Author Archives: lul-admin

Lambda Upsilon Lambda Wins NALFO Philanthropic Organization of the Year

New York, NY — May 2013

hslide-la-unidad-latina-lul-philanthropyLa Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Incorporated won NALFO’s prestigious National Philanthropic Organization of the Year award at NALFO’s 2013 Spring Meeting in Queens, NY. The announcement was made at NALFO’s 15th Anniversary Crystal Gala this past Saturday May 18th, 2013.

The organization’s goal for 2012 was to not only enhance current service efforts but to also launch transcending philanthropic initiatives. Lambda Upsilon Lambda increased the number of P.A.T.H.E. (Providing Access To Higher Education) events throughout the country, participated in national and community services and charities, and raised funds for La Unidad Latina Foundation to be used for scholarships and grants. For the first time since its inception, the professional Medical Guild of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. and volunteers embarked on a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Over their one-week mission in several poverty stricken areas they were able to assist over 1000 patients in need of medical care.

In the face of adversity, Lambda Upsilon Lambda was also able to raise over $120,000 for fraternity brother Jonel Gonzalez who tragically lost seven family members in a car accident. The “Para Jonel” campaign was successful through the generous support of family, friends, celebrities and, most importantly, the NALFO community.

The NALFO National Philanthropic Organization of the Year is awarded in recognition of an organization that has demonstrated excellence in:

  • Promoting of Community Service and philanthropic endeavors at the National Level
  • Participation of Community Service outside of their respective organizations
  • Proven success of national community service programming
  • Participation of NALFO philanthropic events

NALFO also awarded two individual Lambda brothers for their philanthropic and community service efforts. Hermano Eric Amador received the Undergraduate Philanthropic Excellence Award and Hermano Keith Garcia received the Unidad Project Award. La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. congratulates these brothers for their excellence in service and leadership by example.

The National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations, Inc. (NALFO) was established in 1998 to promote the advancement of Latino/a fraternities and sororities. Today NALFO networks with 20 member Latino/a fraternities and sororities that are bound by a shared commitment to fraternal unity and the values that Latino/a fraternal life entails. NALFO’s purpose is to promote and foster positive interfraternal relations, communication, and development of Latino/a Fraternal organizations through mutual respect, leadership, honesty, professionalism and education.

Lambda Upsilon Lambda Will Host 2013 National Convention in Las Vegas

New York, NY — May 2013

convention_logo_finalLa Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Incorporated will host its 25th National Convention (NC) in Las Vegas, NV. On this occasion, members of over 80 chapters and alumni nationwide will convene in Las Vegas to celebrate the organization’s 31st Anniversary and discuss issues concerning Latino Americans in the United States. NC will take place from July 18-21, 2013 at The Palms Hotel and Casino Resort.

The theme at this year’s convention is “A Vision Forward.” The weekend will be filled with business and social events open to fraternity members and community members alike. Some highlights include the Conferences, Awards Gala, “Lambda Expo” – a career fair and vendor exhibition, P.A.T.H.E. school renovation project, SILK Stroll competition and several social events.

Las Vegas is an exciting city with much to offer. Convention attendees will experience many great attractions, outdoor excursions and a vibrant nightlife. From its many shops and relaxing spas to its fine dining and world-renowned shows, Las Vegas has a little something for everyone to enjoy.

Registration and all information regarding National Convention can be found at http://www.LambdaNC.org. For sponsors and vendors interested in participating at convention; and for questions regarding our conferences and events, please contact the Convention Committee at committee.convention@launidadlatina.org.

Hermano Steve Lucin Announces Scholarship for the Aspiring Creative

February 2013

halucinatedScholarshipLogo_pageHalucinated Design, Inc., a New York City based graphic design and motion graphics company, announced today the release of the Halucinated Scholarship 2013 application. This scholarship application is for high school seniors or college bound students who are aspiring designers in any and all creative fields.

“Money should never be the reason why one does not get an education,” said Steve Lucin, CEO of Halucinated Design, “Although I am not the wealthiest designer in the world (yet), I still believe in giving back to my community, especially to those with a passion and in financial need. This is why I am giving away a $1,000 scholarship!”

Awards include a choice of an Adobe Creative Cloud membership (1 or 2 years), a Tuts+ Premium membership (1 year), or a $1,000 check delivered straight to the recipient’s school. For more information on these memberships, please visit adobe.com/creativecloud and
tutsplus.com respectively.

The application includes a project that the student must submit online. The project is as follows:
Design something creative that illustrates your passion for your specific creative field. This can be done in absolutely any medium (drawing, painting, animation, digital media, film, etc.). Also submit
an essay that explains this piece of work. Also make sure to express why you should receive this scholarship and any financial hardship that you may be going through. It can be as long as you want and as short as you dare.

Deadline for application is June 30, 2013 at 12AM. Scholarship winners will be announced on August 10th, 2013 and paid for shortly after.

For more information, eligibility requirements, selection criteria, rules, terms, conditions, and the actual application, please visit halucinated.com/scholarship.

