Alpha Pi Omega
Alpha Pi Omega | |
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ΑΠΩ | |
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Founded | September 1, 1994 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill |
Type | Social |
Affiliation | Independent |
Status | Active |
Emphasis | Native American |
Scope | National |
Motto | My Sister As Myself |
Colors | Fire red, New Grass green and Maize yellow |
Flower | Dogwood |
Tree | Cedar |
Jewel | Amethyst |
Mascot | Queen Bee |
Chapters | 10 (active collegiate), 10 (graduate) |
Colonies | 6 (collegiate), 1 (graduate) |
Headquarters | 1441 E. 104th Street Kansas City, Missouri 64131 United States |
Website | www |
Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc. (ΑΠΩ) is the oldest historically Indigenous national sorority in the United States.[1][2] It is the largest Indigenous Greek letter organization,[3] with 24 chartered chapters across nine states and the District of Columbia.[4]
History
[edit]Alpha Pi Omega Sorority was founded on Sept. 1, 1994, at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill by four Native women.[1][5] The founders, now known to as the Four Winds, are Shannon Brayboy (Lumbee), Jamie Goins (Lumbee), Amy Locklear (Lumbee and Coharie), and Christie Strickland (Lumbee).[3][5] Before forming the group, they sought and received the approval of elder women from the various tribes of North Carolina.[5]
The sorority's founding principles are traditionalism, spirituality, education, and contemporary issues.[1] Its first pledge class was called the Fifteen Warrior Women.[5] The sorority was incorporated with the State of North Carolina in 1995 and expanded to additional campuses.[6]
With more than 130 tribes represented by its members, the sorority has more than 900 sisters nationwide. Nationally, the sorority is governed by a thirteen-member board known as the Grand Keepers of the Circle. Grand Keepers are elected to two-year terms and meet bi-monthly.
Symbols
[edit]The sorority's colors are fire red, new grass green, and maize yellow.[6] Its mascot is the Queen Bee, while its jewel is the amethyst.[6] Its tree is the cedar and its flower is the dogwood.[6] The Alpha Pi Omega motto is "My Sister As Myself".[7]
Activities
[edit]Alpha Pi Omega preserves Native American traditions by celebrating and practicing cultural and spiritual heritage, such as hosting stickball games.[6][8] At the same time, it supports a network for college students and professionals in modern society.[5] The sorority's annual national convention is called the Grand Gathering.[9]
Its permanent national philanthropy is the National Indian Education Association, as of 2010.[6][7] Individual chapters also participate in local fundraising events such as Walk a Mile in Her Shoes or Remember the 10 Run.[9][8] The Washington State University chapter held sexual assault awareness classes and LGBTQ+ ally training, while the Oregon State University chapter held a fundraiser for the Humane Society.[10][8]
Membership
[edit]Interested women may join at the undergraduate or post-undergraduate level. Collegiate women must have completed at least one full-time academic term, have a 2.8 GPA or higher, and have no previous affiliation with any social sorority.[6] Women interested in joining a professional chapter must have completed a bachelor's degree or higher and have no previous affiliation with any social sorority.
Chapters
[edit]Chapters are chartered at the sorority's annual Grand Gathering.[10]
Undergraduate chapters
[edit]APO starts potential chapters or colonies as expansion chapters or honey pots.[10] After a year, the expansion chapter becomes a provisional chapter.[10] Following is a list of Alpha Pi Omega collegiate chapters.[11][12] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are shown in italic.
Graduate chapters
[edit]Graduate chapters are for women who have received their undergraduate degrees.[7] The sorority calls its colonies expansion chapters. Following is a list of graduate chapters.[11] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are shown in italic.
Name | Chartered/Ranged | Location | Status | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alpha Pi | September 1, 1994 | The Triangle, North Carolina | Active | |
Beta Pi | November 27, 1996 | Robeson County, North Carolina | Active | |
Gamma Pi | May 29, 2004 | Columbus County, North Carolina | Active | |
Delta Pi | May 28, 2005 | Payne County, Oklahoma | Active | |
Epsilon Pi | July 13, 2013 | Bernalillo County, New Mexico | Active | [5] |
Zeta Pi | July 13, 2013 | Washington, D.C. | Active | [5] |
Eta Pi | July 12, 2014 – 20xx ? | Pima County, Arizona | Inactive | |
Theta Pi | July 11, 2015 | Oklahoma County, Oklahoma | Active | |
Iota Pi | July 14, 2018 | Cherokee County, Oklahoma | Active | |
Kappa Pi | July 10, 2021 | Rocky Mount, North Carolina | Active | |
Lambda Pi | July 15, 2023 | Twin Cities (Minneapolis–Saint Paul) | Active | |
Dane County, Wisconsin | Colony |
See also
[edit]- Cultural interest fraternities and sororities
- List of social fraternities and sororities
- Phi Sigma Nu fraternity
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Belec, Hannah Moulton (October 24, 2019). "Alpha Pi Omega, the first sorority for native women". Arizona State University Student Life. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
- ^ "Encore: Alpha Pi Omega — The First Sorority For Native American Women". WGBH News. 2020-07-03. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
- ^ a b c "Xi Chapter of Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Incorporated". Coug Presence Pullman | Washington State University - Pullman. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
- ^ "Alpha Pi Omega Sorority". www.alphapiomega.org. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g Landry, Alysa (September 13, 2018). "Native Sorority Empowers Women and Promotes Culture". Ict News. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc". Office of the Dean of Students, Oregon State University. 2013-06-06. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
- ^ a b c d "History". Alpha Pi Omega. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
- ^ a b c "OSU Native American sorority nabs national honors". Stillwater News Press. July 20, 2017. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
- ^ a b Jackson, Tesina (September 19, 2011). "Native American sorority named chapter of the year". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
- ^ a b c d e Negron, Loren (July 23, 2020). "WSU Greek chapter chartered by first Native American sorority in country". The Daily Evergreen. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
- ^ a b "Our Chapters". Alpha Pi Omega Sorority. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (December 29, 2022) Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed January 2, 2023.
- ^ Girard, Scott (May 31, 2010). "Native sisterhood: Students building Haskell's first sorority". Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved 2023-01-02.