The History of The Association for  Women in Communications Professional Chapter's History Professor Merle Thorpe was the teacher who encouraged his seven female journalism students to join forces on the first women's edition of the college newspaper, the Pacific Daily Wave. Those seven students founded Theta Sigma Phi in 1909. The mission of the Alpha chapter, as it was known, was to raise the standards of journalism, improve working conditions for women in the profession and inspire the individual to greater efforts. To symbolize its mission, the Alpha chapter adopted an official insignia, which was a reproduction of the matrix on a linotype machine. The matrix was chosen for its broader meaning as "a place where something takes form or develops."  - Association for Women in Communications              FIU Student Chapter's History The student chapter was founded in 1982, when Margo Berman, AWC Student Advisor, was the Liaison between the Miami Chapter and the FIU AWC student chapter. However, by the time Margo arrived as a part-time professor in 1994, the student chapter was defunct for several years. Margo became the AWC Student Advisor and revived the student chapter. During that very first year as a reactivated chapter, the FIU student chapter was named the Outstanding Student Chapter of the Year in the nation. It continued to receive three successive Outstanding Student Chapter Awards (1994 -1998). It has also been honored for its outstanding diversity, programs, fund raising, membership recruitment, career services, member retention and job bank. Each semester the members reflect South Florida’s diverse population. This year, as in years past, membership includes both genders as well.