Pi Alpha Xi

{{Infobox Fraternity

| name = Pi Alpha Xi

| letters = {{lang|grc|ΠΑΞ}}

| crest = Pi_Alpha_Xi_Key.jpg

| image_size = 120px

| motto = Always to Excel

| colors = {{color box|#4EBD88}} Nile green and {{color box|#9BC7EE}} Cerulean blue

| symbol = Stylus, Nile Lotus, Egyptian hoe, Ancient Vase

| flower = Nile Lotus

| birthplace = Cornell University

| affiliation = Independent

| founded = {{start date and age|June 1, 1923}}

| chapters = 42

| status = Active

| type = Honor

| scope = National (US)

| address = c/o Angie Lower, American Society for Horticultural Science
1018 Duke Street

| city = Alexandria

| state = Virginia

| ZIP code = 22314

| country = United States

| publication = Lotus Leaflet

| free_label =

| free =

| homepage = {{url|http://www.pialphaxi.org/}}

| footnotes =

| lifetime = 14,000+

| emphasis = Horticulture

}}

Pi Alpha Xi ({{lang|grc|ΠΑΞ}}) is an American collegiate honor society for horticulture founded in 1923 at Cornell University.

History

After attending the 1923 International Flower Show in New York City, a group from Cornell University had the idea to start the honor society.{{Cite web |title=Pi Alpha Xi |url=https://ashs.org/500100.asp?500;http://ashs.org/BlankCustom.asp |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=American Society for Horticultural Science}}Albrecht, Mary Lewes. "[http://www.pialphaxi.org/uploads/1/0/2/6/102693520/373.full.pdf Pi Alpha Xi—A Tradition of Excellence in Floriculture, Landscape Horticulture, and Ornamental Horticulture]" . HortTechnology. 12 (3): 373-376. July 2002. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Pi Alpha Xi. Under the leadership of Professor Arno Nehrling, the Pi Alpha Xi constitution, ritual, and insignia/key were developed. Alpha chapter was installed at Cornell on June 1, 1923.

Pi Alpha Xi was established as an honor society for floriculture and ornamental horticulture but later changed to include all horticultural disciplines. Its mission is promoting fellowship, professional leadership, and scholarship and to enrich life through plants. Chapters are located in four-year colleges and universities that have horticultural programs.

By 1950, Pi Alpha Xi, chapters were established at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Beta), Pennsylvania State University (Gamma), Michigan State University (Delta), Ohio State University (Epsilon), Rutgers University (Zeta), Washington State University (Eta), and the University of Maryland, College Park (Theta). The society's added a significant number of chapters during the 1970s. As of January 24, 2024, Pi Alpha Xi has forty chapters and 14,000 members. Its publication is the Lotus Leaflet.

Pi Alpha Xi is managed by the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), based in Alexandria, Virginia. Its annual business meeting is held in conjunction with the ASHS annual conference.

Symbols

The society's name was selected to represent:[http://web.utk.edu/~ewillis2/symbols.html Pi Alpha Xi Symbols]

Pi ({{lang|grc|Π}}) – the first letter of polumathia, or scholarship;
Alpha ({{lang|grc|Α}}) - from the word anthemorgous, meaning to work with plants;
Xi ({{lang|grc|Ξ}}) – for zunoia, signifying the bond among gardeners, educators, and professional horticulturists.[http://w.ashs.org/pax/index.php/newsletter/letter-from-your-president/43-letter-from-your-president4 Letter From Your President – 43]

Its colors are Nile green and cerulean blue, and its flower is the Nile lotus. Its symbols include the stylus, the Nile lotus, the Egyptian hoe, and the ancient vase.{{cite book |title=Baird's Manual of American Fraternities |publisher=Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. |year=1991 |isbn=978-0963715906 |editor1-last=Anson |editor1-first=Jack L. |edition=20th |location=Indianapolis, IN |page=VII-41–42 |editor2-last=Marchenasi |editor2-first=Robert F. |origyear=}} The motto of Pi Alpha Xi is "Always to Excel".

Its badge is a pin or key which is inscribed with the Greek letters {{lang|grc|ΠΑΞ}} and the stylus, Egyptian hoe, Nile lotus, and the ancient vase.

Membership

Membership is open to undergraduate students who are juniors and seniors interested in floriculture, landscape horticulture, or ornamental horticulture who meet GPA requirements. Faculty and graduate students are also eligible for membership. The society also issues honorary memberships.

