Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. P. O . B o x 11 7 3 ■ N e w Yo r k , N Y 1 0 1 5 6

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Incorporada (SIA) celebrated 22 years of sisterhood, leadership and service in Boston/Dedham, Massachusetts this past weekend. The weekend started with community service for Cradles to Crayons, a non-profit organization that helps provide children through the age of 12 with basic necessities and resources.

Business was conducted in a very professional manner and a new National Executive Board (NEB) was elected for the 2013-2015 term. Elected President - Cristina Luna, Vice President of Alumnae Affairs - Luz Felix, Vice President of Undergraduate Affairs - Alexis Grafakos, Treasurer - Michelle Rivera and Vice President of Communications - Jessica Puentes.

The theme Reigniting the Flame to Honor our Foundation was addressed by their keynote speaker, Carmen M. Ortiz, US Attorney for the State of Massachusetts who was introduced by SIA’s honorary member Lynda Perdomo-Ayala.

Each year, the organization presents awards to it’s members. This year they introduced a new award - The President’s Loyalty award. Cristina Luna, SIA National President awarded: Norma Reyes, Gina Johnson, Yahira De Leon, Sandra Fuentes, Melanie Vasquez and Connie Gonzalez. Luna also awarded a NEB pin to former NEB presidents: Dora M. Abreu, Michelle Rivera, Eva Barahona, Janet Tavarez, Jessica Barnes, Brenda Medina, Ann Marquez, Connie Morales, Jessica Mayorga, Ivone De Jesus, Marisol Palau.

The organization welcomed two new chapters, Alpha Psi - University of Massachusetts Amherst and Beta Alpha - Armstrong Atlantic State University. The following awards were presented to

recognized those chapters and individuals for their accomplishments and success: Most Improved Undergraduate Chapter - Alpha Zeta & Alpha Lambda, Academic Excellence - Alpha Upsilon, Undergraduate Outstanding Programming - Alpha, Undergraduate Chapter of the Year - Beta Alpha, Most Improved Graduate Chapter - Gamma Eta, Graduate Outstanding Programming - Gamma Gamma, Graduate Chapter of the Year - Gamma Beta, Highest GPA - Alejandra Gonzalez 4.0gpa from the University of Arkansas, Unicorn Award - Kilsi Rodriguez from Alpha Chapter and the Pegasus Award from Gamma Eta.

V P o f C o m m u n i c a t i o n s : Je s s i c a P u e n t e s , v p . c o m m u n i c a t i o n s . 1 9 9 0 @ g m a i l . c o m

SIA TAKES BOSTON BY STORM CELEBRATING 22 YEARSBoston, Massachusetts - September 29, 2012

ABOUT HERMANDAD DE SIGMA IOTA ALPHA, INC. (SIA):SIA was founded in New York on September 29, 1990 by thirteen Latina women with the purpose of creating an organization that would help their communities, unite women, promote the Latino culture and uphold a set of distinct goals. Our dedication to scholarship, service and professional development within the Latino community has grown beyond New York, with chapters in several states including New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Arkansas and California. We are also a 501(c)7 tax-exempt organization and we work in conjunction with the Solidaridad, Inspiración, Amistad Community Foundation, Inc.- a 501(c)3 Community Foundation committed to scholarship, service and professional development within Latino communities nationally. For more information go to www.hermandad-sia.org