HISTORY

Theta Kappa Phi was founded on June 4, 1959, becoming the first official Asian-interest sorority established at UCLA. It is one of four members in the UCLA Asian Greek Council (AGLA) and one of many organizations in the larger Southern California Asian Greek Council (SoCal AGC).

The sorority was borne in the aftermath of World War II. Despite the improving racial tensions and growing acceptance of Asians along the West Coast, as many discriminatory Asian exclusion and segregation laws were repealed or overturned, strong racial prejudice towards Asians, particularly those of Japanese descent, remained. Upon her acceptance to UCLA, Margaret Ohara, the founding mother of Theta Kappa Phi, was rewarded with a Panhellenic Scholarship after being mistaken for someone of Irish descent (O'Hara). After discovering her true Japanese-American identity, the Greek panel "regretted that the woman they chose could not be invited to join any of the Greek society."

Undeterred by the turn of events, Margaret, along with eight other young female students, continued to chase their aspirations. With the help of Mrs. Rex P. Enochs, an active Panhellenic member and organizer of the UCLA chapter of Alpha Delta Pi, the Charter Members succeeded in establishing a true sorority for themselves and others to come. The good fortune of the sorority continued when the late and distinguished Dr. Robert S. Kinsman, served as the founding faculty advisor along with his wife, Mrs. Barbara Kinsman (an honorary Theta), for 45 devoted years.

FAITH, LOVE, & TRUST

Faith, Love, and Trust — these three simple words are the heart and core of Theta Kappa Phi. Sisterhood is built during pledgeship and blossoms beyond our college years. As Theta sisters, we share experiences, develop memories, and grow together. Throughout the year, sisterhood events give us chances to take time out of our busy college lives to relax and spend time with each other.

Each sister is unique in her own special way, and that is what makes Thetas so wonderful and diverse. The colorful array of personalities, qualities, and interests are brought together and shared, complementing one another in many unexpected ways. Theta Kappa Phi gives girls a chance to develop a strong sisterhood that is but the beginning of an everlasting friendship.

SISTERHOOD EVENTS

big & lil / fam dinners
revelations potluck
sisterhood retreat
road trips to vegas
music festivals
ski trip
sleepovers
date night
movie nights
boba runs

ACADEMICS

Theta Kappa Phi places importance not only on sisterhood, social networking and service to the community, but on academics as well. The sorority offers a strong support system and encourages every sister to maintain an above-average GPA and do well in her courses. After all, Thetas are first and foremost UCLA students! There are many upperclassmen with diverse major backgrounds from whom lowerclassmen can seek mentorship and assistance with their general and prerequisite classes. Furthermore, the sorority provides a test bank with previous exams and notes, along with weekly study sessions, in order to equip sisters with the help and motivation they need to succeed.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Every quarter, the sorority acknowledges sisters who have made the honor roll. At the end of the year, the annual Dr. Robert S. Kinsman Scholarship and Margaret Ohara Shinohara Scholarship, open to all sisters, are awarded to the two Thetas who have exhibited the most leadership,  academic excellence, and overall performance.

Theta Kappa Phi is committed to the academic achievements of its members and strives to maintain that standard. As a result, Theta Kappa Phi is the only Asian Greek organization within UCLA that offers two $1000 scholarships every year.

PHILANTHROPY

Community service is one of the pillars upon which Theta Kappa Phi was founded. Thetas recognize the importance of giving back to our community to help improve the lives of others and to build a better future. Annual philanthropy events include the Revlon Run/Walk to raise breast cancer awareness, beach clean-ups, UCLA Volunteer Day, and many more. Fundraising provides the sorority an opportunity to raise funds for our events, and to support important causes and charities. Theta Kappa Phi's biggest event of the year is called Battle, a large dance competition and exhibition held on campus to raise funds and breast cancer awareness.

SERVICE EVENTS:

Relay for Life
UCLA Bruin Day
LA Food Bank
Operation Gratitude
Los Angeles Marathon
Los Angeles AIDS Walk
American Cancer Society Making Strides Walk
Family Halloween Carnival Manhattan Beach
Emelita Elementary School’s Halloween Carnival
Westwood Organized Meaningful Projects (WOMP)

SOCIAL

In addition to sisterly bonding, Theta Kappa Phi provides its members with numerous social opportunities; after all, the Greek experience isn't only about interacting with one's sisters, but also about getting to know members of other organizations. Aside from our brother and sister Asian-interest sororities at UCLA, Theta Kappa Phi also interacts with other Greek-affiliated organizations on campus, such as those in the Multi-Interest Greek Council (MIGC).

As a member of the larger Southern California Asian Greek Council (SoCal AGC), Theta Kappa Phi frequently connects and organizes recruitment, mixer, and tailgating events with Asian Greeks at colleges such as University of Southern California, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly Pomona, San Diego State University, and even Cal Poly SLO and Stanford University. Sorority members take pride in their social and networking skills, as well as their ability to build and maintain relations that go beyond mere surface interactions. Theta Kappa Phi offers an expansive network for its members to develop indispensable people skills that are critical to future success.