Our Sororities

Alpha Chi Omega is a national women’s organization that enriches the lives of both its collegiate and alumnae members through lifetime opportunities for friendship, leadership, learning, and service. 

REAL. STRONG. WOMEN.

The purpose of Alpha Chi Omega, as stated in the Constitution, is “to encourage the true spirit of sisterhood, to develop through personal effort a high moral and mental standard, and to advance the appreciation and practice of fine arts among its members.” There are 131 chapters, from coast to coast, with nearly 12,000 collegiate members giving back to their community, developing life-long learning habits, and making friends that will last a lifetime.

The members of Alpha Chi Omega are scholars, leaders, and work to serve others. They are involved in athletics, organize and lead numerous clubs, and are members of academic honor societies. Together, the members of Alpha Chi Omega are bonded by sisterhood. Sisterhood activities include, a fall retreat, both a winter and spring formal, numerous socials in cooperation with Greek life and various other organizations on campus, movie nights, dinners, and many other sisterhood activities. 

Domestic violence is both a national and a worldwide crisis. The consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and truly last a lifetime.

Domestic Violence Awareness

Alpha Chi Omega’s national philanthropy is Domestic Violence Awareness. 

The national month of awareness is October, and this is our most active time of awareness and support of victims. Our chapter works hard to inform people of the often silenced violence that takes place so close to home. Awareness is key when it comes to Domestic Violence, which is why we partake in several endeavors to use our voices for the silenced.

During October, we “Purple Out” campus with decorations, ribbons, and signs to get people asking. This is a great way for us to spread information and give people every day reminders as the walk about the campus. In the past, we have also had recruitment activities that entailed making care packages of toiletries and first aid materials for the women and children.

We also hold an annual Casino Night to raise money for the cause. Our Casino Night is a black-tie event, in which the sisters put together a mock casino. There are standard card games, a roulette table, cash bar, and poker chips by the cup! Our loving chapter sweethearts are the perfect gentleman running these tables, while our sisters sell chips, raffle tickets, assist guests, and man the silent auction. Our silent auction is an arrangement of many baskets all donated or sister created that are bid on. Highest bid gets the baskets and all the money goes to our cause. Each basket has a theme and many contain donations from the wonderful businesses in our very own Chestertown!

All money from our philanthropic fundraisers goes to Mid-Shore Council. MSCFV creates healthy opportunities to break the cycle of domestic violence through intervention and prevention by providing shelter, counseling, services and advocacy for victims and abusers.

In the spring, we try to hold awareness events to remind people that this happens year round, not just in October!! This spring, we are looking to join Soroptomists and hold an empowerment speaker and a Vigil for those affected by domestic violence. We are also working on bringing self-defense workshops to campus!

And although not part of our national philanthropy, Alpha Chi Omega likes to service other needs in our community. To achieve this, we spend many hours at the local Humane Society volunteering. We also partake in adopting a highway for highway cleanup to better our environment. Lastly, our other major event in Cinderella’s Closet (also known as Gown Giveaway), in which we collect new or gently worn dresses and gowns to donate to a local high school for students who cannot afford their own. There is truly nothing more heart-warming then putting on dressing room boutique for these beautiful ladies and giving them the chance to have the magical night that we all fondly look back on. 

If you would like to learn more about our philanthropy, check out the The Mid-Shore Council for Family Violence website.

International History

Alpha Chi Omega was founded on October 15, 1885 at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. That’s about 70 miles southwest of our current headquarters in Indianapolis.

Back when America was getting used to the notion that women belonged in college at all, the dean of DePauw’s School of Music, Professor James Hamilton Howe, invited seven of his female students to form a women’s society within the school.

Our founders took Professor Howe’s suggestion a step further and formed a women’s fraternity, only the sixth of its kind in the country. They were the first such group in the music school and believed they’d be the last. So they chose as their name the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet—Alpha and Omega. They put the word “Kai” (and) in the middle, and later changed it to the Greek letter Chi.

Our founders wanted Alpha Chi Omega to advance “the intellectual, social and moral culture” of its members. It worked. Today, our women’s Fraternity, the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation and our National Housing Corporation serve more than 200,000 members in more than 130 collegiate chapters and 200 alumnae chapters nationwide.

Founders

• Anna Allen
• Olive Burnett
• Bertha Deniston
• Amy DuBois
• Nellie Gamble
• Bessie Grooms
• Estelle Leonard

Other Chapters in Maryland

Gamma Theta Chapter - University of Maryland

Alpha Omicron Pi is full of many strong, intellectual, creative, athletic, fun, and unique individuals. Together, we have a special bond with one another, making our sisterhood one of a kind. At Washington College, we encourage one another to strive to be our best, while always being each other’s support. 

