For generations, Latina women typically left their family's households in a wedding dress instead of a cap and gown.

Cultural expectations were hard to overcome even for those Latinas who enjoyed the prospect of a full scholarship to a prestigious school.

But more and more Latinas are pursuing college educations, and as their numbers grow, so has their interest in becoming members of Greek organizations.

The trend took hold in October at University of the Pacific when the Gamma Alpha Omega sorority chapter was installed on campus. The sorority's stated mission is to assist the Latino community and give its members more opportunity for leadership roles.

Members say the traditional sororities at Pacific did not appeal to them for various reasons, so they decided to strike out on their own. They've already had an impact on the community.

"We've done blood drives, translate at health fairs and do odds and ends," said Olga Marquez, 21, a junior from Farmersville in Tulare County who is majoring in music management.

Marquez and seven others are the founding members of the Gamma Alpha Omega chapter at Pacific. The sorority was founded in 1993 at Arizona State University. The sorority has since expanded to about nine states.

"We were looking for something different and searched many of the Latina sororities," said Lizbeth Gutierrez, 20, of Ceres.

"We liked its purpose, what it stood for and its values," said Gutierrez, an accounting major.

Latino students represent about 9 percent of the 3,400 undergraduates at Pacific.

Latinos are the fastest growing demographic group in the United States, said John Moder, vice president of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities in Texas.

The nonprofit group advocates for about 359 colleges, including 35 in Latin America and Spain.

"For the women, there's some cultural transition from a traditional sense of staying at home to an American notion of women getting education. We are talking about sweeping cultural changes," Moder said.

The association is starting to research Latina sororities across the country, he said.