From seven women at a music school in Indiana to a sisterhood spanning the country, our story is one of harmony, growth, and the same three strings that have connected sisters since 1885. Here's how our own chapter fits into that story and what the symbols we wear really mean.
Seven women at DePauw University's School of Music, looking for community and sisterhood at their school, form Alpha Chi Omega, the first women's fraternity founded within a school of music. The lyre, colors, and values chosen that year still connect every chapter today.
Since its founding, Alpha Chi Omega has grown to become one of the largest and most prestigious sororities in the country, with over 200 chapters and more than 200,000 initiated members. In 2006, our chapter joined the national sisterhood of Alpha Chi Omega.
Two decades later, our chapter carries the same values, sisterhood, academic excellence, and service to others.
Every initiated sister wears the lyre badge over her heart. Each detail on it carries meaning.
Our badge takes the shape of a three-stringed lyre, chosen because it was said to be the first instrument the Greek gods played on Mount Olympus. Like individual strings, each sister joins together to create something stronger than she could alone.
Pearls are Alpha Chi Omega's official jewel, tracing the outline of the lyre itself. They're often associated with purity and quiet refinement, a fitting complement to the gold of the badge.
The Greek letters Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, mark Alpha Chi Omega as both a beginning and an end. This describes the founders' hope that theirs might be a lasting, defining sisterhood.
Tap each one to learn what it means.
Hera, queen of the Greek gods and protector of women, is Alpha Chi Omega's patron goddess. Her role as Protector of Women inspires our philanthropy, Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention. Every March 1st, sisters celebrate Hera Day with small acts of service and kindness in her honor.
Scarlet red and olive green were chosen by our founders to commemorate the fraternity's founding in the fall of 1885.
Our founders chose Scarlet Red and Olive Green as our fraternity's colors in honor of its autumn founding. The red carnation was chosen because of its usage in Greek ceremonial crowns, its color, which reflects our fraternity's colors, and its symbolism, deep love and affection, a tribute to our unconditional sisterhood.
The pearl is known as the 'stone of sincerity,' bringing truth to situations and loyalty to a cause. The first Alpha Chis believed that this represented the standards of our members, and reflected our dedication to our philanthropy, Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention.
Alpha Chi Omega chapters stretch across the country — a small piece of the same sisterhood, no matter the zip code.