AOII’s philanthropy is arthritis research for which the sisters have spent much effort in raising money through various activities. In the September we have Blue Week, in which we decorate the campus with blue for recognition of arthritis. We continue the week with different events that raise money for Juvenile Arthritis education & research, such as, Chick-fil-a lunch sale, joints in motion yoga, make get well cards for the kids, lollipop raffle, AO Pi in the face, and Strike Out Arthritis event. Also, we do an annual sisterhood retreat weekend full of bonding, crafts, and relaxing on the lake!

Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the USA. More than 350 million individuals with arthritis have severe limitations in function on a daily basis. 

Arthritis Awareness

Alpha Omicron Pi’s international philanthropy is Arthritis Research and the Juvenile Arthritis Foundation.

Osteoarthritic, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus and osteoporosis are just a few of the various types of arthritis and related conditions that are more prevalent in women. The term, “arthritis,” encompasses more than 100 diseases and conditions that affect the joints, the surrounding tissues and other connective tissues. This disease is the nation’s leading cause of disability. Since 1967, over 1.5 million dollars has been raised by AOII’s and donated through the Foundation to support the mission of conquering arthritis once and for all!

Arthritis effects nearly 70 million American adults, forty-one million of these adults are women and 300,000 are children. During 2017-2019, AOII Chapters and members raised $1,750,000 for the Arthritis Foundation for research and education!

Sigma Tau raises money each year for Arthritis through our “Pi in the Face” Fundraiser, Spike Out Arthritis events, and Blue Week!

Queen of the Roses 5K

Jasmine Dora Queen was an amazing sister who passed away in August 2008. She is missed greatly by every member of our chapter. The Sigma Tau Chapter decided to honor Jasmine by endowing a scholarship in her name through the AOII Foundation.

We were told that $20,000 had to be raised over 5 years to endow a scholarship. The Queen of the Roses 5K race was born to raise money for this scholarship. In the first year, we were able to put together an amazing event and raised an outstanding $12,000 with the help of the Washington College community. The Queen of the Roses 5K was a great success and a lot of fun! The event was even featured in our international magazine, To Dragma!

This fall we will be having an alumni luncheon with Jasmine’s family in honor of Jasmine and to help raise money for the Jasmine Queen scholarship. In the Spring, we will be having a flag football event for the community and Washington College students and faculty to come play. The proceeds of the event will go towards the Jasmine Queen scholarship. 

International History

Alpha Omicron Pi is an international fraternity recognized by the National Panhellenic Council. It was founded on January 2, 1897 at Barnard College by four women, Helen St. Clair Mullan, Jessie Wallace Hughan, Elizabeth Heywood Wyman and Stella George Stern Perry, determined to make a society, which allowed them to maintain lifelong friendships. With their determination and dedication, the first chapter, Alpha, was founded.

Today, Alpha Omicron Pi is an international women’s fraternity, with 189 collegiate chapters and 320 alumnae chapters in Canada and the U.S.A. Its international headquarters is located in Brentwood, Tennessee and it is a member group of the National Panhellenic Conference, which is the governing council of the 26 member women’s fraternities and sororities.

The object of the Fraternity shall be to encourage a spirit of Fraternity and love among its members; to stand at all times for character, dignity, scholarship, and college loyalty; to strive for and support the best interest of the colleges and universities in which chapters are installed, and in no way to disregard, injure, or sacrifice those interests for the sake of prestige or advancement of the Fraternity or any of its chapters.

Chapter History

The Sigma Tau chapter at Washington College was chartered on May 14, 1938, thus becoming the second NPC group on campus. 26 charter members were initiated by International President, Mary Dee Danielson Drummond (Alpha Phi).

Eleven years after its founding, Sigma Tau was awarded the Jessie Wallace Hughan Cup, which honors the top collegiate chapter for two years. We are also proud to claim Sally Wagaman (Sigma Tau), who served as International President of AOII from 2003-2005. 

Other Chapters in Maryland

• Theta Beta - Towson University
• Pi Delta - University of Maryland

The Gamma Beta chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha strives to intensify friendship, foster the spirit of love, to make a difference in the lives of its fifty members and teach them the nobility of serving.

