July 14, 2003
Source: The Associated Press
http://www.thestate.com/mld/state/6297888.htm
On July 14, 2003 The Associated Press reported that "Sudhamma is one of the world's few female Theravada monks. She started a three-month retreat in Mauldin [SC] on Sunday... As a monk, Sudhamma keeps her head shaved and wears an orange robe... She's associated with Theravada Buddhism, a traditional school of thought centered in Southeast Asia... While thousands of men have become Theravada monks, Sudhamma said she's one of about 350 women to do it in recent times."