A beta woman is a better woman.
Not better than other women, but better than she used to be.

Chapter Accomplishments

The Tau Chapter of OPB was chartered on March 8, 2003 at Utica College and expanded to include Hamilton College on April 22, 2004. It is the first national Latina-Oriented sorority to blind the Utica College campus with its radiance, and in fact is the first national sorority on the Hamilton college campus. Since the year 2000 the radiant sisters at Tau chapter have been working hard in the areas of community service, academic excellence and planning social and cultural programs.

The Radiant Sisters of Tau Chapter have been leaders and active participants of many organizations on their respective campuses and in the community. Some include the Student Senate, Programming Board, the Latin American Student Union, Residence Hall Judicial Board, Africa in Motion (AIM), ASA Gray, UC Step Education Club, Orientation leaders, and the Womyn's Resource Center at Utica College. sisters at Hamilton have been involved as Resident Advisors, Emergency Medical Technicians, Lifeguards, Building Monitors, and La VanGuardia.

Chapter Milestones

  • 2000

    • April 29, 2000  Utica College becomes a satellite of Xi Chapter at Syracuse University

    2002

    • April 19, 2002  The Colony of Utica College is established

    • Nov 4 - 9, 2002  Utica Colony's 1st successful Week of Illumination

    2003

    • March 9, 2003  Tau Chapter Charter secured from Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

    2004

    • January 17, 2004  The 1st Regional Step Team (RST) with Tau Chapter's own Alaka'i and Saharu alongside Xi Chapter's Ayari performs at the National Step Team's Bringin' It Back Tour II

    • February 2, 2004  Tau Chapter gains college recognition at UC and is inducted into the Utica College InterGreek Council

    • February 15, 2004  Tau Chapter of Omega Phi Beta named Vagina Warriors at the V-Day Utica College 2004 Benefit Production of Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues"

    • April 3, 2004  RST performs at the University of Maryland - Baltimore County. Saharu, Alaka'i and Ayari receive a standing ovation.

    • April 18, 2004  Tau Chapter of Omega Phi Beta is awarded Outstanding Campus Involvement by a Greek Organization 2003-2004 by the InterGreek Council of Utica College

    • April 22, 2004  Tau Chapter expands to Hamilton College

    • May 17, 2004  Tau Chapter gains campus recognition at Hamilton College

    2009

    • December 2009 Tau Chapter awarded 'Most Supportive Chapter' at Xi Chapter's Annual Women of Empowerment Banquet

    • March 13, 2010  Tau Chapter is among the recipients of the Region of the Year Award for the Western Upstate New York Region, 3 at OPBSI's National Convention.

    • October 9, 2010  Tau Chapter hosts over 100 sisters at Utica College for Omega Phi Beta's National Conferenc

  • 2012

    • November 10, 2012 Tau Chapter hosts its first annual Serving & Educating Banquet: Chromosome 21

    2013

    • November 10, 2013 Tau Chapter host a Radiant weekend with The War: Step & Stroll show as well as its second Serving & Educating Banquet: Defining the Image

    2015

    • April 25, 2015 Tau Chapter host their Quince and receives their crest plaque on the Utica College Campus

    2016

    • October 29, 2016 Tau Chapter crosses it's first line of 4 

    2019 & 2020

    • November 2019 & March 2020, Tau Chapter crosses first back to back classes

  • 2021

    • Chapter crosses first SOLO in 15 years

Sister Milestones

  • 2002

    • Outstanding Individual of the Year 2001-2002 awarded to Giselle Brown by the Utica College Student Senate

    • Giselle Brown graduates with the Class of 2002

    2003

    • Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges awarded to Elizaveta Reyes

    • Jennifer Echavarria graduates with the Class of 2003

    • Elizaveta Reyes is elected Student Senate Secretary

    • Jenny Lora is awarded for Academic Tenacity, High Cumulative GPA, and the Community Service Award by the office of Higher Education Opportunity Programs (HEOP)

    • Giselle Brown is awarded for Academic Tenacity by the office of Higher Education Opportunity Programs (HEOP)

    • Elizaveta Reyes receives Academic Achievement Award from Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc

    2004

    • Jessica Rodriguez is elected IGC (InterGreek Council) Treasurer

    • Jenny Lora is named Womyn of Substance by the Utica College Womyn's Resource Center

    • Elizaveta Reyes is awarded with the Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges

    • Elizaveta Cruz receives the Dean Robet Woods Student Life Award for outstanding contributions to student life at Utica College

    • Jenny Lora and Elizaveta Cruz graduate with the Class of 2004

    • Anniversary Banquet in Boston, MA

    • Jessica Rodriguez graduates with the class of 2005

  • 2005

    • Elizaveta Reyes is elected as the Director of Information Technology on the National Board of Directors of OPBSI

    • Giselle Brown is awarded Alumna of the Year at Omega Phi Beta's National Convention and 16th Anniversary Banquet in Boston, MA

    • Jessica Rodriguez graduates with the class of 2005

    2006

    • Valencia Briscoe, Gabriela Soto, and Virginia Urdaneta graduate with the class of 2006

    2007

    • Elizaveta Reyes is elected as the Director of Membership Education on the National Board of Directors of OPBSI

