Alpha Pi Omega facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alpha Pi Omega |
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| ΑΠΩ | |
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| Founded | September 1, 1994 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill |
| Type | Social fraternity |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| 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 |
Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, also known as ΑΠΩ, is a special group for Native American women in the United States. It is the oldest and largest sorority of its kind. A sorority is like a club or sisterhood, often found at colleges. This group has 24 active chapters in nine states and Washington, D.C.
Contents
History of Alpha Pi Omega
Alpha Pi Omega Sorority was started on September 1, 1994. It began at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Four Native women founded the sorority. They are known as the "Four Winds."
The Four Winds Founders
The founding members were Shannon Brayboy, Jamie Goins, Amy Locklear, and Christie Strickland. All of them are from the Lumbee tribe, and Amy Locklear is also from the Coharie tribe. Before starting the sorority, they asked for advice and permission from older women from different North Carolina tribes.
Sorority Principles and Growth
The sorority was built on four main ideas: traditionalism, spirituality, education, and current issues. Their first group of new members was called the "Fifteen Warrior Women." Alpha Pi Omega became an official organization in North Carolina in 1995. After that, it grew to include more college campuses.
Today, the sorority has over 900 members across the country. These members represent more than 130 different Native American tribes. A group of thirteen women called the "Grand Keepers of the Circle" leads the sorority nationally. They are chosen for two-year terms and meet every two months.
Symbols of the Sorority
Alpha Pi Omega has special symbols that represent its values.
Colors, Mascot, and Jewel
The sorority's colors are fire red, new grass green, and maize yellow. Their mascot is the Queen Bee. The special stone for the sorority is the amethyst.
Tree, Flower, and Motto
The cedar tree is important to the sorority. Their flower is the dogwood. The motto of Alpha Pi Omega is "My Sister As Myself." This means they believe in treating their sisters with great care and respect.
Activities and Community Work
Alpha Pi Omega works to keep Native American traditions alive. They do this by celebrating their culture and spiritual heritage. For example, they host traditional stickball games.
Supporting Students and Professionals
The sorority also helps college students and professionals connect and support each other in modern society. Their big national meeting each year is called the "Grand Gathering."
National and Local Philanthropy
Since 2010, the sorority's main national charity has been the National Indian Education Association. This group helps improve education for Native American students. Individual chapters also raise money for local causes. For example, they might join events like "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" or "Remember the 10 Run." The Washington State University chapter held classes about staying safe and respecting others. They also offered training to be a good friend and supporter to everyone. The Oregon State University chapter raised money for the Humane Society.
Joining Alpha Pi Omega
Women who are interested can join Alpha Pi Omega while in college or after they have graduated.
Requirements for College Students
College women must have finished at least one full-time school term. They also need a GPA (grade point average) of 2.8 or higher. They cannot have been part of any other social sorority before.
Requirements for Graduates
Women who want to join a professional chapter must have a bachelor's degree or a higher degree. They also cannot have been part of any other social sorority.
Chapters of Alpha Pi Omega
New chapters are officially started at the sorority's yearly Grand Gathering.
Undergraduate Chapters
Alpha Pi Omega calls potential new chapters "expansion chapters" or "honey pots." After one year, these become "provisional chapters." Below is a list of Alpha Pi Omega college chapters. Chapters that are currently active are shown in bold. Chapters that are not active are shown in italic.
Graduate Chapters
Graduate chapters are for women who have already earned their college degrees. The sorority also calls these new groups "expansion chapters." Below is a list of graduate chapters. Active chapters are shown in bold. Inactive chapters are shown in italic.
| Name | Charter date | 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 | |
| Zeta Pi | July 13, 2013 | Washington, D.C. | Active | |
| 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
- Cultural interest fraternities and sororities
- List of social sororities and women's fraternities
- Phi Sigma Nu fraternity
