Alpha Chi History
Our Founding
Alpha Chi Omega was founded on October 15, 1885, at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. Professor James Hamilton Howe, dean of DePauw's School of Music encouraged our seven Founders to form a women's society within the school. Anna Allen, Olive Burnett, Bertha Deniston, Amy DuBois, Nellie Gamble, Bessie Grooms, and Estelle Leonard came together to form the sixth women's fraternity in the country.
Our Founders, sure that this would be the first and last musical fraternity chose Alpha and Omega—the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet—to form their name, with “Kai” (meaning “and”) in the middle, later changed to the Greek letter Chi. Alpha Chi Omega now includes more than 200,000 members in 139 collegiate chapters nationwide. It is an organization built by and for real, strong, women.
For more information on our founders, visit the Alpha Chi Omega Headquarters website here.
MOTTO
“Together Let Us Seek The Heights”
FLOWER
Red Carnation
COLORS
Scarlet and Olive
SYMBOL
The Lyre
SYMPHONY
To see beauty in the common things of life,
to shed the light of love and friendship round me;
To keep my life in tune with the world
that I shall make no discords in the harmony of life;
To strike on the lyre of the universe
only the notes of happiness, of joy, of peace;
To appreciate every little service rendered;
To see and appreciate all that is noble in another,
be her badge what it may;
And to let my lyre send forth the chords of love, unselfishness, sincerity.
This is to be my symphony.
Important Dates
Founders' Day
On October 15 of each year, Alpha Chi Omega recognizes its fraternity's fall founding at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. On Founders' Day, members wear their badges or letters and celebrate their sisterhood together!
Domestic violence awareness Week
Each fall, Alpha Chi hosts Domestic Violence Awareness (DVA) week to raise awareness and money for our national philanthropy, Domestic Violence Awareness and the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation. Chapters across the country hold different events, but you can learn more about ours, as well as the additional causes we support, here.
MacDowell Month
During the month of February, Alpha Chi Omega members celebrate the fine arts background upon which their sisterhood was built. Most chapters will encourage their members to attend and perform in fine art events during this month. Epsilon Phi participates by hosting a talent show, holding sisterhood crafts and philanthropy projects, and attending a variety of cultural and artistic events both around campus and the city of Atlanta with our sisters!
Healthy Relationships week
Each spring, Alpha Chi hosts Healthy Relationships week during which they again raise awareness for their philanthropies across campus. Centered around Valentine's Day, members emphasize the importance of supporting one another and maintaining healthy relationships with those we love.
Epsilon Phi Founders' Day
Each collegiate chapter recognizes its own founding anniversary annually. February 22 is our chapter's birthday, and there's usually cake!
Hera Day
On March 1 of each year, members recognize Alpha Chi's commitment to helping others by conducting service projects and offering assistance to others. We honor our sorority's patron Hera, goddess of women and Queen of Mount Olympus.
The National Convention
Members join together every other summer to conduct fraternity business, reunite with fellow Alpha Chis, and celebrate our sisterhood.
Every day!
Each and every day is important our sisters. We value our time spent together, be it spent studying in coffee shops, eating lunch in between classes, participating in marches in downtown Atlanta, going on late night slushy runs, attending concerts... You name it. We know that memories are made unexpectedly, and wholeheartedly embrace the bond we share and the community in which we are a part!