American horticultural honor society
Pi Alpha Xi (ΠΑΞ ) is an American collegiate
honor society for horticulture founded in 1923 at
Cornell University .
History
After attending the 1923 International Flower Show in New York City, a group from Cornell University had the idea to start the honor society.
[1]
[2] Under the leadership of Professor Arno Nehrling, the Pi Alpha Xi constitution, ritual, and insignia/key were developed.
[1]
[2] Alpha chapter was installed at Cornell on June 1, 1923.
[1]
[2]
Pi Alpha Xi was established as an honor society for floriculture and ornamental horticulture but later changed to include all horticultural disciplines.
[1]
[2] Its mission is promoting fellowship, professional leadership, and scholarship and to enrich life through plants.
[2] Chapters are located in four-year colleges and universities that have horticultural programs.
[1]
[2]
By 1950, Pi Alpha Xi, chapters were established at the
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Beta ),
Pennsylvania State University (Gamma ),
Michigan State University (Delta) ,
Ohio State University (Epsilon ),
Rutgers University (Zeta ),
Washington State University (Eta ), and the
University of Maryland, College Park (Theta ).
[2] The society's added a significant number of chapters during the 1970s. As of January 24, 2024, Pi Alpha Xi has forty chapters and 14,000 members.
[1] Its publication is the Lotus Leaflet .
[1]
[3]
Pi Alpha Xi is managed by the
American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), based in
Alexandria, Virginia .
[1] Its annual business meeting is held in conjunction with the ASHS annual conference.
[1]
[2]
Symbols
The society's name was selected to represent:
[4]
[5]
[2]
Pi (Π ) – the first letter of polumathia , or scholarship;
Alpha (Α ) - from the word anthemorgous , meaning to work with plants;
Xi (Ξ ) – for zunoia , signifying the bond among gardeners, educators, and professional horticulturists.
[5]
Its colors are Nile green and
cerulean blue , and its flower is the
Nile lotus .
[3] Its symbols include the
stylus , the Nile lotus, the
Egyptian hoe , and the
ancient vase .
[3]
[4] The motto of Pi Alpha Xi is "Always to Excel".
Its badge is a pin or key which is inscribed with the Greek letters ΠΑΞ and the stylus, Egyptian hoe, Nile lotus, and the ancient vase.
[3]
Membership
Membership is open to undergraduate students who are juniors and seniors interested in floriculture, landscape horticulture, or ornamental horticulture who meet GPA requirements.
[2]
[3] Faculty and graduate students are also eligible for membership.
[2] The society also issues honorary memberships.
[3]
Activities
Primarily, Pi Alpha Xi exists to recognize academic excellence.
[2] The national society sponsors the Pi Alpha Phi Annual Photography Contest, and publishes the Pi Alpha Xi Flower Judging Manual .
[2] It also recognizes Fellows from the Pi Alpha Phi membership for service or excellence in floriculture, landscape horticulture, ornamental horticulture, or Pi Alpha Phi.
[2] There is a limit of 25 living Fellows.
[2]
Some chapters also sponsor field trips to horticultural sites and lectures with guest speakers. Chapters also sponsor scholarships so that members can attend the ASHS conference.
[2] The national organization matches local scholarships.
[2]
Chapters
Following is a list of Pi Alpha Xi chapters.
[6]
[3]
[7] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters and institutions are in italics .
