Alpha Xi Delta House at the University of Texas at Austin.

Alpha Xi Delta Sorority house at Ohio University.

Alpha Xi Delta (ΑΞΔ) is a women's fraternity founded on April 17, 1893^[1][2] at Lombard College, Galesburg, Illinois. Alpha Xi Delta is one of the oldest women's fraternities as well as one of the ten founding fraternities of the National Panhellenic Conference. Alpha Xi Delta has over 150,000 initiated members and maintains chapters at 114 institutions across the United States.

History[link]

The ten founders of Alpha Xi Delta were Cora Bollinger Block, Alice Bartlett Bruner, Bertha Cook Evans, Harriett Luella McCollum, Lucy W. Gilmer, Lewie Strong Taylor, Almira Lowry Cheney, Frances Elisabeth Cheney, Eliza Drake Curtis Everton, and Julia Maude Foster.^[2]

Alpha Xi Delta is the only National Panhellenic Conference sorority that uses Xi in its official name.

Symbols and creed[link]

The open creed of Alpha Xi Delta is called The Symphony of Alpha Xi Delta in which it shows the ideals toward which all Alpha Xi's strive. It was written in 1924 by Helen Willis Lynn, Alice Matthews, and Almira Cheney, one of the original founders.

"These things do we earnestly desire: A clear vision of life, that with gracious and kindly hearts we may share both joy and sorrow, and bring into living reality the sisterhood of women

An appreciation of real merit and worth, steadfastness of soul, that without bitterness or defeat we may encounter misfortunes and with humility meet success.

These things, O Lord, help us to instill within our hearts, that we may grow in courage, graciousness, and peace."

The stated vision of Alpha Xi Delta is to "inspire women to realize their potential." The colors of Alpha Xi Delta are double blue (light and dark) and gold.^[2] The fraternity flower is the pink rose,^[2] as chosen by the Founders to complement the white rose of Sigma Nu fraternity whose brothers helped to found Alpha Xi Delta at Lombard College.^[3] The mascot is the teddy bear, the official mascot is named BetXi Bear. Each initiated member wears the quill which represents the Alpha Xi Delta open motto "The Pen is Mightier than the Sword."

The mission statement of the fraternity is to

[...] enrich the life of every Alpha Xi Delta. We will:

• Nurture unity and cooperation.
• Foster intellectual, professional, and personal growth.
• Exemplify the highest ethical conduct.
• Instill community responsibility.
• Perpetuate fraternal growth.^[4]

Philanthropy[link]

Alpha Xi Delta's national philanthropy is called Autism Speaks. The new philanthropy was announced on April 2, 2009.^[5]

Prior to Autism Speaks, Alpha Xi Delta was the only sorority that did not have an official organization as a philanthropy. Choose Children was an idea that gave each chapter to choose what organization they wanted to help.

Students at Purdue University line up to join Alpha Xi Delta during rush week

University of Illinois chapter house, listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Notable alumnae[link]

• Jan Davis (Gamma Eta) – Astronaut^[6]
• Betsey Johnson (Eta) – Fashion designer^[7]
• Amanda Pennekamp (Epsilon Iota) – Miss South Carolina USA 2004, Miss Earth USA 2006^[8]
• Deborah Pryce (Psi) – Politician, U.S. Representative from Ohio^[9]
• Karen Marie Shelton (Epsilon Xi) – Internet (Hairboutique.com) & Telephony (T&S Software) Entrepreneur^[10]
• Karen Tumulty (Beta Alpha) – Time National Political Correspondent^[9]
• Kim Webster (Iota) – Actress^[11]
• Diane Wood (Beta Alpha) – federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit^[12]
• Jane Henson (Beta Eta) – Co-founder of The Muppets with her husband, Jim Henson

References[link]

External links[link]

• Alpha Xi Delta
• The Quill of Alpha Xi Delta