Alpha Sigma Alpha

Infobox Fraternity
letters= ΑΣΑ
name= Alpha Sigma Alpha
crest=
founded= Birth date and age|1901|11|15
birthplace= Longwood University, (Farmville, Virginia)
type= Social
emphasis=
scope= National
mission=
vision=
motto= "Aspire, Seek, Attain"
maxim=
colors= Crimson, Pearl White, Palm Green, and Gold
symbol= phoenix, crown, palm tree, star
flower= Narcissus and Aster (genus)
jewel= Pearl, Ruby
publication= The Phoenix
philanthropy= Special Olympics,
S. June Smith Center
chapters=
members= 60,000+
lifetime=
free_label=
free=
address= 9002 Vincennes Circle
city= Indianapolis
state= Indiana
country= USA
homepage= http://www.alphasigmaalpha.org/

Alpha Sigma Alpha (ΑΣΑ) is a US national sorority founded on November 15, 1901 at Longwood College (now University) in Farmville, Virginia. There are now over 73 chapters of Alpha Sigma Alpha nationwide with more than 60,000 members.

History

In Farmville, Virginia what is now known as Longwood University opened its doors to women in 1839. In the fall of 1901 at that very same college five women, having gone through the rushing and bidding of the campus sororities together, created a friendship. Instead of accepting the bids from the existing sororities Virginia Boyd Noell, Juliette Hundley Gilliam, Calva Watson Wootton, Louise Cox Carper, and Mary Williamson Hundley decided to stay together and become sisters, their goal was to form a separate sorority.On November 15, 1901 that goal was accomplished when Alpha Sigma Alpha was named and chartered. The purpose of Alpha Sigma Alpha, as stated in the charter is " [...] to cultivate friendship among its members, and in every way to create pure and elevating sentiments, to perform such deeds and to mould such opinions as will tend to elevate and ennoble womanhood in the world." The open motto of the sorority is "Aspire, Seek, Attain." To create a well rounded woman the four-fold aim of the sorority is: intellectual, spiritual, social and physical development of its members.

The national headquarters was permanently established in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1998.

Timeline of Important Events

1901: Founding of Alpha Sigma Alpha at Longwood College on November 15
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'
1930: Wilma Wilson Sharp of Zeta Zeta Chapter is elected national president at National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts
1947: Alpha Sigma Alpha petitions for membership to the National Panhellenic Council (NPC) and is accepted on November 12.
1976: Special Olympics added as national philanthropy
1990: Additional philanthropic project added: S. June Smith Center
1998: National headquarters moved to Indianapolis, Indiana (current location)
2008: National headquarters building opens in September 2008 at 9002 Vincennes Circle, Indianapolis, Indiana

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, PA and named after Alpha Sigma Alpha member S. June Smithcite web|url= http://www.sjunesmith.com/drsmith.htm |title=S. June Smith - Dr. S. June Smith|publisher=S. June Smith Center|accessdate=2006-12-14] (Kappa Kappa Chapter), rounded out its philanthropic interests.

Creed

"To fill my days with satisfying activity,
To find dominant beauty in art, literature, nature, and friendships,
To know the peace and serenity of a divine faith,
To love life and joyously live each day to its ultimate good-
This is my creed in Alpha Sigma Alpha."
-Wilma Wilson Sharp (Zeta Zeta) 1932

Notable alumnae

*Freida J. Riley, (Beta Pi) - Teacher, her work as a teacher influenced the Rocket Boys, subjects of the movie "October Sky". [cite web| url =http://www.alphasigmaalpha.org/asa/foundation/scholarships.htm| title = Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation: Scholarships, Awards and Grants| publisher =Alpha Sigma Alpha | accessdate =2007-04-10]

Current chapters

References

External links

* [http://www.alphasigmaalpha.org/ Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority National Website]
* [http://www.sjunesmith.com/ S. June Smith Center]