Activities

Primarily, Pi Alpha Xi exists to recognize academic excellence. The national society sponsors the Pi Alpha Phi Annual Photography Contest, and publishes the Pi Alpha Xi Flower Judging Manual. It also recognizes Fellows from the Pi Alpha Phi membership for service or excellence in floriculture, landscape horticulture, ornamental horticulture, or Pi Alpha Phi. There is a limit of 25 living Fellows.

Some chapters also sponsor field trips to horticultural sites and lectures with guest speakers. Chapters also sponsor scholarships so that members can attend the ASHS conference. The national organization matches local scholarships.

Chapters

Following is a list of Pi Alpha Xi chapters.[https://ashs.org/general/custom.asp?page=RosterofChapters Roster of Chapters] American Society for Horticultural Sciences. Accessed January 22, 2024{{Cite journal |date=July 2002 |title=Chapters of Pi Alpha Xi as of August 2001 |url=http://www.pialphaxi.org/uploads/1/0/2/6/102693520/373.full.pdf |journal=HortTechnology |volume=12 |issue=3 |page=375 |access-date=January 22, 2024 |via=Pi Alpha Xi}} Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters and institutions are in italics.

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chapter

!Charter date and range

!Institution

!Location

!Status

!References

Alpha

|{{dts|June 1, 1923}}

|Cornell University

|Ithaca, New York

|Active

|{{Cite web |last=Cramer |first=Craig |date=November 16, 2021 |title=Pi Alpha Xi welcomes new members |url=https://cals.cornell.edu/news/2021/11/pi-alpha-xi-welcomes-new-members |access-date=January 22, 2024 |website=Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences}}

Beta

|{{dts|April 2, 1924}}

|University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

|Urbana, Illinois

|Active

Gamma

|{{dts|May 29, 1926}}

|Pennsylvania State University

|University Park, Pennsylvania

|Active

Delta

|{{dts|April 12, 1929}}

|Michigan State University

|East Lansing, Michigan

|Active

Epsilon

|{{dts|January 6, 1929}}

|Ohio State University

|Columbus, Ohio

|Active

|{{Cite web |title=Pi Alpha Xi : Find a Student Organization : Student Activities |url=https://activities.osu.edu/involvement/student_organizations/find_a_student_org/?i=9bc60280-fea5-4d48-8b08-b04d48f88420&l=P&c=Columbus&page=3 |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=The Ohio State University}}

Zeta

|{{dts|November 16, 1933}}

|Rutgers University

|New Brunswick, New Jersey

|Active

Eta

|{{dts|March 12, 1949}}

|Washington State University

|Pullman, Washington

|Active

Theta

|{{dts|September 14, 1949}}

|University of Maryland, College Park

|College Park, Maryland

|Active

Iota

|{{dts|February 15, 1957}}

|North Carolina State University

|Raleigh, North Carolina

|Active

|{{Cite web |date=2014-08-25 |title=History |url=https://pialphaxi.wordpress.ncsu.edu/history/ |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=Pi Alpha Xi - Iota Chapter at N.C. State University |language=en-US}}

Kappa

|{{dts|June 1, 1968}}

|Virginia Tech

|Blacksburg, Virginia

|Active

|{{Cite web |title=Pi Alpha Xi - GobblerConnect |url=https://gobblerconnect.vt.edu/organization/pax |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=Virginia Tech}}

Lambda

|{{dts|May 28, 1968}}

|University of Minnesota

|Saint Paul, Minnesota

|Active

|{{dts|May 16, 1974}}

|University of Florida

|Gainesville, Florida

|Active

|{{dts|May 30, 1974}}

|Auburn University

|Auburn, Alabama

|Active

|{{dts|December 1, 1974}}

|New Mexico State University

|Las Cruces, New Mexico

|Active

Omicron

|{{dts|February 23, 1975}}

|Purdue University

|West Lafayette, Indiana

|Active

|{{dts|April 17, 1975}}

|Clemson University

|Clemson, South Carolina

|Active

Rho

|{{dts|March 1, 1975}}

|University of Wisconsin–Madison

|Madison, Wisconsin

|Active

Sigma

|{{dts|April 2, 1975}}

|Southern Illinois University Carbondale

|Carbondale, Illinois

|Active

Tau

|{{dts|May 30, 1975}}

|University of Georgia

|Athens, Georgia

|Active

Upsilon

|{{dts|September 1, 1975}}

|California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

|San Luis Obispo, California

|Active

Phi

|{{dts|October 29, 1975}}

|South Dakota State University

|Brookings, South Dakota

|Active

Psi

|{{dts|May 31, 1978}}

|Texas A&M University

|College Station, Texas

|Active

Chi

|{{dts|May 29, 1975}}

|Colorado State University

|Fort Collins, Colorado

|Active

|{{Cite web |title=Pi Alpha Xi {{!}} College of Agricultural Sciences |url=https://agsci.colostate.edu/pialphaxi/ |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=Colorado State University |language=en-US}}

