Alpha Sigma Alpha

Alpha Sigma Alpha
ΑΣΑ
Founded

November 15, 1901 (1901-11-15)
The Virginia State Female Normal School (Longwood University)

Farmville, Virginia
Type Social
Emphasis Developing women of poise & purpose
Scope National
Mission statement strive to develop women of poise & purpose; and assist members in fostering lifetime friendships.
Motto Aspire, Seek, Attain
Colors

     Crimson      Pearl White

     Palm Green      Gold[1]
Symbol phoenix, crown, palm tree, star
Flower Narcissus, Aster (genus)
Jewel Pearl, Ruby
Publication The Phoenix
Philanthropy Special Olympics,
S. June Smith Center,
Girls On the Run International
Chapters 170 collegiate & alumnae chapters
Members 120,000+ collegiate
Mascot Dot the Ladybug
Headquarters 9002 Vincennes Circle
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Homepage http://www.alphasigmaalpha.org/

Alpha Sigma Alpha (ΑΣΑ) is a United States National Panhellenic sorority founded on November 15, 1901 at the Virginia State Female Normal School (later known as Longwood College and now known as Longwood University) in Farmville, Virginia. The purpose of the association is to cultivate the relationship among members. Alpha Sigma Alpha promotes high ideal and standards for its members throughout their lives by emphasizing balance among four aims of intellectual, physical, social and spiritual development. With the effort of each member, Alpha Sigma Alpha became a full member of National Panhellenic Conference in 1951. The insignia of Alpha Sigma Alpha are the star, crown, palm tree and phoenix. The star represents the aspirations of Alpha Sigma Alphas to live up to the values of the Sorority. The crown represents leadership attained and the name of recognition given to our alumnae. The palm tree represents an emblem of sturdy development. The phoenix, the central symbol in our coat-of-arms, openly represents the reorganization of the Sorority that occurred in 1914.[2] There are currently over 175 chapters of Alpha Sigma Alpha nationwide with more than 120,000 members.

History

Founding

In the fall of 1901, at Longwood University five friends, Virginia Lee Boyd-Noell (Virginia Boyd), Juliette Jefferson Hundley-Gilliam (Juliette Hundley), Calva Hamlet Watson-Wootton (Calva Watson), Louise Burks Cox-Carper (Louise Cox), and Mary Williamson-Hundley (Mary Williamson) decided to rush the local women's fraternities on campus. However, rather than accepting bids that would separate the group, they decided to form their own sorority. On November 15, 1901 Alpha Sigma Alpha was named and chartered. The charter stated “The purpose of the association shall be to cultivate friendship among its members, and in every way to create pure and elevating sentiments, to perform such deeds and to mold such opinions as will tend to elevate and ennoble womanhood in the world.”[2]

In the year after the charter was signed the founders announced the Sorority’s first hymn, “Blest Be the Tie that Binds,” and first open motto, “to one another ever faithful.” The first colors were crimson and silver, the flower was the white carnation, and the jewel was the emerald. The first membership badge of the Sorority was a shield topped with a jewel set crown, with the Greek letters ΑΣΑ inscribed in gold on a black background. The first initiation was held In Jan 1903. On Feb. 13, 1903, Alpha Sigma Alpha was chartered in the Circuit Court of Prince Edward County, VA, by Judge George Jefferson Hundley, Juliette Jefferson Hundley-Gilliam’s father. The Sorority was chartered to legalize its existence and to begin the first of many steps toward expanding the sisterhood and making Alpha Sigma Alpha a national sorority.[2]

Early Challenges

Alpha Sigma Alpha expanded quickly then began having issues due to the anti-sorority sentiment of the time, causing one of the chapters to be disbanded only months after it’s instatement. Despite the anti-sorority attitude Alpha Sigma Alpha held the first National Convention at the Hotel Richmond in Richmond, VA over the Thanksgiving weekend 1905. During the convention the first Nation Council were elected and the Alpha Sigma Alpha Magazine was created.[2]

After only ten years Alpha Sigma Alpha fell on hard times again, of the 13 chapters established in those years only four where left in 1912. By 1913 only one active chapter was left, the original alpha chapter. At the end of 1921 the sorority turned to Ida Shaw Martin, author of the Sorority Handbook, for help in rebuilding. With her help Alpha Sigma Alpha began on focusing on local sororities at teachers colleges and colleges of education within bigger universities.[2]

