Alpha Pi Omega | |
---|---|
ΑΠΩ | |
Founded | September 1, 1994 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill |
Type | Social |
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 | Official website |
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]
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.
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]
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]
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 are chartered at the sorority's annual Grand Gathering. [10]
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 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 |