Founding

In the fall of 1901, at Longwood University, five young women, all friends, decided to rush the local women's fraternities on campus. However, rather than accepting bids that would separate the group, they decided to form their own sorority.^[3][4] The Founders were:

• Virginia Lee Boyd-Noell (Virginia Boyd)
• Juliette Jefferson Hundley-Gilliam (Juliette Hundley)
• Calva Hamlet Watson-Wootton (Calva Watson)
• Louise Burks Cox-Carper (Louise Cox)
• Mary Williamson-Hundley (Mary Williamson)

On November 15, 1901, Alpha Sigma Alpha was named and chartered. The charter stated "The purpose of the association shall be to cultivate friendship among its members, and in every way to create pure and elevating sentiments, to perform such deeds and to mold such opinions as will tend to elevate and ennoble womanhood in the world."^[5]

In the year after the charter was signed the founders announced the Sorority's first hymn, Blest Be the Tie that Binds, and first open motto, "to one another ever faithful".^[6] The first colors were crimson and silver, the flower was the white carnation, and the jewel was the emerald. The first membership badge of the Sorority was a shield topped with a jewel set crown, with the Greek letters ΑΣΑ inscribed in gold on a black background. On February 13, 1903, Alpha Sigma Alpha was chartered in the Circuit Court of Prince Edward County, VA, by Judge George Jefferson Hundley, the father of one of the founding members.^[3] This chartering began the organization's legal existence, the first of many steps toward expanding the sorority and making Alpha Sigma Alpha a national sorority.

Alpha Sigma Alpha is one of the "Farmville Four" sororities founded at the university, which includes Kappa Delta, Sigma Sigma Sigma, and Zeta Tau Alpha. A clock tower at the university campus with a clock face representing each sorority is dedicated to the four. Each sorority in the "Farmville Four" is also a member of the National Panhellenic Conference, which governs the 26 national social sororities.

Early challenges

Alpha Sigma Alpha expanded quickly, installing 13 chapters in its first decade, and then began having issues due to the anti-sorority sentiment of the time, causing one of the chapters to be disbanded only months after its instatement.^[3] Despite the anti-sorority attitude, Alpha Sigma Alpha's first six chapters held its first National Convention at the Hotel Richmond in Richmond, VA over the 1905 Thanksgiving weekend. During the convention, the first National Council was elected and the sorority created its magazine, to be published three times a year. This first publication was first printed in 1906. In 1908, the magazine's name was changed to the Aegis of Alpha Sigma Alpha.^[3] In 1911, Alpha Sigma Alpha became a professional sorority within the field of education.^[3][4]

Soon after, Alpha Sigma Alpha's chapters began to struggle with membership and function. Alpha Sigma Alpha first contacted (Sarah) Ida Shaw Martin – founder and former national president of Delta Delta Delta and author of the Sorority Handbook – for assistance in 1912.^[3] By that year, only four of the 13 chapters established since the sorority's founding were left, and by the next, only one active chapter existed, the original Alpha chapter. Shaw Martin suggested ASA contact a local sorority at Miami, Ohio, which was then installed as an ASA chapter. Shaw Martin's assistance led to her induction as an honorary member and the sorority's expansion at teacher's colleges. The sorority would absorb many more local chapters over the next few years.^[3]

As the sorority began to stabilize, it held a convention to reorganize itself over Thanksgiving in 1914. At this convention, the sorority adopted a constitution and modified its symbols, customs, and ritual. Here, Shaw Martin was elected national president,^[3] and the sorority renamed its magazine to its current name, The Phoenix, which became a weekly publication edited by Shaw Martin. It functioned "as the central medium linking the various parts of the Sorority... it consisted entirely of instructions and discussions of Sorority rulings and policy, chapter newsletters and excerpts from articles on morals and ethics for fraternal organizations."^[7]

In 1915 the sorority founded the Association of Education Sororities with Sigma Sigma Sigma to develop common standards for the formation and expansion of educational sororities.^[8] Although Shaw Martin petitioned the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) in 1920, this request was rejected on the basis that women could not hold dual membership in two NPC organizations (as Shaw Martin would if the education sororities were accepted).^[3]

Modern day

In 1947, the six sororities of the AES voted to dissolve it and petitioned to join the NPC.^[3] On November 27, 1951, Alpha Sigma Alpha was officially welcomed as a full member of the NPC.^[2] From that point on, Alpha Sigma Alpha could potentially establish a chapter at any university recognized by the NPC, no longer limited to those specific to the education profession.

Since then, Alpha Sigma Alpha has partnered with various nonprofits in the name of philanthropy. Its philanthropic efforts began in 1958 when it established scholarships for intellectually disabled students and those in special needs education. In 1976, the sorority's national headquarters announced a partnership with the Special Olympics.^[3] Since then, it has taken several other projects under its wing. The sorority added the S. June Smith Center, a day care center for intellectually disabled students, as a philanthropic partner in 1990.^[3]

In 1998, the sorority moved its national headquarters to Indianapolis, Indiana, and opened a new building a decade later in September 2008. It also adopted an official mascot that year, a ladybug named Dot.

