Founded in 1907, the organization then known as the "Los Amigos Club" became the first fraternity founded west of the Rocky Mountains. The Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Lambda (AKΛ) fraternity was established at Berkeley in 1914, and new chapters spread outward from California as the years went on.
The Washington State University Eta Chapter was founded in 1927, and remains one of the oldest campus fraternities to this day. Members of Alpha Kappa Lambda follow five principles: the moral code defined by Judeo-Christian principles, leadership, scholarship, loyalty and self-support. As outlined by their creed, Alpha Kappa Lambda Men aspire to be "Men of character committed to making a difference."
Living by this mantra, the members of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity never stop improving themselves and their peers. With 45 active members, this fraternity measures itself not just by the accomplishments of their collective members, but by the successes of each and every unique individual. Derek Wolf, a member of AKΛ, describes their chapter: "Our house is diverse, and I love how so many different people and perspectives can join something that it really takes being part of to truly understand."
A major value of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity is the strong bond of brotherhood. Member Garrett Britton elaborates: "I never thought I was going to be in a fraternity. None of the ones I saw really appealed to me, but when I came to AKΛ I found a place that I could see myself belonging. Even though when I had come to WSU as a freshman and had to leave my friends at home behind, my pledge brothers offered a seamless transition that never left me feeling lonely."
Although pledge classes share tight bonds among themselves, there is a closeness between members of different age groups.
Alpha Kappa Lambda participates in a group of national service projects, but the main focus of the Eta chapter here at Washington State University is called These Hands Don't Hurt, a project formed to "raise awareness and funds in an effort to stop domestic violence and sexual assault, educate on prevention and intervention efforts, and support victims," according to their philanthropy description.
The traditional "philanthropy" event in support of this national project, which is where students come together to donate money and participate in a chapter function, is called Promise Wall. During this event, individual donors place their handprint on a wall to raise awareness. However, Alpha Kappa Lambda takes part in other philanthropic events on a local chapter level, such as their trip to volunteer at the Oso Landslide site last year, where members restored local recreational and historical sites damaged or destroyed by the disaster.
As demonstrated through their philanthropy and brotherhood, Alpha Kappa Lambda is a fraternity that has a place for everyone no matter their differences. As the Creed states, current and future generations of AKΛ members hope to "achieve a wholeness of manhood that is prepared to assume leadership responsibilities in fulfilling the obligations of life."
