda initiate and member of the Syracuse University Board of Trustees.

“I am thrilled that our sorority has reached this important milestone,” says Marcus. “This endowment is the culmination of a multi-year journey that helped cultivate new donors and brought attention to the amazing work Kappa Lambda is doing on this campus.”

              The Kappa Lambda chapter was chartered at Syracuse University on April 27, 1973. Since then, more than 400 women have been initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Inc. at Syracuse, making a deep commitment to sisterhood, scholarship, service and social action. The chapter is a Hilton Cup recipient and the first National Pan-Hellenic Council sorority to win the Chancellor’s Cup.

              Watch for your next issue of the Syracuse Manuscript magazine for more in-depth coverage.