Three Greek-letter organizations are more than just campus groups; they serve as second families for the Latine community at NC State.

Founded with the pride of Latine culture, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. and Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. are the Latine Greek-letter organizations at North Carolina State University.

The Nubian Message spoke with the three about their histories, principles and shared focus on uplifting the Latine community on campus.

Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc.

In the spring of 2023, Travis Espinoza Mundo, a fourth-year studying applied education studies, and David Suarez, a third-year studying construction engineering, became brothers of the Gamma Sigma Chapter of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., also known as Lambdas.

As the oldest brother to three sisters, Espinoza Mundo grew up without the guidance of an older male figure. Coming into college with no intention of joining a fraternity, Espinoza Mundo realized that the Lambdas gave him something he had been seeking a long time ago — a brotherhood.

“Coming into NC State, I never really thought about joining a fraternity,” Espinoza Mundo said.

“A year in, I realized how much the brothers had been mentors for me, and it was what I was looking for. It was a mentor, an older brother, per se, someone I could look at as a brother, and especially [someone] who understands me, who has a similar identity as me.”

Brotherhood is a core value of the Lambdas, reflected in how each member provides support for Latine students as they navigate a predominantly white institution.

This was true for Suarez, who, having not grown up in a predominantly white population, found community and guidance to navigate college with the brothers.

“Getting guidance from the brothers and helping me … find my place here and help me battle through that imposter syndrome meant the most to me,” Suarez said. “I don’t think I’d still be here if it wasn’t for them. I think I would have transferred out to a place with a greater Hispanic population.”

Like Suarez, Kevin Emanuel Manzanarez, a fourth-year studying agricultural education and animal science, wanted to connect with a community that reflected his cultural background at NC State. Coming from Siler City, a small town with a majority Latine population, he appreciated the support and sense of belonging the fraternity provided.

“Coming to NC State, obviously, was like a big culture shock,” Manzanarez said. “Having the brothers, they really encouraged me to go out there and just, explore things for myself. They really just provided that support system that I was looking for.”

Another aspect of the fraternity that resonated with Suarez was seeing how the brothers represented the Latino community in leadership positions across other campus organizations.

“When I got here to NC State, I saw so many of the brothers holding president positions in other orgs, which is something that felt strange to me. I mean, back home, nobody had any positions like that,” Suarez said. “Then coming here, it seemed like ‘Man, so it’s actually possible to have the title of president, to be able to run these big organizations as a Hispanic male.’”

Development of strong leadership and academic success are key values not only for the Lambdas, but also for the Epsilon Nu Chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. (LTA) – one of the two Latine sororities on campus.

Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.

“LTA was established as an academic sorority,” said Valeria Gonzalez Perez, a fourth-year studying zoology. “…We want to make sure that we are working from the ground up, empowering the people that we serve, the communities that we’re serving, making sure that there’s representation for Latinas, Latinos, Latines all across different majors, all across different experiences and making sure that those voices are heard.”

While established as an academic sorority to develop strong Latina leaders, LTA also provides a sisterhood rooted in unity, love and respect.

“I like to think about LTA as an organization that promotes the well-being of women, Latin women specifically, but with a focus on what community does for that, what love, respect and unity does for that,” Perez said.

Both LTA and Lambdas are the first and largest Latine Greek letter organizations; established in 1975 in the US. In 2011; their respective chapters were chartered at the University.

Due to alumni graduating, the LTA chapter faded out in 2017. It wasn’t until the fall of 2023 when six lovely ladies came together to bring the organization back to campus.

“As a member that was part of the reestablishing line, to me [the re-establishment of LTA] carried so much significance,” Perez said. “It showed merit, it showed the hard work that I put into networking with my peers. …I felt like the sisters that I obtained through this organization were sisters before I even had joined, and so being able to continue to create that community was extremely important to me.”

Sisterhood was exactly what LTA gave to Perez, but not only that, it also pushed her to continue to grow — as a Latina, as a student, as a human.

“Even before I joined, I saw the way that people carried themselves. I saw the pride that they took in their academics. I saw the way that they made sure to be present and loving and grounded and dedicated and disciplined,” Perez said. “All of that, it pushed me to continue to better myself, and I feel like ever since I joined this organization, I have done that exactly.”

Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc.

In 2003, the Rho chapter of Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. (LPC) was chartered at the University.

“The reason why we needed this chapter here at NC State was just to have that Latina inclusivity,” said Holly Delgado, a third-year studying marine science. “I feel like, with how the world was back then [in 2003], not much was cared about for people of color as of now.”

Looking back to 2003, Delgado said LPC being the first sorority established on campus impacted Latina students who wanted community but didn’t know where to start.

“Having [the] Rho chapter here at NC State really just brought in that inclusivity,” Delgado said. “That home aspect at NC State, knowing that it’s a PWI school.”

LPC brought a “hermandad” to the University, one dedicated to empowering themselves and their communities. Annabelle Rosse, a third-year studying political science, said LPC does this by dedicating a lot of its time to public service, in terms of political and social advocacy.

“We’re just very active in the community, more in a sense of fighting for what we believe is right,” Rosse said. “We’re not afraid to make a scene. We’re not afraid to be able to fight for what we love and for what we want in our lives.”

Camila Tejada, a third-year studying science, technology and society, said the essence of LPC lies in its members’ values, deeply rooted in community and advocacy, but also in each member’s individuality and identity.

“I think the core of a Latina Greek org is rooted in the people that join,” Tejada said. “Most people that join are just very powerful of their ethnicity, and that becomes their new identity. [Their identity] is rooted in that org.”

While the Lambas, LTA, and LPC each have unique histories and principles, they share a common purpose — to promote and elevate the voices of the Latine community.

These organizations are more than just campus groups; they offer a found family for Latine students coming into a predominantly white institution. They help amplify pride in each member’s identity and serve as beacons of community for Latine students.

“No one’s able to choose their family, but these are the people that I was able to choose,” Suarez said.