Alpha Delta Pi

Alpha Delta Pi is one of the oldest National Panhellenic Conference sororities, founded at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Georgia by Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Williams, Martha Hardaway Redding, Sophia Eva Chargois, and Octavia Andrew Rush. The sorority was established on May 15, 1851, with the goal of providing a supportive community for women, similar to the Adelphean Society and the Philomathean Society. Alpha Delta Pi has since grown to become an international organization with chapters at universities such as University of Michigan, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Texas at Austin. The sorority is also a member of the National Panhellenic Conference, alongside other prominent sororities like Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, and Chi Omega.

● History

The history of Alpha Delta Pi is closely tied to the history of Wesleyan Female College, which was the first college in the world to grant degrees to women, with notable alumni including Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor and Rebecca Latimer Felton. The sorority's founders were inspired by the Greek Revival movement and the principles of Robert Browning and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Alpha Delta Pi's early years were marked by significant events, including the American Civil War, which affected the sorority's growth and development, with many members attending universities like University of Virginia and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The sorority also played a role in the Women's Suffrage Movement, with members like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton fighting for women's rights, alongside organizations like the National Woman Suffrage Association and the American Woman Suffrage Association. Notable Alpha Delta Pi members include Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, and Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA, who worked with other prominent women like Jane Addams and Ida Tarbell.

● Organization

Alpha Delta Pi is a non-profit organization, registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(7) organization, with a similar tax status to other sororities like Kappa Kappa Gamma and Delta Zeta. The sorority is governed by a Grand Council, which includes the Grand President, Grand Vice President, and other officers, who work with other organizations like the North American Interfraternity Conference and the National Panhellenic Conference. The Grand Council is responsible for making strategic decisions and overseeing the sorority's operations, with input from members who attend universities like Harvard University and Stanford University. Alpha Delta Pi also has a Foundation, which provides scholarships and grants to members, similar to the Alpha Phi Foundation and the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation, with support from donors like Bill Gates and Melinda Gates.

● Chapters

Alpha Delta Pi has over 160 chapters across the United States and Canada, with a presence at universities like University of Oxford and University of Cambridge, as well as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California Institute of Technology. The sorority has a strong presence in the Southern United States, with chapters at universities like University of Georgia and University of Alabama, as well as Vanderbilt University and Duke University. Alpha Delta Pi also has chapters in the Western United States, with a presence at universities like University of California, Los Angeles and University of Washington, as well as University of Arizona and University of Utah. Notable chapters include the Alpha chapter at Wesleyan Female College, the Beta chapter at University of Michigan, and the Gamma chapter at University of California, Berkeley, with members who have attended events like the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards.

● Membership

To become a member of Alpha Delta Pi, women must go through a recruitment process, which typically takes place at the beginning of the academic year, with events like Rush (sorority), similar to the recruitment processes of other sororities like Pi Beta Phi and Zeta Tau Alpha. The sorority looks for women who embody its values, including sisterhood, scholarship, and community service, with a focus on philanthropy and volunteer work, similar to the Habitat for Humanity and the American Cancer Society. Alpha Delta Pi members come from diverse backgrounds and have a wide range of interests, with many members attending universities like New York University and University of Chicago, as well as University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University. Notable Alpha Delta Pi members include Katharine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn, and Carrie Underwood, who have worked with organizations like the United Service Organizations and the American Red Cross.

● Philanthropy

Alpha Delta Pi's official philanthropy is the Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provides housing and support to families with children receiving medical treatment, similar to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Children's Miracle Network. The sorority also supports other charitable organizations, including the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association, with events like Relay For Life and Heart Walk, which are similar to events hosted by other sororities like Delta Gamma and Gamma Phi Beta. Alpha Delta Pi members are encouraged to participate in community service and volunteer work, with many members attending events like the Taste of the NFL and the Pro Bowl, which support organizations like the Feeding America and the United Way.

● Symbols

Alpha Delta Pi's symbols include the diamond, which represents the sorority's values of sisterhood, scholarship, and community service, similar to the symbols of other sororities like Kappa Kappa Gamma and Delta Zeta. The sorority's colors are pink and white, which are often used in Alpha Delta Pi's branding and merchandise, similar to the colors of other sororities like Pi Beta Phi and Zeta Tau Alpha. The Alpha Delta Pi badge is a diamond-shaped badge with the sorority's letters, which is worn by members as a symbol of their affiliation, similar to the badges of other sororities like Gamma Phi Beta and Chi Omega. Notable Alpha Delta Pi symbols include the Lion, which represents courage and strength, and the Violet, which represents modesty and humility, with a similar symbolism to the Rose (symbolism) and the Lily (symbolism).