Alpha Gamma Delta

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Alpha Gamma Delta (ΑΓΔ) is an international women's fraternity, founded in 1904 at Syracuse University. The women's fraternity promotes academic excellence, philanthropic giving, ongoing leadership and personal development, and a spirit of loving sisterhood.[1] Also known as "Alpha Gam", Alpha Gamma Delta's current membership exceeds 170,000. There are currently 182 collegiate chapters, and over 250 alumnae clubs. The longest running active collegiate chapter is Delta Chapter at the University of Minnesota. However, since recolonization in 2010, the oldest active collegiate chapter is the Alpha Chapter at Syracuse University. Alpha Gamma Delta is a member of the Syracuse Triad along with Gamma Phi Beta and Alpha Phi.

History

Alpha Gamma Delta logo.svg

Alpha Gamma Delta was officially founded on May 30, 1904 at the home of Dr. Wellesley Perry Coddington, a professor at Syracuse University who was instrumental in the early development of Alpha Gamma Delta. Each of the Fraternity's 11 founders were progressive women who selflessly contributed to the foundation and growth of Alpha Gamma Delta.These eleven female students were Marguerite Shepard, Estelle Shepard Beswick, Georgia Alberta Dickover, Jennie Titus Smith Morris, Ethel Evelyn Brown Distin, Grace Mosher Harter, Edith MacConnel Hickok, Mary Louise Snider, Georgia Otis Chipman, Emily Helen Butterfield and Flora Knight Mayer.

The organization's official designation as a "fraternity" rather than a "sorority" (often seen in the names of women's groups) derives from an early advisor, who noted that soror is a Latin word with no connection to the Greek traditions cited by many collegiate social groups like Alpha Gamma Delta.[1] Many other Greek-letter organizations for women likewise refer to themselves as fraternities, though in the collective sense are generally called "sororities". The intent behind Alpha Gamma Delta's founding differed from other groups because it was founded to become a National Women's Fraternity rather than a local group or literary society.

Symbols

While Alpha Gamma Delta does not have any official symbols, it does have official flowers, jewels, and colors. Alpha Gam's flowers are red and buff roses, with green asparagus plumosa fern. The jewel is the pearl. The colors are red, buff, and green. The armorial bearings of the fraternity was designed by founding member Emily Helen Butterfield in 1906.

Alpha Gamma Delta does have a mascot, a squirrel. The original mascot was given the name Skiouros. He was chosen by Gamma chapter in 1915 with the following explanation: "In the days when Gamma first made the triple colors of red, buff, and green her own, some of her energetic number sought a mascot to symbolize the characteristics of the colors and progress of Alpha Gamma Delta. In the autumn tints, so beautifully dear to us, they received the suggestion, and the little squirrel, typical frequenter of autumn haunts, was chosen as the mascot. Our little friend, we find, is also nimble and agile--he leaps from branch to branch and accomplishes such progress to symbolize the spirit that never dies, the spirit of energetic alertness and progress."

Philanthropy

Alpha Gamma Delta's official philanthropy is the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation. The Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation was created in 1962 ensuring that the Fraternity's mission would live on into Alpha Gamma Delta's second century, it supports members through scholarship grants, wellness programs, leadership training and workshops. It also assists members in emergency financial need. The emergency financial needs provided to members are known as "sister grants" where money from the foundation go out to members of the fraternity form all over the country who need emergency funding. The Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation is particularly devoted towards research surrounding Juvenile Diabetes. The Foundation makes grants to organizations and individuals for diabetes awareness and education. Diabetes research was chosen to be the focus of the foundation as diabetes "continues to affect our members and their friends, families and acquaintances."[2]

Mission

Alpha Gamma Delta is an international fraternity for women that exists to provide opportunities for personal development through the spirit of sisterhood:[3]

  • To support lifelong learning as a means to gain understanding and wisdom.
  • To promote the value of fraternal membership and commitment to higher education.
  • To help prepare members to contribute to the world's work.
  • To advocate lifetime involvement in Alpha Gamma Delta.

Its vision is "Live with Purpose."[3]

University of Illinois Alpha Gamma Delta house, listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Notable alumnae

Chapters

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Main article: List of Alpha Gamma Delta chapters

See also

References

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External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "AGD" defined multiple times with different content
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Carly Simon#Early life
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