Alpha Sigma Alpha
| Alpha Sigma Alpha | |
|---|---|
| ΑΣΑ | |
 |
|
| Founded |
November 15, 1901 |
| 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 | 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 | 150 collegiate & alumnae chapters |
| Members | 100,000+ collegiate |
| Mascot | Dot the Ladybug |
| Headquarters | 9002 Vincennes Circle Indianapolis, Indiana, USA |
| Homepage | http://www.alphasigmaalpha.org/ |
Alpha Sigma Alpha (ΑΣΑ) is a US national 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 Virginia State Female Normal School was the state’s first institution to open its doors to teacher education, at a time when higher education for women was a highly debated topic. There are currently over 145 chapters of Alpha Sigma Alpha nationwide with more than 100,000 members.
Contents |
[edit] History
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 open motto of the sorority is "Aspire, Seek, Attain."
Around the same time period three other sororities were formed: Kappa Delta (1897), Sigma Sigma Sigma (1898), and Zeta Tau Alpha (1898). Following the founding of Alpha Sigma Alpha in 1901, these four sororities were henceforth referred to as the "Farmville Four". Today, a four-faced clock tower on the university’s campus is dedicated to these women’s organizations. Each clock face displays the Greek letters of one of the “Farmville Four” sororities founded on that campus.
[edit] 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[2][3]
1976: Special Olympics added as national philanthropy
1990: Additional philanthropic project 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: ASA adopts official ladybug mascot named Dot
2012: Girls On The Run added as national philanthropy
[edit] Philanthropies
In 1976 Alpha Sigma Alpha National headquarters announced that the Special Olympics would be the national philanthropic project. Since then it has taken several projects under its wing. In 1989 Alpha Sigma Alpha set up the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation. 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 the S. June Smith Center, located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and named after Alpha Sigma Alpha member S. June Smith (Kappa Kappa chapter), rounded out its philanthropic interests.[4] In 2012, Alpha Sigma Alpha headquarters announced a new partnership with Girls On the Run International.
[edit] Symbols
Alpha Sigma Alpha's main mascot is the Ladybug. 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. Their flower is narcissus. The primary colors of Alpha Sigma Alpha are crimson and pearl white, supplemented by the secondary colors palm green and gold. CRIMSON, indicating loyalty is a primary color of Alpha Sigma Alpha. It is represented through our exemplar St. Valentine and our jewel the ruby. PEARL WHITE, representing fellowship and a perfect blending of all colors, is also a primary color of Alpha Sigma Alpha. It is represented through our exemplar Christ and our second jewel, the pearl. PALM GREEN, a supplementary color, signifying hope, immortality and victory, is represented through our exemplar Hermes and our symbol, the palm. GOLD, a supplementary color, signifying wisdom, wealth and social achievement, is represented through our exemplar King Asa and our symbol, the crown. Their jewels are the Ruby and the Pearl. The pearl represents the beauty that comes with growth and belongs distinctly to the new member. The ruby, its color claimed for an indistinguishable flame in ancient Hindu legend, belongs distinctly to the initiated member.
[edit] Notable alumnae
- Freida J. Riley (Beta Pi) - Teacher, her work as a teacher influenced the Rocket Boys, subjects of the movie October Sky.[5]
- Dorcas Bates Reilly (Nu Nu) - Invented the Green bean casserole while working as a staff member in the home economics department of the Campbell Soup Company.[6]
- Hannah Blaylock (Beta Lambda) - Lead vocalist of Edens Edge[citation needed]
- Christina Lukasiak (Zeta Gamma) - Dance Moms Cast Member[citation needed]
- Denise Swanson (Gamma Lambda) - New York Times Bestselling Author[citation needed]
- Lauren Brie Harding (Beta Iota) - Fashion model who competed on the eleventh cycle of America's Next Top Model finishing eighth.[citation needed]
- Angie Cole (Gamma Psi) - Actress in Sorority Forever and assistant producer for shows such as The Simple Life, Road Rules and Bad Girls Club[citation needed]
[edit] Current chapters
[edit] References
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ "Member Organizations". National Panhellenic Conference. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
- ^ "National Panhellenic Conference History". National Panhellenic Conference. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
- ^ "S. June Smith - Dr. S. June Smith". S. June Smith Center. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
- ^ "Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation: Scholarships, Awards and Grants". Alpha Sigma Alpha. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
- ^ "District 2 recognitions". Alpha Sigma Alpha District Two. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
