Pi Kappa Alpha
| Pi Kappa Alpha | |
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ΠΚΑ
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| Founded | March 1, 1868 University of Virginia |
| Type | Secret/Social |
| Scope | International |
| Vision statement | To set the standard of integrity, intellect, and achievement for our members, host institutions, and the communities in which we live. |
| Motto | "Once a Pike, Always a Pike" |
| Colors | Garnet Old Gold |
| Symbol | The Oak Tree, Shield & Diamond, White Horse, Dagger & Key |
| Flower | Lily of the Valley |
| Jewel | Diamond |
| Publication | Shield and Diamond |
| Chapters | 220 |
| Members | 250,000+ lifetime initiates[1] collegiate |
| Nicknames | Pikes, Pikas |
| Headquarters | Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| Homepage | http://www.pikes.org |
Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ) (sometimes called Pike, PiKA, or Pi Kap) is a Greek social fraternity with over 220 chapters and colonies and over 250,000 lifetime initiates in the United States and Canada.[1]
Contents |
History
The fraternity was founded at the University of Virginia on March 1, 1868 by Robertson Howard, Julian Edward Wood, James Benjamin Sclater Jr., Frederick Southgate Taylor, Littleton Waller Tazewell Bradford and William Alexander.[2] On March 1 1869, exactly one year after the Alpha Chapter at the University of Virginia was formed, the Beta Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha was founded at Davidson College.[3] After almost a decade of decline, Pi Kappa Alpha was "re-founded" as part of the Hampden-Sydney Convention, held in a student room of old Cushing Hall at Hampden–Sydney College. The four delegates to the Hampden-Sydney Convention are referred to as the Junior Founders. It was at this convention that the fraternity defined itself as belonging to "the South." At the New Orleans Convention in 1909, Pi Kappa Alpha officially decided to declare itself a national organization. [4]
The Shield and Diamond
The Shield and Diamond is the official quarterly publication of Pi Kappa Alpha, which was first printed in December 1890 by Robert Adger Smythe, the then Grand Secretary and Treasurer, under the name "The Pi Kappa Alpha Journal". The name was later changed to "The Shield and Diamond" in 1891.[4]
Pike University
Pike University refers to the collection of leadership programs that forms the foundation of Pi Kappa Alpha's educational curriculum.[5]
The Pike Foundation
Founded in 1948, the Pike Foundation is the charitable organization that provides funding to the fraternity and its chapters for leadership programs, scholarships, and chapter house facilities. The Pike Foundation also owns the Memorial Headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, built to honor the services rendered by Pi Kappa Alpha members during World War II.[4][1][6]
Notable Alumni
Business
| Name | Original Chapter | Notability | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Kevin Turner | Epsilon Omega | Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft | [7][8] |
| Ralph Terkowitz | Beta Theta Data | Chief Technology Officer of The Washington Post | [7] |
| Jeff Taylor | Theta Mu | Founder, Monster.com | [7][9] |
Government
| Name | Original Chapter | Notability | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pete Sessions | Alpha Omicron | U.S. Representative from Texas | [7] |
| W. Robert Pearson | Sigma | Former United States Ambassador to Turkey (2000–2003) | [7] |
| Jon Kyl | Gamma Delta | U.S. Senator from Arizona | [7] |
Education
| Name | Original Chapter | Notability | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenneth T. Jackson | Delta Zeta | Jacques Barzun Professor of History and the Social Sciences at Columbia University, Editor-in-Chief of The Encyclopedia of New York City | [7] |
| Dr. Samuel H. Smith | Alpha Sigma | Former president of Washington State University (1985–2000) | [7] |
| E. Gordon Gee | Alpha Tau | President of Ohio State University | [7] |
News, Art, and Entertainment
| Name | Original Chapter | Notability | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rick Dees | Tau | Host of The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown | [7] |
| Tim McGraw | Eta Omicron | American country singer and actor | [7] |
| Jon Stewart | Gamma | Host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show | [7] |
Sports
| Name | Original Chapter | Notability | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Hays | Gamma Upsilon | Bobsledder and Olympic Silver Medalist | [7] |
| Hubert Green | Delta Lambda | Professional Golfer | [7] |
| Matt Doherty | Head men's basketball coach at Southern Methodist University | [7] |
External links
References
- ^ a b c Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. "Fast Facts". http://www.pikes.org/FastFacts.aspx?mode=spage&spid=48&pid=3. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. "Founding History". http://www.pikes.org/historyA.aspx. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ Beta Chapter, Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. "A History of Beta". http://www.davidson.edu/student/organizations/pika/. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ a b c Garnet & Gold Pledge Guide (15th ed.). Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. 1970.
- ^ Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. "About Pike University". http://www.pikes.org/subPikeUniversity.aspx?mode=spage&spid=88&pid=8. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. "About Memorial Headquarters". http://www.pikes.org/AboutMHQ.aspx?mode=spage&spid=51&pid=3. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. "Prominent Pikes". https://www.pikes.org/ProminentPikes.aspx?mode=spage&spid=53&pid=3. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ East Central University. "Notable Alumni". http://alumni.ecok.edu/?page=distinguishedalumni. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ UMass Amherst Greek Life. "UMass Amherst Greek Life Letter to Parents". http://www.umass.edu/greek/uploads/listWidget/12457/Parents%20letter%20for%20New%20Students%20Program%20-%20Summer%202008.pdf. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
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