Lambda Phi Epsilon was founded in 1981 on the campus of University of California at Los Angeles by Mr. Craig Ishigo, the principal founding father, and eighteen other men. The goal of the fraternity was to transcend the limitations to which traditional Asian American organizations were subject. While traditional Asian campus organizations were often split along lines of national origins, the founders sought an organization that drew its membership equally from the different segments of the Asian American community. Their vision was that the members would eventually bridge the gaps fragmenting the Asian American community through their affiliation with a common organization.
The greatest hurdle in reaching this goal, however, was the membership discontinuity of traditional Asian campus organizations. Student associations provided at best a circle of friends spanning the four years of most undergraduates' college experience and at worst a group of familiar strangers encountered during periodic social functions. The yearly turnover of most organizations' officers made it nearly impossible to pursue any extended project as each new officer core set its own agenda. The founders' solution to this dilemma was the adoption of a fraternal structure. By forming Lambda Phi Epsilon as an Asian-American Interest fraternity, the founders formed a strong bond of brotherhood with each other during their undergraduate experience, and made a commitment to the organization as alumnus even after graduation.
In order to facilitate the process of rapid expansion and to seek standardization throughout the nation, the existing six chapters came together on Memorial Day, 1990, to form what is known as Lambda Phi Epsilon National Fraternity. At this conference, a national governing body was established to better coordinate each individual chapters efforts, a national philanthropy was adopted, national expansion policies implemented and Memorial Day weekend was designated as the official date for the annual convention of Lambda Phi Epsilon National. That fall, with the admittance into the National Interfraternity Council, Lambda Phi Epsilon became the first and only nationally recognized Asian-American Interest Fraternity.
In 1995 to better serve the fraternity as a whole, Lambda Phi Epsilon became a California non-profit corporation. It further divided into two divisions, Alumni and Active, each with its own officer CORPS, policies and procedures.
In the Active division, numerous programs were developed to address the needs
of the collegiate brotherhood throughout the nation and abroad. The National
Service Program adopted several national philanthropies. The most notable is
the Asian American Bone Marrow Donor Program. To date, no other organization
in the United States has enlisted more registrants to the Asian bone marrow
donor library than Lambda Phi Epsilon. The National Academic Committee developed
guidelines and scholarship programs to encourage academic excellence in our
collegiate chapters. The National Expansion Committee developed formal procedures
and a fair application process for all interest groups. The creation of the
National Brotherhood Program sent national staff members to collegiate chapters
to demonstrate different methods of building brotherhood and character. The
National Brotherhood Program also established an Annual Brotherhood Showcase,
where brothers from around the nation exemplify their understanding of brotherhood
through artistic expression.
The alumni Division has also become a large part of Lambda Phi Epsilon National
activities. Like the Active Division, the Alumni Division has its own officer
CORPS and regions, including an international region in Japan. Regional Alumni
Associations hold events, such as professional and community events, as well
as, events which allow interaction between the active and alumni members.
Today, there are thousands of brothers in the United States and throughout the
world. Lambda Phi Epsilon National Fraternity continues to strive to achieve
its motto, "To Be Leaders Among Men," by providing services to assist
brothers in achieving their fullest potential. Our Active Division continues
to teach young men principles of leadership and strong moral character. Our
Alumni Division then provides a forum in which brothers may apply these beliefs
and become true leaders of their communities. Ultimately, it is the principles
of Lambda Phi Epsilon that will inspire all brothers to lead their communities
to a better, brighter way of life.
The fraternal structure has allowed Lambda Phi Epsilon to perennially maintain the leadership and quality of membership so that we may be able to meet our status quo as well as continually better ourselves as students and members of our society. With many social and service events planned throughout the year, we invite everyone to check out what Lambda Phi Epsilon has to offer. As you may already know, college is not only about improving your mind but also about personal growth and establishing oneself as an individual. Let Lambda Phi Epsilon help you in providing those resources.