History of the Eta Omega Chapter:

February 17, 1987, a group of band members at Fresno State sent a letter to the National Office of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma stating their interest in becoming chapters of the fraternity and sorority. Following this, these students were given an introduction and information session. The San Diego State chapters were selected as their parent chapters, and members from UCLA joined SDSU in Fresno on March 7, 1987 for colonization ceremonies. M. Scott McBride, the Associate Director of Bands at CSUF, was himself a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi. He was very instrumental in establishing the colony, and became the founding sponsor.

The colonization period was busy, but the charter members were eager to succeed and worked with enthusiasm. Service activities ranged from concert set-ups and receptions to hosting the Winter Guard Festival Finals and the Central Section Music Educator's Winter Conference. The colony members were dedicated to the ideals and purposes of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, and endeavored to serve the bands as best they could.

During the fall semester, the colony's efforts were centered on the petitioning document, which was submitted to the National Office in mid-March. The original copy is on file at Stillwater Station in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and can be viewed upon request.

The Annual Wind Band Festival was reactivated in 1988 with the help of the colony, which sponsored and ran the entire event. During this year the colony also hosted California State Days while concurrently participating in Vintage Days '88. The "Grape Pinchers" placed 8th overall, and the group had made a definite mark on campus as the colonization period ended.

On Saturday, April 30, 1988, the colony members were initiated and became the Iota Alpha and Eta Omega chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma. One major accomplishment that brought recognition to the chapters was the election of Veronica Corea, the Tau Beta Sigma charter president of Eta Omega, to the office of Western District Secretary/Treasurer.

In the Fall of 1988, the chapters put through their first class of initiates, the Beta class. While still in their first year as chapters, the members decided to commission a major work for the Wind Ensemble to be written in celebration of Dr. Lawrence Sutherland's 20th year with the CSUF bands. Philip Wilby composed "Catcher of Shadows" for this event, and traveled from England to Fresno to conduct the premier performance at the 1989 Wind Festival.

In April of 1991, the Fresno State chapters had the honor of hosting the Western District Convention; members from every chapter in the district were present, including future brothers from a soon-to-be-colony of Kappa Kappa Psi at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. During the convention, KKPsi-Iota Alpha member Ronald Hill was elected to the office of Western District Secretary/Treasurer. A few weeks later, the Iota Alpha chapter learned that they had been chosen to sponsor the new colony at Cal Poly, which would later become the Iota Pi chapter. The sisters of Eta Omega were asked to assist their brothers in the parent chapter by becoming big sisters for the colony brothers.

Over the summer of 1991, the chapters were saddened to learn that Dr. M. Scott McBride, the chartering sponsor, had resigned his position at Fresno State to become the director of bands at Jacksonville State University in Alabama. They were in competent hands, however, when Dr. Lawrence R. Sutherland, Director of Bands at CSUF, became their new sponsor in the fall of 1991. In the spring of 1992, the chapter hosted its second California State Days. All of the chapters in California, and a couple from Arizona were represented in Fresno. Festivities included a general meeting, social picnic, and continued late into the next morning.

In celebration of the chapters' ever-increasing devotion to their department, the faculty and staff of the Music Department purchased a brick in the spring of 1993 to be placed in the "Walkway of Distinction" leading up to the newly-renovated Stillwater Station.

In the Spring of 1996, the chapters hosted their third State Days. Most chapters sent representatives, and fun was had by all. Also in 1996, the brothers of Iota Alpha became the parent chapter of the reinstalled Zeta Rho chapter at Modesto Junior College.

Kimbi Fye Sigle was elected District Counselor for the Western District in 1997.

In the summer of 1997, National Convention was held in Arizona, and over half of Eta Omega was represented. CSUF was represented in the National Intercollegiate Band, and left an impression with many chapters.

In the spring of 1998, the chapters took a step into uncharted waters by sponsoring the Multiple Sclerosis walk. They helped out with the food and found a new service project. The chapters also took up Statesman gigs as a new fundraiser. It was a very promising year.

In April 2000, the sisters of Eta Omega hosted the Western District Convention with the brothers of Iota Pi. It was a great success, and five Omega Class candidates were initiated in front of the entire Tau Beta Sigma Western District membership.

In May 2000, the brothers and sisters of Iota Alpha and Eta Omega were honored to initiate Dr. Gary Gilroy as an honorary brother and honorary sister. The sisters of Eta Omega also initiated Dr. Kathryn Bumpass as an honorary sister.

In the fall of 2000, the sisters of Eta Omega received an important visit from Dollie McDonald, the Chapter Field Representative for Tau Beta Sigma. She visited for a few days, and attended activities with the group.

Sadly, Dr. Sutherland started the faculty early retirement program in the spring of 2001. Dr. Gilroy took over as the new chapter sponsor.

In the spring of 2002, the Fresno State chapters hosted their 4th California State Days. The Band Olympics were a favorite activity, with Fresno State winning the G.B.C. and keeping their undefeated record. At the Western District Convention, Bryan "GAUK" Raya was elected to the role of Kappa Kappa Psi Western District Member at Large and Suzanne "dayzee" Ruth was elected to Tau Beta Sigma VPSP.

In the spring of 2003, at the Western District Convention, Nicholas "NeWton" Chitwood was elected to the role of Kappa Kappa Psi Western District Member at Large and Marisa "Mystik" Garcia was elected to the role of Tau Beta Sigma Western District VPSP.

In the spring of 2004, at the Western District Convention, Nicholas "NeWton" Chitwood was elected to the role of Kappa Kappa Psi Western District Vice President and Marisa "Mystik" Garcia was elected to the role of Tau Beta Sigma Western District President.

In the spring of 2005 the sisters of Eta Omega initiated Dr. Hope Munro-Smith and Cathy Salanitro as honorary sisters. At the Western District Convention, Marisa "Mystik" Garcia was elected to the role of Tau Beta Sigma Western District President.

On May 4, 2005, the sisters presented the "Women in Jazz" Concert Series featuring guest saxophonist Mary Fettig.

At the 2005 National Convention, Kimbi Sigle of the Beta Class of Eta Omega was elected to the position of National VPCM and President Elect for the 2007 National Convention.

In spring of 2006, the sisters of Eta Omega initiated Kristopher Aoki, an alumni brother of Iota Alpha, as an honorary sister. Also, at the Western District Convention, the sisters of Eta Omega were chosen along with the brothers of Iota Kappa at Boise State to host Convention for Colonization in Las Vegas, Nevada in spring of 2007, where over twenty schools have been invited to attend.