Founding Date
February 25th, 1981
Lambda Phi Epsilon was founded on February 25, 1981, by nineteen dedicated men led by Principal Founder Master Craig Ishigo. Their mission was to move beyond the limitations that had historically faced traditional Asian-interest organizations on campus. While these organizations were often split along lines of national origins, the founders sought an establishment that drew its membership equally from the different segments of the Asian American community. The founders envisioned a unified brotherhood that welcomed members from all segments of the Asian American community, developing leaders who would strengthen their respective communities and bridge cultural divides through a shared organization.
First Convention
May 28th, 1990
The fraternity, now with six chapters total, convened on the core of the University of California, Irvine for the first annual National Convention, which to this day has been held regularly over Memorial Day weekend. A national governing body was established to oversee the development of individual chapters and the fraternity as a whole, with Mr. Robert Mimaki of Beta Chapter, Mr. Eric Naritomi of Epsilon Chapter, and Mr. Doug Nishida of Delta Chapter appointed as National President, Northern Governor and Southern Governor, respectively.
First and Only Asian-Interest Fraternity
September 8th, 1990
Lambda Phi Epsilon reached another milestone and became the first and only nationally recognized Asian-interest fraternity in the United States with the admission to the National Interfraternity Conference.
International Fraternity
December 5th, 2004
Lambda Phi Epsilon expanded as an international fraternity by chartering its first chapter outside of the United States at the University of Toronto.
FSU Chapter
January 2nd, 2006
Thirteen men underwent initiation starting on August 27, 2005, culminating in a formal crossing into brotherhood on January 2, 2006. That Charter Class became the founding brothers of the FSU chapter. Though they quickly established themselves, the chapter remained unrecognized by the university and ultimately the brothers voted to discontinue the chapter, wiping the slate clean for the future generations of Lambda Phi Epsilon.
NAPA
2006
Lambda Phi Epsilon joined the National Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Panhellenic Association to increase collaboration and partnership between fellow APIDA Greek organizations.
FSU Recharters
March 10th, 2019
After a period of dormancy, the Florida State University chapter was re-established beginning in Fall 2018, when Byron Solis gathered a new group of seven men. This group became the Recharter Zeta Class. With guidance from host Van “Rerun” Dao of UCF Associate Chapter, they began their process in Spring 2019, eventually crossing into the eternal brotherhood on March 10, 2019. This marked a pivotal rebirth of Lambda Phi Epsilon at FSU as a recognized and institutionally supported chapter.
Letter Designation
June 29th, 2024
Continuing to build upon a foundation of leadership and cultural advocacy, the FSU chapter reached another historic milestone when it formally presented for its letter designation in Las Vegas on June 29, 2024. Led by Sean Garis and Gabriel Pfeuffer-Ferguson, with support from David Duong, Carl Zimmermann, and Damion Huynh, the active chapter stood before the international assembly of chapter delegates and earned the designation of Beta Theta Chapter. This official naming not only recognized their achievements but also solidified their legacy within the international framework of Lambda Phi Epsilon.