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ΑΣΤ - Alpha Sigma Tau

Motto	Active, Self-reliant, Trustworthy
Colors	Emerald Green and Gold
Symbol	Anchor
Flower	Yellow Rose
Founded	November 4, 1899 at Michigan State Normal College, (Ypsilanti, Michigan)
Type	Social
Scope	National
Headquarters	1929 Canyon Rd. Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Chapters	77
Philanthropy	Pine Mountain Settlement School
Jewel	Pearl
Homepage	http://www.alphasigmatau.org/

Alpha Sigma Tau (ΑΣΤ) is a national collegiate sorority founded on November 4, 1899 at Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University).

The Sorority has 77 chapters and 3 colonies active nationwide. Alpha Sigma Tau is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference.

Contents 1 Purpose 2 Founding 3 Philanthropy and Service 3.1 National Philanthropy: Pine Mountain Settlement School 3.2 National Service Project: Habitat for Humanity 3.3 Local Philanthropic Efforts 4 National Foundation 5 Sorority Jewelry 6 Notable Alpha Taus 7 Active Chapters and Colonies 8 External links

The Purpose of the Sorority is to promote
the ethical, cultural, and social development
of its members, specifically:

to develop the character of each member through a study
of ethics so that she will show in all her relationships
sincerity, honesty, love and understanding;

to help each member enjoy the cultural advantages
in life so that she will know how to select those
things which are most worthwhile; and

to develop in each member the social graces to the extent
that she will be able to take her place in life with true dignity and poise.

As told by founding member Harriet Marx Pfeiffer, "There were present at this first meeting, Helene Rice, her sister Adriance, Eva O'Keefe, Harriet Marx, May Gephart, Mayene Tracy, Mable Chase and Ruth Dutcher. There were then in existence on campus three other sororities: Pi Kappa Sigma, Sigma Nu Phi and Zeta Phi (now inactive). The name Alpha Sigma Tau was chosen and purple and gold were chosen for the colors. Thus it was Alpha Sigma Tau, the third oldest educational sorority, was organized. A dozen or more very enthusiastic girls were present at this meeting.

The next meeting was a little party at the home of Mrs. Depew on Forest Avenue where Helene and Adriance Rice, Eva O'Keefe and Harriet Mark roomed. The party was indeed gay and festive with decorations of gold and purple. Even the cake was golden with purple icing. Here it was decided that the next day should witness the introduction of a newly born sorority to the world at large and to the student body in particular. Accordingly the members attended chapel en masse, everyone wearing the chosen colors. Imagine their surprise and chagrin when the members of the Zeta Phi informed them that the Alpha Sigma Tau had appropriated their colors. The group then chose emerald green and gold.

Mrs. E.A. Lyman was chosen patroness. During the first year of its existence the sorority did not display any marked activity. The charter was not received until the second year when Edith Silk, Myrtle Oram, Zoe Waldron, Grace Townley, Marie Gedding, Louise Agrell and Mable Pitts had joined the organization and with the organizers were the charter members. On the suggestion of Mrs. Lyman, Miss Pearce and Miss Norton were asked to be patronesses. The charter members were very, very close friends and have ever remained so ..." [1]

Every chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau supports Pine Mountain Settlement School, located in Harlan County, Kentucky. Pine Mountain was adopted as the national philanthropy in 1945.

At its founding, Pine Mountain Settlement School was a leader in rural educational standards, creating what is now famously known as the Head Start curriculum. Today, Pine Mountain Settlement School serves as an environmental education center and provides educational outreach services, such as summer reading camps and after-school tutoring, to the poverty-stricken Appalachian community. [2]

In June 2004, the Sorority adopted Habitat for Humanity as a national service project, thus expanding the Sorority's mission "to contribute to the progress of mankind." Alpha Sigma Tau members contribute to Habitat for Humanity in various ways, including partnering to build houses with and for families in need. [3]

In 2005, all Alpha Sigma Tau chapters participated in Hope Through Change, which raised money for Habitat for Humanity International to help rebuild following the December 2004 earthquake and tsunami.

Individual collegiate and alumnae chapters are also involved in local charities that reflect the Sorority's values of being active, self-reliant, and trustworthy.

The National Foundation was incorporated in 1982 to ensure the continuation of donation through the Sorority.

Alpha Sigma Tau National Foundation, Inc. provides:

• 18 scholarships and 1 grant per year
• Opportunity to support a charitable project
• Permanent headquarters for the Sorority
• Place for the storage and display of Alpha Sigma Tau's historical records
• Educational programming at the chapter, Regional Leadership Workshop, and National Convention levels

Badge, worn by initiated members

• Gold sorority letters on black bordered with gold and optional pearls
• Variations for national officers:
  • National staff members have rubies in the pin points
  • National council members have emeralds in the pin points
  • Past and present national presidents have diamonds in the pin points

Jewelry attached to Badge (optional)

• Charm displaying chapter letters
• Charm symbolizing office held in chapter
• Anchor charm symbolizing alumna status

New Member Pin, worn by new members

• Gold sorority letters intertwined vertically

Mother's Pin, worn by mothers of initiated members

• Gold sorority letters touching diagonally

For a full list of notable Alpha Sigma Tau alumnae, please visit here. [4]

Art

• Gwen Frostic - Nature Artist; Former Poet Laureate of Michigan
• Jill Sayre nee Magaw (Beta Phi Chapter, 1987) - Author of The Waiting Womb

Entertainment

• Sherry Ramsey - Actress
• Sally Jessy Raphaël - Talk Show Host, Sally Jessy Raphaël
• Betsy Ross - News Anchor, SportsCenter

Pageants

• Jessica Furrer (Upsilon Chapter) - Semi-finalist, Miss USA 2005 Competition
• Jennifer Sherrill (Upsilon Chapter) - Miss Photogenic, Miss USA 2004 Competition
• Terri Utley (Upsilon Chapter) - Miss USA 1982; 4th Runner-up, Miss Universe 1982

Miscellaneous

• Elizabeth Stewart - Mother of Jimmy Stewart

Main article: List of Alpha Sigma Tau chapters and colonies

• Alpha Sigma Tau
• Alpha Sigma Tau National Foundation
• Pine Mountain Settlement School
• Habitat for Humanity
• National Panhellenic Conference

National Panhellenic Conference Alpha Chi Omega | Alpha Delta Pi | Alpha Gamma Delta | Alpha Epsilon Phi | Alpha Omicron Pi | Alpha Phi | Alpha Sigma Alpha | Alpha Sigma Tau | Alpha Xi Delta | Chi Omega | Delta Delta Delta | Delta Gamma | Delta Zeta | Delta Phi Epsilon | Gamma Phi Beta | Kappa Alpha Theta | Kappa Delta | Kappa Kappa Gamma | Phi Mu | Phi Sigma Sigma | Pi Beta Phi | Sigma Delta Tau | Sigma Kappa | Sigma Sigma Sigma | Theta Phi Alpha | Zeta Tau Alpha