Lambda Kappa Sigma (ΛΚΣ or LKS) is an international pharmacy fraternity headquartered in Muskego, Wisconsin. Founded in 1913, it was created to promote the profession of pharmacy among women and advance women within the profession. LKS is the oldest and largest professional pharmacy fraternity for women in the world. Lambda Kappa Sigma has initiated more than 30,000 members and has 44 chartered chapters. LKS also has 36 chartered alumni groups internationally.
Lambda Kappa Sigma is dedicated to developing the intellectual, leadership, and professional skills of its members. LKS promotes professional growth and its educational programs enhance professional development in the field of pharmacy, with an emphasis placed on women's health issues. Continuing education credits are also available. LKS also has an Educational Grant Program.
On October 14, 1913, Ethel J. Heath and eight other female students at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy organized Lambda Kappa Society, a social club. Charter members were Ethel J. Heath, Annabel Carter Jones, Mary Connolly Livingston, Emma MacDonnell Cronin, Willette McKeever Cheever, Mary Durgin Loveland, Alice G. Coleman, Margaret M. Curran, and Rosemond A. Guinn.
In 1915 the organization ceased being a luncheon club and was opened to all members of the college. Sigma was added to the name, and the official badge, motto, flower, and colors were selected. In 1919 the official coat-of-arms, designed by Cora E. Craven, was adopted.
The first national convention was held in Boston, Massachusetts in 1926. The Tau Chapter founded at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania March 18, 1932. An official prayer was presented by the Eta Chapter and Delta Chapter presented a song to be used as the official sorority song. Both the prayer and the song were adopted for national use in 1950.
The Silver Anniversary Convention was held in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1938. At that convention the delegates voted to join the Professional Panhellenic Association, becoming the first pharmaceutical sorority in the PPA.
On April 28, 1956 ΛΚΣ became international with the addition of the Alpha Lambda chapter in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on the campus of the University of British Columbia.
The 1982 biennial convention was held at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with the Delta Collegiate (University of Pittsburgh), Tau Collegiate (Duquesne University), and Tau Alumni chapters as hosts.
The 1996 biennial convention was held in St. Louis, Missouri, with the Alpha Zeta Collegiate and Alumni chapters as hosts.
During the 1988 biennial convention, the members voted to delete all gender references from the fraternity's membership requirements. The fraternity was now open to both male and female members, following a twelve-year battle to legally remain a fraternity for women only.
Alpha - Massachusetts College of PharmacyBeta - Albany College of Pharmacy (inactive)Gamma - University of Illinois College of Pharmacy (inactive)Delta - University of Pittsburgh School of PharmacyEpsilon - University of Maryland School of PharmacyZeta - University of California School of PharmacyEta - Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (inactive)Theta - Creighton University School of PharmacyIota - University of Oklahoma College of PharmacyKappa - University of Kansas College of PharmacyLambda - University of Southern California School of PharmacyMu - Washington State University College of PharmacyNu - Drake University College of PharmacyXi - University of Rhode Island College of PharmacyOmicron - Wayne State University College of PharmacyPi - Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers UniversityRho - Oregon State University College of PharmacySigma - Columbia UniversityTau - Duquesne University School of PharmacyUpsilon - Idaho State University College of PharmacyPhi - Butler University College of PharmacyChi - University of Washington School of PharmacyPsi - Detroit Institute of TechnologyOmega - Medical University of South Carolina College of PharmacyAlpha Alpha - Temple University School of PharmacyAlpha Beta - University of Connecticut School of PharmacyAlpha Gamma - Samford University School of PharmacyAlpha Delta - University of Michigan College of PharmacyAlpha Epsilon - University of Tennessee College of PharmacyAlpha Zeta - St. Louis College of PharmacyAlpha Eta - Long Island University Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of PharmacyAlpha Theta - State University of New York at Buffalo School of PharmacyAlpha Iota - Ferris State University College of PharmacyAlpha Kappa - University of Georgia College of PharmacyAlpha Lambda - University of British Columbia Faculty of Pharmaceutical SciencesAlpha Mu - University of Toledo College of PharmacyAlpha Nu - University of Kentucky, College of PharmacyAlpha Xi - University of the Pacific, School of PharmacyAlpha Omicron - West Virginia University School of PharmacyAlpha Pi - St. John’s University College of PharmacyAlpha Rho - Northeastern University College of PharmacyAlpha Sigma - Texas Southern University School of PharmacyAlpha Tau - University of Toronto Faculty of PharmacyAlpha Phi - Wilkes University School of PharmacyAlpha Chi - Northeast Ohio Medical University College of PharmacyAlpha Psi - University of New England, College of PharmacyAlpha Omega - Sullivan University College of PharmacyAlpha Alumni - Boston, MassachusettsBeta Alumni - Albany, New YorkGamma Alumni - Chicago, IllinoisDelta Alumni - Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaEpsilon Alumni - Baltimore, MarylandZeta Alumni - San Francisco, CaliforniaEta Alumni - Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaLambda Alumni - Los Angeles, CaliforniaNu Alumni - Des Moines, IowaXi Alumni - Kingston, Rhode IslandOmicron Alumni - Detroit, MichiganPi Alumni - New Brunswick, New JerseyRho Alumni - Portland, OregonSigma Alumni - New York, New YorkTau Alumni - Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPhi Alumni - Indianapolis, IndianaChi Alumni - Seattle, WashingtonOmega Alumni - Charleston, South CarolinaAlpha Alpha Alumni - Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaAlpha Beta Alumni - New Haven, ConnecticutAlpha Gamma Alumni - Birmingham, AlabamaAlpha Zeta Alumni - St. Louis, MissouriAlpha Eta Alumni - Brooklyn, New YorkAlpha Theta Alumni - Buffalo, New YorkAlpha Iota Alumni - Big Rapids, MichiganAlpha Kappa Alumni - Athens, GeorgiaAlpha Lambda Alumni - Vancouver, BC CanadaAlpha Nu Alumni - Lexington, KentuckyAlpha Xi Alumni - Stockton, CaliforniaAlpha Omicron Alumni - Morgantown, West VirginiaAlpha Pi Alumni - Jamaica, New YorkAlpha Sigma Alumni - Houston, TexasAlpha Tau Alumni - Toronto, ON CanadaAlpha Upsilon Alumni - Nishi-Ku, Kobe, JapanPhoenix Metro Alumni - Phoenix, ArizonaWashington Metro Alumni - Washington, D.C.Blue and Gold Triangle - Official publication of fraternity (established 1926)Alumni News - Informational alumni-only mailingLinKS - Official publication of student chapters and advisors