Seek the Noblest

The Zeta Tau Alpha at Washington College prides itself in our strong sisterhood. A day never goes by without having a friendly conversation with at least one sister while on campus. Our sisterhood extends beyond our weekly chapter meetings, and we are always spending time together simply because we genuinely love one another. Our sisterhood sets us apart because we support one another not just as students, but as people. We want all of our sisters to be the best versions of themselves and we all help each other meet those goals. Also, many of our sisters are all involved in various organizations, athletics, and clubs across campus showing how ZTA likes to stay connected with its school community.

Sisterhood for ZTA sisters does not just end with activities, the sisters of ZTA are bonded in friendship, tradition and service which allows each one to grow making our world and campus a better place. While partnered with the NFL, Bright Pink, and the American Cancer Society,  Gamma Beta’s service does not stop there.

Sisters participate in community events, volunteering at charities; helping with blood drives as well as other service events. The sisters of ZTA encourage you to take a look at their website link on the Washington College Site and leave a message on our message board and allow us to share with you our love for WAC and ZTA.

Each year one in eight women will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer. The Gamma Beta Chapter at Washington College tries to combat this statistic by hosting a variety of events throughout the year aimed at raising awareness and education about this devastating disease.

Breast Cancer Awareness and Education

Zeta Tau Alpha’s national philanthropy is Breast Cancer Awareness and Education.

Throughout the year ZTA works extra hard to spread the word about our philanthropy to the community. 

We are partnered with The American Cancer Society, Bright Pink, and the NFL to meet our philanthropic goals. To raise awareness we have one big philanthropy event per semester, these big events typically raise $2,000-$3,000 each. In the fall we have a different event each year such as a talent show or 5k, and in the spring we have our ZTA Carnival which has a raffle, games, and other activities. With each of the events we have a Pink Out Week leading up to the event, this entails tabling in Hodson and selling various items each day of the week to raise additional funds. Pink Out Week also includes decorating the campus in pink to get everyone excited for our event! Over the past two years alone we have raised: $17,045.93

International History

Zeta Tau Alpha was founded in October 15, 1898, by nine women at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia. Only 14-15 years of age, these young women desired permanence to their friendships and hoped to perpetuate their sisterhood long after college. Though dedicated to the formation of a Greek-letter group, th her glasse band of nine delayed selecting a formal name. A temporary name of “???” was taken when, as legend has it, a member of another group met with the Founders. Raising her eyebrows and forming her fingers in the shape of a question mark, she asked “Who are you?” In unison, the group answered “Yes, who? Who? Who? Thus, the group came to be known as “???” while they sought an appropriate Greek name and symbols.

During this time, the group received valuable assistance from two of the members’ brothers—Maud’s brother, Plummer Jones, and Frances Yancey Smith’s brother Giles Mebane Smith. Both were students at the college of William and Mary, members of men’s Greek letter organizations, and knowledgeable of Greek lore. After a year of careful contemplation, the group chose the formal name, the patron goddess, and the badge.

Founders

• Maud Jones Horner, Died 1920
• Della Lewis Hundley, Died July 12, 1951
• Alice Bland Coleman, Died June 11, 1956
• Mary Jones Batte, Died December 3, 1957
• Alice Grey Welsh, Died June 21, 1960
• Ethel Coleman, Died January 24, 1964
• Helen M. Crafford, Died September 17, 1964
• Frances Yancey Smith, Died April 23, 1977
• Ruby Leigh Orgain, Died October 22, 1984

Chapter History

• Our chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha, Gamma Beta, was chartered April 30, 1938, and was the first chapter chartered in Maryland.
• Gamma Beta is the 75th link in the national chain of chapters.
• Our chapter is extremely diverse. You can find a ZTA on the swim team or on the volleyball court, in the lab, on stage, being an RA or being the President of a club, being a Peer Mentor, or dancing in a performance. In fact, Zetas have been heavily involved in the past two Birthday Ball productions here at WC!

Awards

Chapter Award for Academic Excellence (2023)

Emerging Leader Award (2023)  Katie Opielski

Greek Woman of the Year (2023) Delaney Runge

Living the Ritual Award (2023) Paige Dauplaise

Outstanding Diversity, Social Justice, &

Inclusion Award (2023) Jordan Hyde

President of the Year (2023) Delaney Runge

Interfraternity/ Panhellenic Council Award for highest sorority GPA (2023)

Crown Chapter Award (ZTA) (2022)

Other Chapters in our Province

• Theta Delta - Salisbury University
• Iota Omega - University of Maryland
• Iota Delta - Towson University