Alpha Kappa Alpha
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| nickname: AKAs | |||||
| Founded | January 15, 1908 | ||||
| International Headquarters | Chicago, Il | ||||
| Official Colors | Apple Green & Salmon Pink | ||||
| Official Flower | Tea Rose | ||||
| Symbol | Frog, Ivy Leaf | ||||
| Coat of Arms | Missing image AKAshield.gif Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. shield | ||||
| Motto: By Merit and By Culture | |||||
| Alpha Kappa Alpha Website | |||||
In 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated became America's first Greek letter sorority 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.
The sorority is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), composed of nine (9) International Greek letter Sororities and Fraternities.
Famous Members
- Maya Angelou, Poet
- Gwendolyn Calvert Baker, President of the United States Committee for UNICEF
- Yvette Lee Bowser, Television producer
- Angie Brookes, The first woman President of the United Nations
- Yvonne Braithwaite-Burke, Former U.S. Congresswoman from California and first woman to chair the Democratic National Convention
- Bebe Moore Campbell, Author of "Brothers and Sisters and Your Blues Ain't Like Mine"
- Suzette Charles, Miss America 1984
- Marva Collins, Founder of her own private school on Chicago's west side
- Ella Fitzgerald, Internationally famous Jazz singer
- Bettiann Gueno Gardner, Co-Chiarman of Soft Sheen Products, Inc
- Zina Garrison, Tennis star
- Janice Huff, NBC Meteorologist and St. Louis Emmy Award Winner
- Marilyn Hughes Gaston , Former Assistant Surgeon General
- Dr. Gwendolyn Goldsby Grant, Essence magazine columnist
- Shirlee Taylor Haizlip, Author of "The Sweeter the Juice"
- Mae Jemison , Astronaut and businesswoman.
- Star Jones, co-host of The View talk show, lawyer, former legal analyst for Inside Edition, Today and Nightly News.
- Sharon Pratt Kelly, The first woman to serve as Mayor of Washington, D. C.
- Alicia Keys, Singer, Actress
- Coretta Scott King, activist and director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Social Change and Civil Rights Activism and founder of The National Political Congress of Black Women, Inc.
- Shelia Jackson Lee, Texas Representative most known for her work with decreasing the amount of abandoned babies in the state.
- Michele Le'Roberge, Tony winning actress and singer.
- Jewell Jackson McCabe, President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and founder of The National Political Congress of Black Women, Inc.
- Anita McMiller, Deputy Legislative Assistant to Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Toni Morrison, Author and Nobel Prize Laureate
- Jomarie Payton Noble, Humanitarian and actress; star of Family Matters
- Hazel O'Leary, U.S. Secretary of Energy
- Rosa Parks, Mother of the Civil Rights Movement
- Phylicia Rashad, Actress
- Sonia Sanchez, Author and poet
- Ntozake Shange, Writer
- C. Delores Tucker, National Chairman of the National Political Congress of Black Women
- Debbye Turner, Miss America 1990
- Leah Tutu, Wife of South African activist Bishop Desmond Tutu
- Marjorie Judith Vincent, Miss America 1991
- Diane Watson, The first Black woman to preside over the California State Senate
- Faye Wattleton, former President of Planned Parenthood
- Lynn Whitfield, Actress