Alpha Sigma Alpha
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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 70 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 1884. In the fall of 1901 at that very same college five women, having gone through the rushing and bidding of the campuses sororities together, created a friendship. Instead of accepting the bids from the existing sororities Virgina 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.
The national headquarters was permanently established in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1998.
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 it's 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 Smith (Kappa Kappa Chapter), rounded out its philanthropic interests.
Famous Alpha Sigma Alphas
Freida J. Riley, (Beta Pi) - Teacher, her inspiring work as a teacher influenced the subjects of the movie October Sky.External links
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