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Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated

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The Sorority’s guiding light: Ethel Hedgeman Lyle

The Rho Kappa charter members pictured in 1995.

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Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was founded on the campus of Howard University on January 15, 1908.

Alpha Kappa Alpha is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African-American college women. Founded by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, a junior at Howard University, the sorority was a manifestation of her vision to unite college-trained African American women who desired to provide service to their community. Ethel Hedgeman Lyle gathered eight of her peers to begin the foundation of this vision. As the sorority grew, the work of Alpha Kappa Alpha expanded its boundaries throughout the world. Through service and sisterhood the women of this great organization have continued the legacy established 117 years ago.

Alpha Kappa Alpha continues to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship among college women, to study and help alleviate the problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature, to maintain a progressive interest in college life, and to be of service to all mankind.

The Original Group: Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, Anna Easter Brown, Beulah E. Burke, Lillie Burke, Marjorie Hill, Margaret Flagg Holmes, Lavinia Norman, Lucy Diggs Slowe, Marie Woolfolk Taylor

The Sophomores: Norma Elizabeth Boyd, Ethel Jones Mowbray, Alice P. Murray, Sarah Meriwether Nutter, Joanna Berry Shields, Carrie E. Snowden, Harriet Josephine Terry

The Incorporators: Nellie M. Quander, Julia E. Brooks, Nellie Pratt Russell, Minnie B. Smith

The Radiant Rho Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was chartered on Sunday, April 30th, 1995 on the campus of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The guiding light of the Rho Kappa Chapter is Francis Kerr.

The 13 lovely ladies who charted the Rho Kappa Chapter are Wendy Anderson, Sherley Belizaire, Tamara Breneus, Charlie Bryce, Lisa Dunn, Alicia Jackson, Lori Jones, Aishetu Kolo, LaVonette Luciano, Rebecca Sallee, Dawn Selden, Toiya Taylor, and Nijideka Ugweugbu.