Sigma Alpha Omega
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Sigma Alpha Omega (ΣΑΩ) is a nationally incorporated Christian sorority for women, founded at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
in 1998. However, they can trace their roots back to the once co-educational Chi Alpha Omega fraternity founded at East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
in 1987. The sorority was formed after a vote of active members at the NCSU chapter in 1998, and focuses on setting good moral examples for their peers and their community.
History
Sigma Alpha Omega was formed as a sister sorority to Chi Alpha Omega, a Christian FraternityChristian fraternity
class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"While the traditional social fraternity is a well-established mainstay across the United States at institutions of higher learning, alternatives - in the form...
. Chi Alpha Omega was founded as a Christian fraternity for men in the spring of 1987 at East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
in Greenville, North Carolina
Greenville, North Carolina
Greenville is the county seat of Pitt County and principal city of the Greenville, North Carolina metropolitan area. Greenville is the health, entertainment, and educational hub of North Carolina's Tidewater and Coastal Plain and in 2008 was listed as the Tenth Largest City in North Carolina...
. The purpose of Chi Alpha Omega was to assemble Christian men in a Christ-centered brotherhood in order to enjoy Christian fellowship, service, accountability, and social activities. Chi Alpha Omega later established a little sister program in order to include their sisters in Christ. Soon after, the fraternity changed fully to co-ed.
In January 1998, the active brothers (both males and females) of the Beta Chapter of Chi Alpha Omega at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
voted to form Sigma Alpha Omega in hopes of benefiting both the fraternity and the sorority. Both groups committed to living according to the ideals of Christ and His Word, uplifting each other through fellowship and service, and bringing the love of Christ to North Carolina State University.
Founders
Founding Sisters of Sigma Alpha Omega at North Carolina State University were Michelle Bull, Kathryn Meyer, Kimberly Rogers, and Josie Watson.National Establishment
As the sorority grew, a need arose to connect chapters through a nationalorganization. Active sisters of the Alpha Chapter at North Carolina State
University labored for three years to prepare documents to support a National
Board of Trustees. During the spring of 2004, the national board was founded when active and alumni members of the Alpha Chapter met to pray about the future of the sorority.
Sigma Alpha Omega Christian Sorority, Inc was officially recognized as a national non-profit organization under the laws of North Carolina in June 2004. The first National
Board of Trustees consisted of alumni members from the Alpha chapter. They were Kristen Batten, Emily Britt, Emily Greene, Valerie Harris Smith, Beth Helms, Jerusha Monroe, Jody Moss Ransom, Josie Watson Thomas, and Lindsey Viens.
The current President of the National Board of Trustees is Mindy Mahrer.
Philanthropy
On June 2, 2007, at the annual National Convention, the sisters of Sigma Alpha Omega voted to adopt ovarian cancer awareness as their national philanthropy. They are currently working with Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. The sisters of Sigma Alpha Omega work hard to raise awareness and funds for this organization.Chapters
- Α Alpha - North Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
(Active) - Β Beta - Appalachian State UniversityAppalachian State UniversityAppalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
(Active) - Γ Gamma - Elon UniversityElon UniversityElon University is a private liberal arts university in Elon, North Carolina, United States. Formerly known as Elon College, it became Elon University on June 1, 2001. The campus is a botanical garden and features oak trees, brick sidewalks, fountains, and lakes...
(Active) - Δ Delta - Millikin UniversityMillikin UniversityMillikin University is an American co-educational, comprehensive, private, four-year university with traditional undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, fine arts, and professional studies, as well as non-traditional, adult degree-completion programs and graduate programs in...
(Inactive) - Ε Epsilon - University of MissouriUniversity of MissouriThe University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
(Inactive) - Ζ Zeta - University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, BerkeleyThe University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
(Inactive) - Η Eta - Shaw UniversityShaw UniversityShaw University, founded as Raleigh Institute, is a private liberal arts institution and historically black university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest HBCU in the Southern United States....
(Inactive) - Θ Theta - Georgia College and State University (Active)
- Ι Iota - East Carolina UniversityEast Carolina UniversityEast Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
(Active) - Κ Kappa - Bethel University (Inactive)
- Λ Lambda - California State University at Chico (Active)
- M Mu - University of GeorgiaUniversity of GeorgiaThe University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
(Active) - N Nu - Western Carolina UniversityWestern Carolina UniversityWestern Carolina University is a coeducational public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, United States. The university is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina system....
(Active) - Ξ Xi - Illinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois Wesleyan University is an independent undergraduate university located in Bloomington, Illinois. Founded in 1850, the central portion of the present campus was acquired in 1854 with the first building erected in 1856...
(Inactive) - O Omicron - University of North Carolina, Wilmington (Active)
- Π Pi - University of West GeorgiaUniversity of West GeorgiaThe University of West Georgia is a comprehensive doctoral-granting university in Carrollton, Georgia, approximately 45 miles west of Atlanta, Georgia. The University is built on 645 acres including a recent land gift of 246 acres from the city of Carrollton in 2003...
(Active) - Ρ Rho - Valdosta State UniversityValdosta State UniversityValdosta State University, also referred to as VSU, or Valdosta State, is an American public university and is one of the two regional universities in the University System of Georgia. Valdosta State is located on a campus at the heart of the city of Valdosta...
(Active) - Σ Sigma - Alma CollegeAlma CollegeAlma College is a private, liberal arts college located in Alma, Michigan. The enrollment is approximately 1,400 students, and the college is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college's 13th President, Dr...
(Inactive) - Τ Tau - Atlanta Christian CollegeAtlanta Christian CollegePoint University is a private, Christian, liberal arts university in East Point, Georgia, southwest of Atlanta....
(Active) - Υ Upsilon - University of North Carolina, Charlotte (Inactive)
- Φ Phi - Georgia Southwestern State UniversityGeorgia Southwestern State UniversityGeorgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, is a school in the University System of Georgia.-The College of Arts and Sciences:The College of Arts and Sciences at GSW offers undergraduate degrees in art Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, is a school in the...
(Inactive) - Χ Chi - University of South CarolinaUniversity of South CarolinaThe University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
(Active) - Ψ Psi - University of New MexicoUniversity of New MexicoThe University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
(Active) - Ω Omega - Cameron UniversityCameron UniversityCameron University is a four-year, state-funded university located in Lawton, Oklahoma, that offers more than 50 degrees through two-year, four-year and graduate programs. The degree programs emphasize the liberal arts, science and technology and graduate and professional studies...
(Active) - AA Alpha Alpha - James Madison UniversityJames Madison UniversityJames Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
(Active) - ΑB Alpha Beta - University of North Carolina, Greensboro (Active)
- ΑΓ Alpha Gamma-Armstrong Atlantic State UniversityArmstrong Atlantic State UniversityArmstrong Atlantic State University, also referred to as Armstrong Atlantic, Armstrong, or simply AASU, is a four-year public university part of the University System of Georgia. It is located on a campus in suburban Savannah, Georgia, United States...
(Active) - ΑΔ Alpha Delta-Christopher Newport UniversityChristopher Newport UniversityChristopher Newport University, or CNU, is a public liberal arts university located in Newport News, Virginia, United States. CNU is the youngest comprehensive university in the Commonwealth of Virginia...
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