    2008

    • Elizaveta Reyes is elected as the National President of OPBSI and serves on the newly established National Council of Officers and the Board of Trustees

    • Jessica Rodriguez joins the National Step Team of OPBSI and becomes a Soul Steppin' Diva

    • Elizaveta Reyes os e;ecyed as National President of OPBSI

    2009

    • Elizaveta Reyes is recognized as one of the Top 20 Most Influential Sisters at Omega Phi Beta's National Convention and 20th Anniversary Banquet in New York, NY

    • Sherice King is elected IGC (InterGreek Council) Chief Justice

    • Debra Cruz is elected Director of Public Relations of the Utica College Student Senate

    • Giselle Brown is appointed as the Director of Academic Development on OPBSI's National Council of Officer

    • Elizaveta Reyes is awarded the Image Award at Xi Chapter's 10th Anniversary and Empowerment of Women Banquet in Syracuse University

    2010

    • Elizaveta Reyes is awarded the Jessica P. Roman Dedication Award at Omega Phi Beta's National Convention at Psi Chapter, DePauw University

    • Sherice King is awarded as a Womyn of Substance by Utica College's Womyn's Resource Center

    • Debra Cruz and Sherice King are recognized with the Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges Award

    • Debra Cruz and Sherice King graduate with the class of 2010

  • 2011

    • Amber Recio is elected IGC (InterGreek Council) Public Relations Director

    2012

    • Ivette Peralta, Ashley Rivera and Carolina Guzman are recognized with the Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges Award  

    • Marise Singh is elected IGC (InterGreek Council) Treasurer

    • Jennifer Howell is elected as IGC (InterGreek Council) Conduct Board Chief

    • Carolina Guzman was initiated into SCJ (Society of Colligate Journalist honors society

    • Elizaveta Reyes and Debra Cruz are awarded most supportive alumni at Tau Chapter's Serving & Educating Banquet: Chromosome 21

    • Ivette Peralta, Amber Recio, Ashley Rivera and Marise Singh graduate with the class of 2012

    2013

    • Carolina Guzman and Adrian Hatche graduate with the class of 2013

    2014

    • Jennifer Howell graduate with the class of 2014 & begins her first year at New England Law School

    2015

    • Stephanie Rodriguez received a Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges Award and Dean Robert Woods Award

    • Stephanie Rodriguez is part of the Deans List

    • Stephanie Rodriguez graduates with the class of 2015

    • Debra Cruz graduates from Hunter College with her MBA in Special Childhood Education 

  • 2016

    • Karina Cabrera and Enerolisa Feliz receive Dean's List

    • Marise Singh graduates from Long Island University with her MBA in Childhood Education and Special Education

    • Amber Recio becomes the Tau Chapter Adviser ('16-'19)

    2017

    • Karina Cabrera received a Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges Award

    • Karina Cabrera, Enerolisa Feliz & Nathaly Cuevas graduate with the class of 2017

    • Jessica Rodriguez becomes Regional Director for Region 7

    • Jennifer Howell graduates with her Juris Doctrine from New England Law School and moved to Albany, NY to pursue her career

    • Giselle Brown got engaged

    • Amber Recio begins her MBA in Business Admin with specialization in Entrepreneurship at Utica College

    • Cindy Borgen is elected as Secretary for Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA)

    • Cindy Borgen is elected as Secretary for Utica College Programming Board (UCPB)

    • Cindy Borgen is elected as Secretary for the Residence Hall Association (RHA)

    • India Jackson is elected as Inter-Greek Council Treasurer

    2018

    • Ivette Peralta gets engaged

    • Cindy Borgen earns Most Supportive Sister at the Region 3 retreat

    • Jennifer Howell graduates with her Esquire from New England Law School

    • Zuleynis Leonardo is elected as Inter-Greek Council Secretary

    • India Jackson receives the Outstanding Individual of the Year Award by the Inter-Greek Council

    • Stephanie Rodriguez graduates from the Police Academy in April

    2019

    • Carolina Guzman gets engaged

    • Amber Peña joins the Ray of Hope Walk Committee

    • Gabriella Ortiz is elected as Inter-Greek Council Vice President

    2020

    • Debra Cruz gets engaged

    • Melissa Suero welcomes her first daughter

    • Sherice King gets married on October 2

  • 2021

    • Melissa Suero opens a SoftPlay and BallPut rental company for kids entertainment

    • Ivette Peralta gets married on February 28

    • Melissa Suero gets engaged

    • Carolina Guzman gets married on September 18

    • Debra Cruz gets married on October 9

    2022

    • Alicia Fernandez completes her Master of Science in Health Care Administration from Utica University

    • Melissa Suero gives birth to her second daughter

    • Cindy Borgen is elected as OPBSI Vice President for Region 3

    2023

    • Annelise Clausell receives the Most Supportive Undergrad Award

    • Karina Cabrera gets married on August 14

    2024

    • Marise Singh becomes a member of the National Expansion Committee

    • Elizaveta Reyes receives Best Fundraiser Campaign

    • Elizaveta Reyes receives Most Supportive Sister Award for Region 9

    • Cindy Borgen receives Most Supportive Sister Award for Region 3