Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. P. O . B o x 11 7 3 ■ N e w Yo r k , N Y 1 0 1 5 6 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On January 5th, 2012 Jacqueline, Sin Igual, Madrigal along with six other friends, climbed 19,341 feet above sea level to Mount Kilimanjaro. Mount Kilimanjaro sits on the border of Kenya and Tanzania; it is a famous snow-capped summit from which Africa’s beautiful plains are visible. There are six official trekking routes to the summit: Marangu, Rongai, Lemosho, Shira, Umbwe and Machame. Jacqueline trekked the Shira route which is one of the more difficult and longest routes, lasting

eight days. Mount Kilimanjaro is both the tallest mountain in Africa and the tallest free standing mountain in the world – few have accomplished this goal. Jacqueline states that “Mt. Kilimanjaro was the most emotional, mental and physically challenging event I have ever done. Summit night was by far the hardest day for me. I kept repeating a prayer in my head. I knew that I would make it to the Uhuru Point, but I also knew that it was going to be hard. I never realized it would be this hard. It all turned around when I saw that beautiful sign of Uhuru Point, I cried. All my emotions came out and then I took it all in all the beauty of Uhuru Peak. I was so tired and my body was in pain but since seeing the blue sky right above, I knew that I can and will accomplish anything I set my mind to doing.”

V P o f C o m m u n i c a t i o n s : Je s s i c a P u e n t e s , v p . c o m m u n i c a t i o n s . 1 9 9 0 @ g m a i l . c o m

ABOUT HERMANDAD DE SIGMA IOTA ALPHA, INC. (SIA): SIA was founded in New York on September 29, 1990 by thirteen Latina women with the purpose of creating an organization that would help their communities, unite women, promote the Latino culture and uphold a set of distinct goals. Our dedication to scholarship, service and professional development within the Latino community has grown beyond New York, with chapters in several states including New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Arkansas and California. We are also a 501(c)7 tax-exempt organization and we work in conjunction with the Solidaridad, Inspiración, Amistad Community Foundation, Inc.- a 501(c)3 Community Foundation committed to scholarship, service and professional development within Latino communities nationally. Together, we administer a national scholarship fund for incoming college freshmen who demonstrate academic merit, service to communities in need and exemplary leadership capabilities. For more information on SIA visit www.hermandad-sia.org.

SIA Climbs Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's Highest Peak at 19,341 feet Above Sea Level January 13, 2012 - Mt. Kilimanjaro, A"ica