| Alpha Chi Omega was founded on October 15, 1885 at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. Professor James Hamilton Howe, Dean of the Music School, invited seven young women from the school to attend a meeting for the purpose of forming a society. The first appearance of the seven founders -- Anna Allen, Olive Burnett, Bertha Deniston, Amy DuBois, Nellie Gamble, Bessie Grooms and Estelle Leonard was in Meharry Hall, earning scarlet and olive green ribbon streamers attached to their dresses. |  |
Alpha Chi Omega's Founders chose "Alpha" the first letter of the
Greek alphabet because they were forming
the first fraternity in the school of music. Since they thought
they might also be founding the last such fraternity, "Omega" seemed appropriate. "Kai" meaning "and" was added to form
the beginning and the end. "Kai" was soon changed to "Chi," a letter of the Greek alphabet.
The Gamma Chi Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega recieved a charter on the campus of Stetson University on May 18th, 1957.
Our Colors: Alpha Chi Omega's colors of scarlet and olive green were chosen to commemorate the fraternity's autumn founding in Greencastle, Indiana.
Our Stick Pin: Alpha Chi Omega's stick pen worn by new members is diamond shaped with top half enameled in scarlet and the bottom in olive green, featuring a lyre across it's face. |
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Our Flower: Alpha Chi Omega's flower is the |
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Our Badge: Alpha Chi Omega's badge is a golden lyre with 22
pearls and a scroll bearing
our Greek letters, AXΩ.
Our badge
was voted most beautiful sorority pin by international jewelers and was
on display at the
Smithsonian.
Our Open Motto: Alpha Chi Omega's open motto is "Together Let Us Seek The Heights."
Our Coat of Arms: Alpha Chi Omega's coat of arms includes a square shield, a crest, and a scroll. The shield is red cut by a bar of olive green. The first section of the shield displays an open book in gold; at the base is sheaf of wheat, also in gold. The bar has 3 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 "Together Let Us Seek The Heights."
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