Nu Alpha Kappa


Nu Alpha Kappa, is a Latino-based fraternity, which encompasses and values all cultures. Nu Alpha Kappa is the largest Latino-based fraternity on the west coast.
Often referred to as "NAK", Nu Alpha Kappa was founded on February 26, 1988 on the campus of California Polytechnic State University, with 28 established chapters across California, Nevada, and Colorado. Nu Alpha Kappa was a charter member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations, but is now a member of the North American Interfraternity Conference.

History

"Xinaco", a Nahuatl word used by the Olmecs, describes an educated, amiable individual whose personality and charisma transcends and enlightens all cultures and social classes. The "Xinakos" meeting resulted in the creation of a new fraternity. The foundations of the fraternity were started by fifteen good friends at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California, of which eleven would become founding fathers of the fraternity. This marked the beginning of Nu Alpha Kappa Fraternity, an organization based on the belief of a commitment to "Carnalismo" or brotherhood, the search for knowledge and the retention and pride of culture.
Nu Alpha Kappa was established on February 26, 1988 on the campus of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo by Antonio Arreola, Marin Arreola, Nicolas Arreola, Ernesto Garcia, Moises Herrera, Jesse Martinez, Hector Mendoza, Joel Romero, Alberto Salazar, Antonio Valenzuela, and Ramiro Ramos.
Adapting the term 'Nako' to the university fraternity system, the group officially became Nu Alpha Kappa Fraternity, or NAK for short.

National events

National Leadership Development Conference - A leadership development weekend which invites the executive board of each chapter, alumni and the National Board to convene on new policies and strategies for the upcoming academic year. Over 200 brothers come together to learn from each other and take back knowledge to their chapters and communities for a successful year. Workshops, discussions and lectures are conducted by National Board, NAK alumni, Campus advisors and administrators. Each year a different chapter has the opportunity to host this event during the late Summer.
National Intake Summit - An opportunity to bring together all potential brothers, known as prospective members, from each chapter for a weekend of team building, leadership development and a large community service event. The experiences and memories incorporated throughout the weekend ignite the flame of brotherhood for the next generation of NAK brothers. Each year a different chapter has the opportunity to host this event during the late Fall.
NAKFest - An annual family reunion between alumni and undergraduate brothers which brings together the past with the present. A weekend event hosted by a different chapter each year which consists of the National Elections, Sports Tournament, Awards Banquet, and National Party. A one-day double-elimination sports tournament is held with all chapters, with the winner receiving a first round bye during the NSL tournament and year of bragging rights. A Spring time event which helps close out the academic year allowing brothers to network and continue to build upon the unseen bond of brotherhood.
NAK Sports League - A year-long brotherhood event giving chapters the opportunity to network and convene in a friendly sports competition. A different chapter serves as hosts of the first-round games between two chapters outside of their region. The Semi-Finals and Championship Game are concluded at NAKFest.
NAK Alumni Softball Tournament - An annual softball tournament among the NAK Alumni Associations. This weekend tournament typically involves the local alumni associations around NAK.

National philanthropy

The National Marrow Donor Program, created in 1986, is a non-profit organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The Hispanos Dando Esperanza: Nu Alpha Kappa-Hermandad Initiative is dedicated to outreaching the Hispanic/Latino communities.
This Hispanic/Latino Stem Cell and Marrow Initiative focus efforts throughout California, Colorado and Nevada with 992 National Marrow Donor Program donor centers and 10 recruitment groups, including Nu Alpha Kappa Chapters.

Alumni

The NAK National Alumni Association was officially enacted in 2014.

National chapters

Nu Alpha Kappa has established chapters across universities in California, Nevada and Colorado.
ChapterUniversityCity, StateFounding Date
FoundingCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CAFebruary 26, 1988
AlphaSan Jose State UniversitySan Jose, CAFebruary 16, 1989
BetaSan Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CAFebruary 10, 1990
GammaSonoma State UniversityRohnert Park, CAJune 20, 1992
DeltaCalifornia State University, StanislausTurlock, CANovember 22, 1992
EpsilonCalifornia State University, FresnoFresno, CANovember 22, 1992
ZetaUniversity of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CANovember 22, 1992
EtaSanta Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CASeptember 18, 1993
ThetaCalifornia State University, ChicoChico, CASeptember 5, 1995
IotaCalifornia State University, SacramentoSacramento, CAJuly 26, 1996
KappaUniversity of California, DavisDavis, CANovember 30, 1997
LambdaUniversity of California, San DiegoLa Jolla, CADecember 21, 1997
MuColorado State UniversityFort Collins, COApril 10, 1999
NuUniversity of California, RiversideRiverside, CANovember 12, 2000
XiCalifornia State University, Monterey BaySeaside, CAFebruary 28, 2004
OmicronUniversity of Nevada, RenoReno, NVMarch 17, 2004
PiCalifornia State University, NorthridgeNorthridge, CAApril 2, 2005
RhoUniversity of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesApril 30, 2005
SigmaUniversity of Northern ColoradoGreeley, COApril 21, 2007
TauCalifornia State Polytechnic University, PomonaPomona, CAMay 18, 2008
UpsilonUniversity of Nevada, Las VegasParadise, NVMay 23, 2009
Phi National Hispanic UniversitySan Jose, CANovember 12, 2011
ChiCalifornia State University, San MarcosSan Marcos, CAMay 26, 2012
PsiUniversity of California, IrvineIrvine, CAAugust 17, 2012
Alpha AlphaUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CADecember 6, 2014
Alpha BetaSan Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CADecember 14, 2014
Alpha GammaMetropolitan State University of DenverDenver, COMay 6, 2017
Alpha DeltaUniversity of San DiegoSan Diego, CAOctober 20, 2018