Sigma Omega Nu, Latina Interest Sorority Inc. was founded on November 6, 1996, at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Eight empowered women felt there was an unmet need on their campus, which motivated them to start the first Latina Interest Sorority at Cal Poly. These eight women founded a sisterhood that would create scholastic excellence, self-improvement, Latina/o awareness, and provide service to their community.