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

Nine young women had a vision

More than 290,000 women have been initiated into the sisterhood of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity since its founding. In 1898, nine young women at the Virginia State Female Normal School (now Longwood University) formalized their friendship by forming Zeta Tau Alpha. Away from home for the first time, these 15- and 16-year-olds longed for companionship while they studied to be teachers. Fearing their unique friendship would fade without a formal bond to sustain it, they met in secret by candlelight in the bathroom of their dormitory. At the start, they used only three question marks as their group name. The first minute book of regular meetings states Zeta Tau Alpha was organized Oct. 15, 1898.

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