scholarship / leadership / service / fellowship
Women Excelling in Agriculture
About the Beta Theta Chapter of Sigma Alpha
The Beta Theta Chapter of Sigma Alpha is located on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Martin in scenic Martin, Tennessee. It was chartered on April 15, 2006 with twelve charter members. Beta Theta conducts itself as both a professional and social sorority, participating in everything from tours of the local Tyson plant to an elegant Emerald Ball. Beta Theta is also active on campus and in the community. From homecoming queen candidates to the annual All-Sing competition to planting trees in the community, you'll find Sigma Alphas there.
The history of
Beta Theta is a long and complex one, and begins in November of 2004 in a
small apartment in the Candylynn Apartments No. 3. It was here that
then-senior Pamela Bartholomew hosted the first of many meetings about the
agricultural sorority she had discovered at National FFA Convention. The
sorority's name was Sigma Alpha, at it filled a niche at UT Martin. Many
girls came to those first few meetings, but only twelve had the tenacity to
see the budding organization to its chartering. These twelve were supportive
of one another, and through activities like Christmas parties, semi-formals,
and Bull Buddies, began to learn about each other and consider their new
friends sisters.
The charter members met with National officers to discuss what
Sorority-in-Development status entailed, and received notice of official SID
status on January 15, 2006. Working feverishly, the charter members, along
with the new Alpha class, helped to chartering possible on the weekend on
April 14 and 15, 2006. The original twelve members were Pamela
Bartholomew, Laura Lee McKellips,
Stephanie Peck, Erin Smith,
Emily Davis, Allie Shrum,
Sara Beth Griffen, Renee'
McCann, Leann Oliver,
Allison Martinez, Wrenda Curd,
and Kelly Morgan.