Alpha Kappa Omicron

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Alpha Kappa Omicron (AKO) is a Filipino-American sorority based on the history, traditions and culture of the Philippines. The sorority is based on the five cornerstones of sisterhood, service, social, academics and culture. Alpha Kappa Omicron is a northern California based organization whose Alpha chapter was founded at San Francisco State University in 1997.
History
Alpha Kappa Omicron was founded at San Francisco State University in December 1997 as a little sister program of the Alpha Kappa Omega Fraternity. It was founded by five women each representing characteristics that the sorority holds as pillars and are a necessary quality in each member of Alpha Kappa Omicron. The characteristics are: strength, loyalty, pride, wisdom and courage.
The Founders of the sorority, Angelica Portacio, Jerilyn Campos, Janice Yenpasook, Jennifer Villavicencio, and Nicole Fernando, formed Alpha Kappa Omicron at San Francisco State University in December 1997. The Beta chapter was chartered at California State University, East Bay, located in Hayward, California in July 2005 followed by the Gamma Chapter at San Jose State University in May 2011. The organization is an all inclusive sorority favoring diversity amongst its sisters. While the organization was founded as a Filipino American sorority, there are many other nationalities of young empowered women that claim membership.
Letters
The Founders of Alpha Kappa Omicron chose AKO to represent the individual or "ako". "Ako" is a Filipino word meaning "me" or "I" and is the basis of the organization's mission to empower and build the self through academic excellence, community involvement and personal development.
Philanthropy
The sisters of Alpha Kappa Omicron participate in various charities and philanthropic efforts both financially and through time and talent.
In February 2012, Typhoon Sendong, a powerful late season typhoon, struck the southern portion of the Philippines causing destruction and displacing approximately 700,000 families. The Gamma Chapter at San Jose State University hosted a community fundraiser in collaboration with Alpha Kappa Omega Fraternity's Beta Chapter, and Akbayan Filipino Student Club to raise money for victims of this disaster. Typhoon Sending was a strong typhoon that hit the southern part of the Philippines on the island of Mindanao, as well as Palau and several other Micronesian islands. It caused 48.4 million dollars in damage and claimed the lives of over 1,400 people in the Philippines alone. The garage sale collected clothes, shoes, and household goods to be sent to families who lost everything in the storm. Monetary proceeds from this charity garage sale went to Project PEARLS to help get students displaced by the storm back into school.
Project P.E.A.R.L.S.
Beta Chapter sponsors Project P.E.A.R.L.S., a non profit organization which funds impoverished children in the Metro Manila area with resources for school, school tuition, healthy lunches and preventative healthcare. Project pearls started as a non-profit organization to assist families living in the extremely poverty stricken area of Tondo, Manila send their children to school. Families in this area live in a squatter community established over the city's landfill. Members of this community feed themselves by scavenging for food and make their living by selling relics they find in the marketplaces or pandering on street corners. Because of the overwhelming support and need for resources, Project PEARLS has expanded its scope to preventative healthcare and providing nutritious foods to families in need. Alpha Kappa Omicron proudly sponsors children in need each year and helps children to attain their educational goals through yearly financial endowments.
Cultural and community endeavors
Mula sa Ugat: "From the Roots" was a celebration marking the 11th anniversary of the creation of a mural honoring the culture and history of the Philippines. The celebration was a collaboration between Filipino organizations on campus including Alpha Kappa Omicron (AKO), Alpha Chapter, Chi Rho Omicron (XPO), Beta Chapter, Kappa Psi Epsilon (ΚΨE), Beta Chapter, and Pilipino American Collegiate Endeavor(PACE). The mural was donated to the San Francisco State University eleven years ago and celebrates Filipino heroes and heroines. It is the first mural in the California State school system to depict Filipino history. The saying "We Stand on Their Shoulders" is painted below the mural and represents the accomplishments of subsequent generations due to the sacrifices of their ancestors. The mural is displayed at the Caesar Chavez student center at San Francisco State University.
Academics
Gamma Chapter, located at San Jose State University, is a part of the United Sorority and Fraternity Council, which is the responsible governing body of local, regional and cultural Greek lettered organizations on San Jose State University's campus. Gamma chapter has also been recognized as a Silver Laurel chapter, having fulfilled standards of excellence design to exemplify what the university expects from each chapter academically, philanthropically, and organizationally. This status is required that each chapter meets these minimum standards yearly in order to be considered in good standing with the University, and to maintain recognition on campus. The standards of excellence have been designed to recognize the strongest Fraternities and Sororities at SJSU.
Chapters and affiliations
Chapters
*Α- San Francisco State University, December, 1997
*Β- California State University, East Bay, July, 2005
*Γ- San Jose State University, May, 2011
Affiliations
Alpha Kappa Omega, Brother Fraternity

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