The University of California, Berkeley was home to the newest chapter of Lambda Theta Phi, Latin Fraternity, Inc. in the Spring semester of 2004. Ten undergraduate students came together with the idea of introducing a positive image of a Latino fraternity to the UC Berkeley campus. They wanted to embrace and take part in the unity, brotherhood, pride and respect for all cultures that Lambda Theta Phi offered. After much discussion and preparation, only five possessed the strength and motivation to continue and explore what lied ahead.
By the end of Spring 2004, Luis Sanchez, Renato Manay, Renzo Manay, Arquimides Pacheco, and Rafael Hernandez created a historical landmark and established the first Latino Greek Letter Fraternity officially recognized by the National Interfraternal Council (NIC) on the UC Berkeley campus.
After much continuous collaborative work, Lambda Theta Phi became officially recognized by the University in the summer of 2004.
As the newly established chapter of Lambda Theta Phi entered the Fall of 2004, these five sought to apply their desire to show what a Latino Fraternity can do (and must do) for the Latino and the campus community as a whole, while overcoming all stereotypes commonly embedded in most fraternities. These ideals led to the further interest of Lambda Theta Phi to new and continuing male students on this campus. But out of those interested, only four other strong gentlemen (Andres Cardona, Gabriel Duran, Cain Diaz, and Joel Gonzalez), each with distinctive career goals and aspirations, became the next line of Conquistadores on the Fall semester of 2004.
Now, since its establishment and through its further development and growth, Lambda Theta Phi in UC Berkeley has continued to carry through its ideals of a service/social fraternity by giving back to the community while engaging in social activities that would allow further bondages among our members and with other organizations. Such include our participation in the Annual AIDS Walk, our service in low-income Oakland Elementary schools, and advocacy of immigrant rights to day laborers within the county of Alameda. Apart from these community service events, this chapter has sought to create strong ties and mutual respect with other Latin and non-Latin organizations through social activities and collaborative efforts.
Lastly, the main goal of Lambda Theta Phi in UC Berkeley is to pursue the educational success of our fraternity brothers. At the national level, from New Jersey to California, many go on to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, among other professionals.