Sigma Alpha

Sigma Alpha was first conceived on February 26, 1977, by Ohio State University students Marilyn Burns, Cindie Davis, Amy Matthews, Ann Huling Mathews, and Jennifer McMillan. On January 26, 1978, Sigma Alpha became an officially recognized as a student organization.{{Cite web |title=Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority {{!}} Get Involved at NC State |url=https://getinvolved.ncsu.edu/organization/sigmaalpha |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=North Carolina State University}} It was established as a women's fraternity for agricultural students and to promote scholarship, leadership, and service.{{Cite web |title=Sigma Alpha Sorority {{!}} Fraternity & Sorority Affairs |url=https://fsaffairs.illinois.edu/organizations/sororities/SigmaAlpha |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |language=en}}

In 1980, its five founders established a national board to oversee the Alpha chapter at Ohio State and to expand the sorority to other institutions. They also changed the fraternity's constitution to allow additional chapters. Beta chapter was chartered at Purdue University on April 14, 1984. Ten additional chapters followed between 1985 and May 1991.

The fraternity held its first annual national convention in 1985 in Columbus, Ohio. Since then, the national board has been elected at the annual conclave. By 1991, Sigma Alpha had 750 members. The organization was incorporated in the State of Ohio on April 8, 1991.

Sigma Alpha is a member of the Professional Fraternity Association (PFA), a national organization of professional Greek letter organizations. It also belongs to the Consortium of Collegiate Agricultural Organizations. As of 2024, more than 19,000 members have been initiated into Sigma Alpha, now called a professional sorority.{{Cite web |date=2014-11-05 |title=Home |url=https://sigmaalpha.org/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Sigma Alpha Sorority |language=en-US}}{{Cite book |last=Barnett |first=George A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HK5tNbVYs0UC |title=Encyclopedia of Social Networks |date=2011-09-07 |publisher=SAGE |isbn=978-1-4129-7911-5 |pages=802 |language=en}} The sorority's national headquarters are in Hampton, Iowa.

The fraternity was named Sigma Alpha for "Sisters in Agriculture".{{Cite web |title=Sigma Alpha Sorority |url=https://utk.campuslabs.com/engage/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2Fengage%2Forganization%2Fsigmaalpha |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=University of Tennessee}} Its motto is "Cultivating Professional Women in Agriculture". Its pillars are Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Fellowship.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-24 |title=More About Us |url=https://sigmaalphanmsu.wordpress.com/more-about-us/ |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=Sigma Alpha - Alpha Sigma Chapter |language=en}}

Sigma Alpha's crest is diamond-shaped, with the top half being larger than its bottom. The Greek letters {{lang|grc|ΣΑ}} are located in the diamond, surrounded by an etching of a chrysanthemum to the right, a yoke to the left, and a sunrise and wheat shafts below. Above are two rows of Greek letters; the top consists of {{Lang|grc|ΗΒΜΔΜ}} and the bottom row of {{Lang|grc|ΟΣΕ}}. At the bottom of the diamond are the Greek letters {{Lang|grc|ΡΒ}}.

The fraternity's badge is like the crest, with the addition of an emerald in the four points of the diamond and pearls in between. Sigma Alpha's colors are emerald and maize.{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://sigmaalphaba.wixsite.com/my-site |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=Sigma Alpha Sorority Beta Alpha Chapter |language=en}} Its jewel is the emerald. Its flower is the yellow chrysanthemum. The sorority's mascot is a Perry, a baby bull.

The fraternity's original publication is Sigma Alpha News. In addition, Emerald & Maize was added in 1991 as a short administrative update from the national board. Its current newsletter is the Emerald Times.{{Cite web |date=2018-04-17 |title=Emerald Times |url=https://sigmaalpha.org/foundation-about/about-the-foundation/emerald-times/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Sigma Alpha Sorority |language=en-US}}

{{Main|List of Sigma Alpha chapters}}

Sigma Alpha has chartered more than 80 collegiate chapters in the United States; 71 are active as of 2024.{{Cite web |last= |date=2018-04-28 |title=Chapters by State |url=https://sigmaalpha.org/join/chapters-by-state/ |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=Sigma Alpha |language=en-US}}Anson, Jack L. and Marchesani Jr. Robert F., eds. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 20th edition. Indianapolis: Baird's Manual Foundation, 1991. pp. V.52-V.53. {{ISBN|0-9637159-0-9}} It also has 20 active alumnae chapters.{{Cite web |date=2018-04-17 |title=Alumnae Chapters |url=https://sigmaalpha.org/alumnae/alumnae-chapters/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Sigma Alpha Sorority |language=en-US}}

The sorority's national philanthropy is its Agriculture in the Community which allows members to give back and spread the word about the agriculture industry.{{Cite web |date=2014-11-05 |title=At a Glance |url=https://sigmaalpha.org/foundation-about/about-the-foundation/at-a-glance/ |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=Sigma Alpha Sorority |language=en-US}}

• Professional fraternities and sororities

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://sigmaalpha.org/}}

{{Ohio State University|studentlife}}

{{Professional Fraternities}}

Category:Agricultural organizations based in the United States

Category:Professional fraternities and sororities in the United States

Category:Ohio State University

Category:Student organizations established in 1978

Category:Professional Fraternity Association

Category:1978 establishments in Ohio

Category:Women's organizations based in the United States