The idea of a Latina Based sorority on Grand Valley ' s campus began with Jacqueline Villegas and Anna Canales. They believed that Grand Valley was missing an organization that supported Latina women academically, personally and socially. After speaking with several Gammas Jacqueline and Anna began there own research into Sigma Lambda Gamma and other Latina based sororities. After evaluating many sororities Jacqueline and Anna believed that only Sigma Lambda Gamma principles, purpose and motto matched their own beliefs and values and would serve as a positive outlet for women on Grand Valley's campus.

        The induction process began March 1998 on the campus Saginaw Valley State University at the Midwest Retreat where Founding Mother Guadalupe Temiquel participated in the ceremony. Inducted at SVSU were Jacqueline Villagas, Jessica Ramirez. Angie Vargas, Thea Lugo, Angela Delgado and Poonam Gulpa.  In April 1998 Anna Canales, Pilar Guillermo, Rose Herrera, Rebecca Ramirez-Barnes, Alma VanAgtmael, Alma Puga, Elizabeth Molina and Theresa Martinez were inducted.  These 14 ladies laid the ground work for the sorority for months until the induction of Nadie Rivera, Davina Gutierrez, Irma West, Lucy Fernandez, Mari Carmen Garcia and Cystena Allersma.  Throughout these months these women worked tirelessly with Nationals and Grand Valley 's Greek Life Office to meet the requirements for Chapter Status as outline by Sigma Lambda Gamma's National Office. 

          Chapter status was granted on February 20, 1999, when Jacqueline received the call that we were officially the Omicron Alpha Chapter of Sigma Lambda Gamma.  Initiation of Jacqueline "Consentida" Villegas, Anna "Mandona" Canales, Jessica "Escondida" Ramirez, Thea "Paz" Lugo and Angie "Superestrella" Vargas occurred on March 19, 1999 at the annual Midwest Retreat held at Michigan State University .  The second group of founders was initiated at Grand Valley with Western Michigan Gamma leading the ceremony on April 8, 1999.  They included Nadine "Sonrisa" Rivera, Lucy "Bailarina" Fernandez, Rose, "Loca" Herrera, Theresa "Presumida" Martinez , Davina "Princesa" Martinez and Irma "Preciosa" West.  Angela "Traviesa" Delgado was the last of the founder who was initiated on September 29, 1999 since she had been studying abroad during the first two ceremonies.

          June 2000 at Sigma Lambda Gamma's National Convention, our chapter received the greatest honors that our founding line could have dreamed of by receiving the top GPA Chapter Award with a cumulative GPA of 3.256.  Omicron Alpha has shown its commitment to the Grand Valley 's campus and the greater Grand Rapids community through our yearly participation in the Make a Difference Day, Breast Cancer Walk, Community Outreach Week and the continuous programming based around Sigma Lambda Gamma's five founding principles.  Omicron Alpha has continued to carry on the vision of our founder's as well as the Founding Mothers through providing a source of strength and unity amongst women on our campus and our community.