In the end of Spring 2019, three young women, Juvi Therese Diagbel Mallari, An Khanh Nguyen, and Chanel Dalene Tabios Briones, joined together in hopes of establishing the first Asian-interest Sorority at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and the greater state of Tennessee. 

 

They chose Delta Phi Lambda® because of the similarities in the struggles they faced being in a predominantly white institution and the illuminating values they applied to guide their endeavors. The girls collectively felt anxious about embarking on this new journey in the face of so much uncertainty and having to balance prior responsibilities with any new commitments. However, through the relentless support and encouragement of friends and family, they utilized this unique opportunity to not only strengthen themselves, but to bolster the Asian American community around them. With the encouraging spirit of UTK Greek Advisor, Mrs. Tenea Lowry, the young women continued onto the recruitment stage of the process. It was heartbreaking and time consuming, but finding their four incredible Sisters was worth the wait.

 

In the end of Fall 2019, Abigail Kaneytai Srisavath, Alexis Sarawan, Valerie Trang Ho, and Summer Pukom Souvannaseng joined the journey. Together they became a family under the interest group named S.T.A.R.S. (Standing Tall And Representing Solidarity). They set out to reform the past and reinvigorate the future. Despite the many challenges they faced, they continued to persevere and always pursued the light in every dark situation. In the beginning, their interest group experienced some rough patches, but that, in turn, created the Scintillating Seven you see today. The heavy workload strained the lives of Sisters, but it was through this burden that they bonded. In their endeavor to charter the organization, they juggled packed schedules, late nights and early mornings filled with responsibilities and deadlines, and even soldiered on in the face of a global pandemic. 

 

They had several reasons to abandon the process, but it was their passion and courage of conviction that pushed for the achievement of their goals. Through Delta Phi Lambda®, they wanted to create the following for UTK: a home away from home for Sisters everywhere, the opportunity to spread and celebrate Asian culture under a united Sisterhood, and a community of care for Sisters looking to find their voice, state their opinion, and be unapologetically confident. 

 

With the guidance of Sisters from all over, they chartered the first Asian-interest sorority at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and the state of Tennessee on March 21st, 2020. Despite the difficulties of the past and the challenges of the future, they marched on with their feet firm on following the footsteps of the Sisters before them, their heads focused on the dawn of a new day, and their hearts forever in sync to the rhythm of their own revolution. 
 

The spirit of UTK’s charter class is forever anchored to the warrior and the gamemaster. Where in, the warrior watches all that we do and the gamemaster knows all of our secrets.