Becoming Panhellenic

The badge

In 1911 Alpha Sigma Alpha became a professional sorority within the field of education, and in 1915 founded the Association of Pedagogical Sororities with Sigma Sigma Sigma to develop common standards for the formation and expansion of educational sororities. In 1947 the seven sororities of the association voted to dissolve it and petitioned to join the National Panhellenic Council (NPC). On November 27, 1951 Alpha Sigma Alpha was officially welcomed as a full member of the NPC, from that point on Alpha Sigma Alpha could establish a chapter at any university.[2]

The new member pin

Timeline of events

1901: Founding of Alpha Sigma Alpha at Longwood College on November 15
1906: The first publication, Aegis, is printed[1]
1913: Ida Shaw Martin is elected to membership, Only teachers' colleges and colleges of education within universities will be eligible as ASA chapters
1914: Convention over Thanksgiving weekend at the Miami University, Ohio: Rituals, customs, symbols elaborated and developed, constitution formulated, inception of weekly publication The Phoenix
1951: Alpha Sigma Alpha petitions for membership to the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) and is accepted on November 12[3][4]
1976: Special Olympics added as national philanthropic partner
1990: Additional national philanthropic partner added: S. June Smith Center
1998: National headquarters moved to Indianapolis, Indiana
2008: National headquarters building opens in September 2008 at 9002 Vincennes Circle, Indianapolis, Indiana
2008: Alpha Sigma Alpha adopts official ladybug mascot named Dot
2009: Joined Special Olympics' campaign - Spread the Word to End the Word
2012: Girls On The Run added as national philanthropic partner

Symbols and Insignia

Programs

Service

Education

Leadership

Philanthropies

The Alpha Sigma Alpha Philanthropic Statement is “Life is not taking in only; it is giving out too. It is giving ourselves – freely – to other people, giving ourselves in comradeship, in understanding, in joy, in love.”[2]

In 1976 Alpha Sigma Alpha National headquarters announced that the Special Olympics would be their national philanthropic partner. Since then it has taken several projects under its wing. In 1986 Alpha Sigma Alpha changed the 1947 Endowment fund to the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation.[2] Initially it was a scholarship-granting body, but it has branched out to support a number of different interests with the intentions of providing opportunities for service, leadership, and lifelong learning. In 1990 Alpha Sigma Alpha partnered with the S. June Smith Center, located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The Center was named after an Alpha Sigma Alpha member, Dr. S. June Smith (Kappa Kappa chapter), rounding out its philanthropic interests.[5] In 2012, Alpha Sigma Alpha headquarters announced a new partnership with Girls On the Run International.

Publications

During the first National Convention in 1905 the Alpha Sigma Alpha magazine was created. The magazine was to be published three times a year. In 1908 the name was changed to the Aegis of Alpha Sigma Alpha. The name was changed again in 1914 to the name it has today, The Phoenix, and it became a weekly publication edited by Ida Shaw Martin. “The Phoenix was the central medium linking the various parts of the Sorority… it consisted entirely of instructions and discussions of Sorority rulings and policy, chapter newsletters and excerpts from articles on morals and ethics for fraternal organizations.”[2]

Notable alumnae

Collegiate Recognition

Individual Awards[2]

Chapter Awards[2]

Individual Alumnae awards[2]

Alumnae Chapter Awards[2]

Current chapters

There are currently over 175 chapters of Alpha Sigma Alpha nationwide with more than 120,000 members.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Baird, William Raimond; Brown, James Taylor (1920). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (9th ed.). G. Banta Company. pp. 576–577. OCLC 17350924. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 "Home | Alpha Sigma Alpha". Alpha Sigma Alpha. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  3. ↑ "Member Organizations". National Panhellenic Conference. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
  4. ↑ "National Panhellenic Conference History". National Panhellenic Conference. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
  5. ↑ "S. June Smith - Dr. S. June Smith". S. June Smith Center. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
  6. ↑ "Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation: Scholarships, Awards and Grants". Alpha Sigma Alpha. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  7. ↑ "District 2 recognitions". Alpha Sigma Alpha District Two. Retrieved 2012-02-03.

External links

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