Omega

|{{dts|March 16, 1979}}

|Kansas State University

|Manhattan, Kansas

|Active

|{{Cite web |title=Pi Alpha Xi Honor Society {{!}} Horticulture and Natural Resources |url=https://hnr.k-state.edu/student-success/clubs-and-activities/pi-alpha-xi/ |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=Kansas State University}}

Alpha Beta

|{{dts|May 26, 1980}}

|University of Tennessee

|Knoxville, Tennessee

|Active

Alpha Gamma

|{{dts|April 23, 1982}}

|University of Nebraska–Lincoln

|Lincoln, Nebraska

|Active

|{{Cite web |title=Pi Alpha Xi – Alpha-Gamma Chapter {{!}} Department of Agronomy and Horticulture |url=https://agronomy.unl.edu/pialphaxi |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=University of Nebraska-Lincoln}}

Alpha Delta

|{{dts|April 24, 1983}}

|Oklahoma State University–Stillwater

|Stillwater, Oklahoma

|Active

Alpha Epsilon

|{{dts|1984|4}}Spring 1984

|University of California, Davis

|Davis, California

|Active

Alpha Zeta

|{{dts|May 16, 1985}}

|University of Wisconsin–River Falls

|River Falls, Wisconsin

|Active

Alpha Eta

|{{dts|1985|4|format=hide}}Spring 1985

|Delaware Valley University

|Doylestown, Pennsylvania

|Active

Alpha Theta

|{{dts|November 6, 1986}}

|Iowa State University

|Ames, Iowa

|Active

|{{Cite web |title=Pi Alpha Xi {{!}} Department of Horticulture |url=https://www.hort.iastate.edu/undergraduate-experience/social-community/pi-alpha-xi/ |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=Iowa State University |language=en-US}}

Alpha Iota

|{{dts|March 24, 1988}}

|Texas Tech University

|Lubbock, Texas

|Active

Alpha Kappa

|{{dts|1990|4|format=hide}}Spring 1990

|Mississippi State University

|Starkville, Mississippi

|Active

Alpha Lambda

|{{dts|February 1, 1992}}

|Florida A&M University

|Tallahassee, Florida

|Active

Alpha Mu

|{{dts|1992|4|format=hide}}Spring 1992

|Temple University

|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

|Active

Alpha Nu

|{{dts|June 2, 1995}}

|Utah State University

|Logan, Utah

|Active

Alpha Xi

|{{dts|April 18, 2005}}

|Texas State University

|San Marcos, Texas

|Active

Alpha Omicron

|{{dts|May 2, 2006}}

|University of Arkansas

|Fayetteville, Arkansas

|Active

Alpha Pi

|{{dts|May 4, 2006}}

|University of Wisconsin–Platteville

|Platteville, Wisconsin

|Active

Alpha Rho

|{{dts|February 13, 2012}}

|Oregon State University

|Corvallis, Oregon

|Active

|{{Cite web |date=2022-07-27 |title=Pi Alpha Xi {{!}} College of Agricultural Sciences Department of Horticulture |url=https://horticulture.oregonstate.edu/pi-alpha-xi |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=Oregon State University |language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://horticulture.oregonstate.edu/department-of-horticulture/pi-alpha-xi-initiation-ceremony|title=HORTICULTURE STUDENTS RECOGNIZED DURING PI ALPHA XI INITIATION CEREMONY AND CHARTER PRESENTATION|website=Oregon State University|access-date=2024-02-09}}

Alpha Sigma

|{{dts|October 13, 2015}}

|University of Wyoming

|Laramie, Wyoming

|Active

Alpha Tau

|{{dts|September 21, 2015}}

|University of Maine

|Orono, Maine

|Active

References

Category:Horticultural organizations based in the United States

Category:Honor societies

Category:Student organizations established in 1923

Category:1923 establishments in New York (state)