About Alpha Chi

National Founding Date: October 15, 1885

Local Founding Date: April 6, 2019

Colors: Scarlet and Olive Green

Symbol: Lyre

Flower: Red Carnation

Motto: Together Let Us Seek The Heights

National Philanthropy: Domestic Violence Awareness, prevention and education

Famous Alpha Chi's:

Condoleezza Rice - Former Secretary of State
Jayne Atkinson - Tony Nominated Actress (Criminal Minds, House of Cards, Enchanted April)
Hannah Brown - Reality TV Star (The Bachelor, The Bachelorette)
Deidre Downs - Miss America 2005
Alyson Hannigan - Actress
Agnes Nixon - Four-time Daytime Emmy Winning TV Writer & Producer

Alpha Chi Omega was founded on October 15, 1885, at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. At a time when women were just beginning to occupy seats in college classrooms, seven female students were encouraged by Professor James Hamilton Howe, dean of DePauw’s School of Music, to form a women’s society within the school.Inspired, our Founders formed the 10th women’s fraternity in the country—the first to be in a music school.

Sure they would be the last, the Founders 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."

Dedicated to advancing “the intellectual, social and moral culture” of its members, our Founders’ vision has grown to include our women’s Fraternity, the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation, the National Housing Corporation and Pearl Stone Partners. Together, they serve more than 230,000 members in more than 140 collegiate chapters and nearly 200 alumnae chapters nationwide.

Important Alpha Chi Dates:

Founders Day: October 15th

A Celebration of the founding date of Alpha Chi Omega, sisters typically gather together in some celebration.

Hera Day: March 1

In honor of our patron goddess Hera, Alpha Chi Omegas dedicate themselves on this day to aid the happiness and well-being of others. Our remembrances include volunteering and fundraising for domestic violence shelters in local communities.

MacDowell Month: Month of February

Named for the Alpha Chi Omega’s first philanthropic project at the MacDowell art, this month honors our heritage from a music school. MacDowell month encourages member creativity and artistic abilities!