WELCOME TO THE UVM ALPHA CHI OMEGA STORY...
SUMMARY...
Our organization was founded on October 15, 1885. The women of Alpha Chi Omega at the
University of Vermont truly embody "Real Strong Women". We pride ourselves on being a diverse group of women sharing a common thread of sisterhood and lifelong friendships. |
Alpha Chi Omega is a national women's organization that enriches the lives of members
through lifetime opportunities for friendship, leadership, learning, and service. |
HISTORY... |
Alpha Iota was chartered at UVM on June 14, 1921.
Alpha Iota currently consists of 92 women who are extremely involved on campus, committed
to academics and giving back on a local and national level through our philanthropic
endeavors.
Local Pi Alpha Alpha members transferred their affiliation and formed the Charter Class
of the Alpha Iota chapter of Alpha Chi Omega on June 14th, 1921. We currently have 58
members and 20 members who can live in house each semester. We employ a house director
to assist with our needs and a cook for lunch and dinner.
Our chapter house was built in 1885, and we purchased it in 1930. The house is
registered on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Alpha Iota currently consists of 92 women who are extremely involved on campus, committed
to academics and giving back on a local and national level through our philanthropic
endeavors.
Local Pi Alpha Alpha members transferred their affiliation and formed the Charter Class
of the Alpha Iota chapter of Alpha Chi Omega on June 14th, 1921. We currently have 58
members and 20 members who can live in house each semester. We employ a house director
to assist with our needs and a cook for lunch and dinner.
Our chapter house was built in 1885, and we purchased it in 1930. The house is
registered on the National Registry of Historic Places.
CHAPTER FACTS...Alpha Chi Omega was founded as a women’s fraternal organization. It was established to provide a basis of mutual helpfulness and of congenial fellowship. The purpose of Alpha Chi Omega was to provide the advancement of the intellectual, social and moral culture of its members.
Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Chapter was founded at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana by seven young women in the School of Music. The women’s fraternity was officially founded on October 15, 1885 by Anna Allen Smith, Olive Burnett Clark, Bertha Deniston Cunningham, Amy DuBois Reith, Nellie Gamble Child, Bessie Grooms Kennan, and Estelle Leonard. The founders chose the letter “A” – Alpha as the first letter since they were forming the first musical women’s fraternity and since they also expected to be the last musical fraternity for women, they chose the letter “Ω” – Omega as the last. The word “Kai” meaning “and” was added in the middle to complete the organization whose name means: “First and Last”. Kai was later changed to “X” – Chi so there would be three Greek symbols. |
Today, Alpha Chi Omega membership exceeds 210,000 initiated members with over 135 active collegiate chapters and 200 alumnae chapters. Alpha Chi Omega is a founding member of the National Panhellenic Conference. The women of Alpha Chi Omega pride themselves in upholding the five pillars of membership: Academic Interest, Character, Fiscal Responsibility, Leadership Ability, and Personal Development. Alpha Chi Omega philanthropically supports the MacDowell Artists Colony and the Easter Seals. In 1992, as a response to the rise in awareness of domestic violence, it was decided that Alpha Chi Omega’s current national altruistic endeavor would be to support Victims of Domestic Violence. Alpha Chi Omega was the first American women's fraternity to tackle the problems of domestic violence head-on, not just by assisting victims, but by educating its members against it. Alpha Chi Omega also supports “Kristin’s Story” in cooperation with fellow NPC sorority Delta Delta Delta. The coat of arms includes a square shield, a crest, and a scroll. The shield is scarlet, cut by a bar of olive green. The first section of the shield displays an open book in gold; at the base is a sheaf of wheat, also in gold. The bar has three white stars. The crest, a lyre bird, is in its natural color. The scroll at the bottom bears the Greek translation of our open motto. |