Continuing its involvement with the Special Olympics, Alpha Sigma Alpha joined their campaign "Spread the Word to End the Word" in 2009. In 2012, the sorority added another national philanthropic partner, Girls on the Run.^[9]

The badge

Service

Alpha Sigma Alpha has run a Service Immersion Experience for its members since 2013,^[3] which consists of a service trip where members travel to Oahu, Hawaii, and work with local organizations.^[14] In 2012, the sorority began a program called D.O.T. Days, or Donating Our Time Days, which take place during the first week of October every year. Sorority members "are encouraged to donate their time to the national philanthropic partners and local community."^[15]

Leadership

Various leadership programming exists for Alpha Sigma Alpha members, advisors, and volunteers.^[16] Advisors, volunteers, collegiate members, and alumnae may all attend the sorority's National Convention & Leadership Conference.

For its collegiate members, the sorority hosted its first leadership training school in 1966. In 1989, the sorority followed with its Emma Coleman Frost Leadership Development Institute.^[3] Collegiate members are also required to attend the sorority's "The Academy" program on leadership and networking. Graduating college seniors and alumnae have a Women's Advancement Series, which provides career feedback and help on connecting with local sisters.

Volunteers and advisors may attend a Region Volunteer Development Weekend or an Advisor Institute, respectively, which are each a weekend of leadership training and advice on chapter operations.^[16] The sorority began its leadership consultant program with their first 'traveling secretary' in 1963, later called 'field representatives', before settling on its final name.^[3] Leadership consultants are the traveling staff of the national organization who educate college chapters on leadership and programming.

Publications

The current publication is The Phoenix. The magazine covers chapter news and includes features on members who are involved in their communities, memorial lists, praise for members on their personal successes, and miscellaneous articles.^[17]

The sorority has also published two cookbooks sourced from recipes members have submitted.^[18]

Notable alumnae

• Dorcas Bates Reilly (Nu Nu) – Invented the Green bean casserole while working in the home economics department of the Campbell Soup Company.^[22]
• Hannah Blaylock (Beta Lambda) – former lead vocalist of Edens Edge^[23]
• Angie Cole (Gamma Psi) – Actress in Sorority Forever and assistant producer for shows such as The Simple Life, Road Rules and Bad Girls Club
• Lauren Brie Harding (Beta Iota) – Fashion model who competed on the eleventh cycle of America's Next Top Model finishing eighth.^[24]
• Xochitl Hinojosa – Democratic politician, communications director for the Democratic National Committee^[25]
• Larissa Lowthorp (Zeta Kappa) – Technology entrepreneur, social justice activist and filmmaker whose work has screened at the Cannes International Film Festival.^[26]
• Christina Lukasiak (Zeta Gamma) – Dance Moms Cast Member^[27]
• Kayla McDonell (Delta Nu) – Forbes 30 under 30 list as an Exterior Lighting Design Release Engineer at General Motors^[28]
• Freida J. Riley (Beta Pi) – Teacher; her work as a teacher influenced the Rocket Boys, subjects of the movie October Sky.^[29]
• Denise Swanson (Gamma Lambda) – New York Times Bestselling Author

Collegiate awards

Collegiate members are recognized with awards for outstanding new members and sisters who exemplify service, academics, or athletics. Chapters also receive various awards.

Established in 1985, the Four-Star Chapter Award is given annually to collegiate chapters which excel in various areas. The areas covered include membership, academic excellence, finance, chapter education and operations, service and giving, national meetings and bylaws, organization image, policies and procedures, advisory board, and alumnae involvement. The chapter that achieves the highest percentage of requirements toward this award receives the Crown of Excellence Award, the top award that a collegiate chapter can receive.

Awards are also given to chapters which excel in single areas. Any collegiate chapter with the highest GPA on its campus for a school term receives the Scholastic Achievement Award. The Rose Marie Fellin Financial Excellence Award was established in 1992 in honor of its namesake's 27 years of service as the headquarters executive. The award is given to a chapter practicing sound financial management through record keeping, accurate financial reports, communication with national headquarters, as well as striving towards overall financial stability. The Recruitment Excellence Award was established in 2010 and is presented to a chapter that has met its recruitment targets for the year. This encompasses reaching campus quota and total, as well as innovation in planning and implementing a quality recruitment plan. Sidney Gremillion Allen Panhellenic Award, named after the sorority's NPC delegate, is given to the chapter that displays outstanding Panhellenic spirit and participation. The Service and Giving Award is given to a chapter that best exhibits generosity.

Alumnae awards

Alumnae chapters may receive several different awards: Palm, Star, or Crown Chapter; the Crown of Excellence; and Outstanding Membership Growth/Alumnae Panhellenic Engagement/Collegiate Chapter Relations/Programs/Community Involvement, Service and Giving.

Individual alumnae may receive their own awards. Alumnae whose professional or community achievements have attracted recognition outside of the sorority receive the Recognition of Eminence Award. First presented in 2012 at the sorority's national convention, the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation Heart of Giving Award is given to an alumna who has made a significant contribution of time or money to a charitable organizations. The Evelyn G. Bell Award, named after a past national president, is given to an alumna member who exhibits exceptional leadership, loyalty and commitment to the sorority by serving as a collegiate officer, alumnae officer, and national volunteer. Other awards presented to members for dedication and service to the sorority are the Helen Corey Award, the Wilma Wilson Sharp Award, the Agape Award, and the Outstanding Advisor Award.

Current chapters

There are currently over 175 chapters of Alpha Sigma Alpha nationwide with more than 120,000 members.^[4][30] A national housing corporation was created in 2015.^[3]