Editing Sigma Alpha

{{Short description|Professional agricultural sorority}}
{{Infobox Fraternity
| name = Sigma Alpha
| letters = {{lang|grc|ΣΑ}}
| crest = The_logo_of_Sigma_Alpha_Sorority.png
| image_size = 180px
| founded = {{Start date and age|1978|1|26}}
| birthplace = [[Ohio State University]] <!--Wikipedia editors rapidly edit out the zealous marketing use of "The" as used by OSU. The school was unable to trademark the word.-->
| motto = Cultivating Professional Women in Agriculture
| pillars = Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Fellowship
| affiliation = PFA
| status = Active
| type = Professional and social
| emphasis = [[Agriculture]]
| scope = National
| colors = {{Color box|#50C878}} [[Emerald (color)|Emerald]] and {{Color box|#FBEC5D}} [[Maize (color)|Maize]]
| flower = Yellow [[chrysanthemum]]
| jewel = [[Emerald]]
| mascot = Baby [[Bull]]
| chapters = 71 active
| lifetime = 19,000+
| philanthropy = Agriculture in the Community
| address = P.O. Box 402
| city = [[Hampton, Iowa|Hampton]]
| state = [[Iowa]]
| ZIP code = 50441
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.sigmaalpha.org}}
| country = United States
}}

'''Sigma Alpha''' ('''{{lang|grc|ΣΑ}}''') is an American professional sorority for [[agriculture|agricultural]] students. It was established at [[Ohio State University]] in [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus, Ohio]] in 1978 as a women's fraternity. The sorority has chartered more than 80 chapters in the United States.

==History==

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.<ref name=":6" /> On January 26, 1978, Sigma Alpha became an officially recognized as a student organization.<ref name=":1">{{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}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> It was established as a women's fraternity for agricultural students and to promote scholarship, leadership, and service.<ref name=":3">{{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}}</ref><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" />

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.<ref name=":6" /> They also changed the fraternity's constitution to allow additional chapters.<ref name=":6" /> ''Beta chapter'' was chartered at [[Purdue University]] on April 14, 1984.<ref name=":6" /> Ten additional chapters followed between 1985 and May 1991.<ref name=":6" />

The fraternity held its first annual national convention in 1985 in [[Columbus, Ohio]].<ref name=":6" /> Since then, the national board has been elected at the annual conclave.<ref name=":6" /> By 1991, Sigma Alpha had 750 members.<ref name=":6" /> The organization was incorporated in the State of Ohio on April 8, 1991.<ref name=":6" />

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.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2014-11-05 |title=Home |url=https://sigmaalpha.org/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Sigma Alpha Sorority |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> The sorority's national headquarters are in [[Hampton, Iowa]].<ref name=":7" />

==Symbols==
The fraternity was named Sigma Alpha for "Sisters in Agriculture".<ref name=":5">{{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}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> Its motto is "Cultivating Professional Women in Agriculture".<ref name=":3" /> Its pillars are Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Fellowship.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Sigma Alpha's crest is diamond-shaped, with the top half being larger than its bottom.<ref name=":6" /> 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.<ref name=":6" /> Above are two rows of Greek letters; the top consists of ''{{Lang|grc|ΗΒΜΔΜ}}'' and the bottom row of ''{{Lang|grc|ΟΣΕ}}''.<ref name=":6" /> At the bottom of the diamond are the Greek letters ''{{Lang|grc|ΡΒ}}''.<ref name=":6" />

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.<ref name=":6" /> Sigma Alpha's colors are emerald and maize.<ref name=":2">{{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}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> Its jewel is the emerald.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> Its flower is the yellow chrysanthemum.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> The sorority's mascot is a Perry, a baby bull.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":6" />

The fraternity's original publication is ''Sigma Alpha News''.<ref name=":6" /> In addition, ''Emerald & Maize'' was added in 1991 as a short administrative update from the national board.<ref name=":6" /> Its current newsletter is the ''Emerald Times''.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Collegiate chapters==
{{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.<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref><ref name=":6">[[Jack L. Anson|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}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> It also has 20 active alumnae chapters.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Philanthropy==
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.<ref name=":4">{{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}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Professional fraternities and sororities]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{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]]