Chapter
Charter date and range
Institution
Location
Status
References
Alpha
June 1, 1923
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
Active
[8]
Beta
April 2, 1924
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois
Active
Gamma
May 29, 1926
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania
Active
Delta
April 12, 1929
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
Active
Epsilon
January 6, 1929
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio
Active
[9]
Zeta
November 16, 1933
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Active
Eta
March 12, 1949
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington
Active
Theta
September 14, 1949
University of Maryland, College Park
College Park, Maryland
Active
Iota
February 15, 1957
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
Active
[10]
Kappa
June 1, 1968
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia
Active
[11]
Lambda
May 28, 1968
University of Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Active
Mu
May 16, 1974
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Active
Nu
May 30, 1974
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama
Active
Xi
December 1, 1974
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Active
Omicron
February 23, 1975
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
Active
Pi
April 17, 1975
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina
Active
Rho
March 1, 1975
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Active
Sigma
April 2, 1975
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, Illinois
Active
Tau
May 30, 1975
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Active
Upsilon
September 1, 1975
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California
Active
Phi
October 29, 1975
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota
Active
Psi
May 31, 1978
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas
Active
Chi
May 29, 1975
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado
Active
[12]
Omega
March 16, 1979
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas
Active
[13]
Alpha Beta
May 26, 1980
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Active
Alpha Gamma
April 23, 1982
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
Active
[14]
Alpha Delta
April 24, 1983
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Active
Alpha Epsilon
April 1984 Spring 1984
University of California, Davis
Davis, California
Active
Alpha Zeta
May 16, 1985
University of Wisconsin–River Falls
River Falls, Wisconsin
Active
Alpha Eta
Spring 1985
Delaware Valley University
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Active
Alpha Theta
November 6, 1986
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa
Active
[15]
Alpha Iota
March 24, 1988
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas
Active
Alpha Kappa
Spring 1990
Mississippi State University
Starkville, Mississippi
Active
Alpha Lambda
February 1, 1992
Florida A&M University
Tallahassee, Florida
Active
Alpha Mu
Spring 1992
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Active
Alpha Nu
June 2, 1995
Utah State University
Logan, Utah
Active
Alpha Xi
April 18, 2005
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas
Active
Alpha Omicron
May 2, 2006
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Active
Alpha Pi
May 4, 2006
University of Wisconsin–Platteville
Platteville, Wisconsin
Active
Alpha Rho
February 13, 2012
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon
Active
[16]
[17]
Alpha Sigma
October 13, 2015
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming
Active
Alpha Tau
September 21, 2015
University of Maine
Orono, Maine
Active
References
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i
"Pi Alpha Xi" . American Society for Horticultural Science . Retrieved 2024-01-23 .
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e
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q Albrecht, Mary Lewes. "
Pi Alpha Xi—A Tradition of Excellence in Floriculture, Landscape Horticulture, and Ornamental Horticulture " . HortTechnology . 12 (3): 373-376. July 2002. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Pi Alpha Xi.
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991). Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VII-41–42.
ISBN
978-0963715906 .
^
a
b
Pi Alpha Xi Symbols
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a
b
Letter From Your President – 43
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Roster of Chapters American Society for Horticultural Sciences. Accessed January 22, 2024
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"Chapters of Pi Alpha Xi as of August 2001" (PDF) . HortTechnology . 12 (3): 375. July 2002. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Pi Alpha Xi.
^ Cramer, Craig (November 16, 2021).
"Pi Alpha Xi welcomes new members" . Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences . Retrieved January 22, 2024 .
^
"Pi Alpha Xi : Find a Student Organization : Student Activities" . The Ohio State University . Retrieved 2024-01-23 .
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"History" . Pi Alpha Xi - Iota Chapter at N.C. State University . 2014-08-25. Retrieved 2024-01-23 .
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"Pi Alpha Xi - GobblerConnect" . Virginia Tech . Retrieved 2024-01-23 .
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"Pi Alpha Xi | College of Agricultural Sciences" . Colorado State University . Retrieved 2024-01-23 .
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"Pi Alpha Xi Honor Society | Horticulture and Natural Resources" . Kansas State University . Retrieved 2024-01-23 .
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"Pi Alpha Xi – Alpha-Gamma Chapter | Department of Agronomy and Horticulture" . University of Nebraska-Lincoln . Retrieved 2024-01-23 .
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"Pi Alpha Xi | Department of Horticulture" . Iowa State University . Retrieved 2024-01-23 .
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"Pi Alpha Xi | College of Agricultural Sciences Department of Horticulture" . Oregon State University . 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2024-01-23 .
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"HORTICULTURE STUDENTS RECOGNIZED DURING PI ALPHA XI INITIATION CEREMONY AND CHARTER PRESENTATION" . Oregon State University . Retrieved 2024-02-09 .