Halucinated Design
The Halucinated Scholarship 2013: For the Aspiring Creative

Lambda Upsilon Lambda Launches New National Website To Commemorate Its 31st Founding Anniversary

New York, NY — February 2013

On Tuesday, February 19th the National Leadership of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. successfully launched its new national website to commemorate its 31st Founding Anniversary. Since its inception on February 19th, 1982 at Cornell University, the Fraternity has taken on a role in meeting the needs of the Latino community through cultural awareness, community service, and the promotion of Latino culture and its diverse peoples.

In keeping with this year’s theme, “A Vision Forward,” the new national website will showcase aesthetic, functional and structural enhancements. The goal was to develop a more resourceful tool for all members of the organization while reinforcing their identity to the public. The new website offers quick and easy access to essential material which is part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to enhance the quality and availability of information.

“We wanted our new website to reflect who we are while highlighting our many accomplishments and initiatives,” said Gilbert Cortes, President of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc.

Lambda Upsilon Lambda’s new initiatives include the Medical Mission, the Lambda Guilds in Medicine, Law and Education as well as staple initiatives such as Providing Access To Higher Education (PATHE). Information on these and other national and regional events will give visitors greater insight to the organization’s current and future goals. The website also integrates other communication and social networking tools in order to further enhance the real-time distribution of significant news.

The national website is one of many steps La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. is taking towards “A Vision Forward.” In celebration of it’s Founders Day the organization welcomes everyone to visit the new www.launidadlatina.org.

LUL Rallies Around Brother Jonel González Who Loses 7 Relatives In Accident

May 2012

gonzalez_familyOne of the most frustrating things for an adviser to handle in regard to fraternities and sororities is this stigma that they are all about partying and drinking. No one talks about their philanthropic focus in programming and community service projects. Even knowing the positive work these organizations contribute, I still push for a better sense of community within these Greek organizations, worried about the increase of apathy with each entering class. However, my worries were replaced with pride with the recent collaboration of support toward Jonel Gonzalez.

It turns out that tragedies have a way of bringing people together. The thought of mortality can make anyone want to hug the person right next to them, specifically if the tragedy involves a person you can closely relate to. This week I have seen groups of students come together in support of the Bronx River Parkway tragedy and family recovery Gonzalez, through the leadership of Latino fraternities and sororities.

On Sunday, April 29, Jonel lost seven family members in one of the deadliest accidents New York City has had in recent memory. He lost his mother, aunt, sister, cousins, and grandparents in a car accident in the Bronx. The car spun out of control and flew over a guardrail where the vehicle landed 50 feet below, inside the Bronx Zoo.

News spread quickly over social media. I first read about this on Sunday night on Twitter. My students were mentioning it and I grew concerned that I might know the young man. Upon further reading, it turns out that he is a new member of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. at Pace University in New York City. My heart sank further because I have grown close to many of the students in the Theta chapter here at Syracuse University — I know they must be feeling Jonel’s pain. Additionally, I know many brothers from this chapter when I was an undergraduate myself.

Being one of the advisers for SU’s NALFO (National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations), I have taken the time to get to know as many students as I can. It’s been hard to trust they understand the notion of community when they give off this aura that only their own brothers and sisters matter and not the council in general. Their internal struggle to find the balance between competition and community has held them back to the point where I found myself asking them questions such as, “Why did you not participate in Latino Heritage Month?”

Such frustrations are met with silence and shrugs. Yet, I’ve found that as they become upperclassmen, they begin to realize that three letters on their chest mean more than just being a part of an organization, than a process that leads to initiation. Those letters mean that you are automatically a leader on the Syracuse University campus.

I was about to send my condolences when one of my students, Brandon Medina, contacted me to help his fraternity spread the word about this tragedy. He explains to me that the Theta chapter is trying very hard, in conjunction with other chapters of Lambda Upsilon Lambda, to raise money for funeral costs and Jonel should not be alone in figuring out this very trying time. I found myself fighting tears because this is what leadership is about. It is about getting up and being there for other people during the hardest of times. Brandon simply tells me that Jonel may not be a student at Syracuse, but he is still HIS fraternity brother.

While this is highly commendable on a fraternity level, over the last few days, Brandon and the rest of the brothers from the Theta chapter have been posting on Twitter and Facebook consistently. They began to gather the support of all the fraternities and sororities in NALFO and National PanHellic Council (NPHC). You can see them out on campus passing out fliers for a vigil they intend to have at Hendricks Chapel. They are asking people to give just a few dollars to a fund that is now at more than $85,000 in less than a week.

It is not easy to turn pain into something positive, but often it takes a terrible event like this for people to really see the benefits of the Greek community. Latino Greeks are often criticized for not caring about anything but themselves but at this moment, I could not disagree more. I have had several Syracuse University students and alums from different fraternity and sororities contact me about spreading the word about the Gonzalez family in hopes that Jonel and his family can be taken care of. I even had a request to write a blog about this effort.

Why is this one thing so significant? From what I can see at SU, Greek students from every council are coming together to support this cause. They have committed their support because of the same sentiment — one of their own is hurting. Jonel may have lost a family, but he has gained a community.

Huffington Post / College
A Family Lost But a Community Gained