Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

History

Prominent Members
• Coretta Scott King*, Activist
• Rosa Parks*, Mother of the civil rights
movement
• Eleanor Roosevelt*, Humanitarian; former
First Lady of the U.S.
• C. Vivian Stringer*, Rutgers University
women's basketball coach
• Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize winning author
• Bonnie Watson Coleman,
Assemblywoman, State of New Jersey
• Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, First female
president of Liberia
In 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority became Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
America's first Greek-letter organization Theta Pi Omega Chapter
established by Black college women. Her
roots date back to Howard University,
Washington, D.C., where the idea for
formation was conceived by Ethel Hedgeman
Lyle of St. Louis, Missouri. She viewed the
Sorority as an instrument for enriching the
social and intellectual aspects of college
life by providing mental stimulation through
interaction with friends and associates.
Through the years, however, Alpha Kappa
Alpha's function has become more complex.
After her incorporation as a perpetual body in
1913, Alpha Kappa Alpha gradually branched
out and became the channel through which
selected college-trained women improved the
socioeconomic conditions in their city, state,
nation, and the world.

• Phylicia Rashad, Actress, first African-

American female to win a Tony Award for
Lead Actress
• Catherine L. Hughes*, CEO/Owner Radio
One
• Iyanla Vanzant*, Attorney, author
• Donda West, Professor, author of Raising
Kanye; mother of Kanye West
• Ntozake Shange*, Playwright; For Colored
Girls
• Star Jones, author, television host, attorney,
and former International Second Vice
President
Alpha Kappa Alpha is a sisterhood composed
of women who have consciously chosen
this affiliation as a means of self-fulfillment
through volunteer service. Alpha Kappa Alpha Yvette M. Sample, President
cultivates and encourages high scholastic P.O. Box 596
and ethical standards; promotes unity and Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
friendship among college women; alleviates
problems concerning girls and women; Proudly Serving Burlington, Camden,
maintains a progressive interest in college & Gloucester Counties Since 1967.
life; and serves all mankind through a nucleus
of more than 260,000 women in the United
States, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa.
http://www.aka1908.com

• Dr. Wangari Muta Maathai*, first African

woman to receive Nobel Peace Prize
• Jane Addams*, Founder of Hull
House in Chicago; Nobel Peace Prize
recipient

*Denotes honorary member

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Theta Pi Omega History

Benchmarks of our success
On March 30, 1966, at the home of the late
• Raised $1300.00 for the Food
Nellie Wolfe Gaylord, a group of Alpha Kappa
Bank of South Jersey through
Alpha women from Burlington, Camden, and
a partnership with Macy’s of
Gloucester Counties met to discuss the
Moorestown, NJ in December
possibility of establishing an Alpha Kappa
2010.
Alpha chapter in the South Jersey tri-county
area. Gaylord, who had initiated the move, • Awarded over $30,000 in
was designated to take the lead in this scholarships and book awards to
Program Initiatives
venture and the necessary procedures were the 2010 Pink & Green Fantasy
carried out to secure the approval of a Cotillion participants in 2010 (with
Inspired by a dedicated investment of
chapter. NJF LEAD, Inc.). human capital and a bold commitment
to the principles of basic human
At the appropriate time, the regional director, • Annually award academic rights, we shall devote our talent and
scholarships to 2 high school resources to this cause. Awareness,
Esther Pollard, was invited to come for a
students in each county in
meeting with the group at the home of advocacy and action are the primary
our service area, Burlington,
Gretchen Waples in Camden, New Jersey.
Camden, & Gloucester Counties.
vehicles for the worldwide delivery of
Pollard was favorably impressed with the our service initiatives. We invite you
group and the possibility for success of a • Received Large Chapter of the to join us on this journey and accept
chapter. Year award at the 79th North this great mission: Global Leadership
Atlantic Regional Conference in through Timeless Service.
At the meeting of the international board of 2010
directors in July 1967, a charter was
• Tied for 2nd place for President of
Signature Program Initiatives
approved. On Saturday, November 11, 1967,
the Year at the 79th North Atlantic I. Emerging Young Leaders (EYL)
chartering rites were conducted by Pollard to
Regional Conference in 2010. Initiatives
establish Theta Pi Omega. Through the years,
Theta Pi Omega has remained a dedicated
• Contributed in-kind clothing II. Health Initiatives
arm of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. donations at 79th North Atlantic
Regional Conference in 2010. III. Global Poverty

• Recipient of the 2010 Arthur F. IV. Economic Security Initiative

Brown Community Service &
Inspiration Award from Omega
Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Nu Nu
Chapter, Willingboro, NJ.
V. Social Justice and Human Rights
Initiative
VI. Internal Leadership Training for
External Service Initiative

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