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ΠΚΑ

The Coat of Arms'' University of Virginia
  • Robertson Howard
  • Julian Edward Wood
  • James Benjamin Sclater Jr.
  • Frederick Southgate Taylor
  • Littleton Waller Tazewell (Bradford)
  • William Alexander
  • Raymond L. Orians

Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity
Motto: Once A Pike Always A Pike
Nicknames: Pikes, Pikas, Pi K As
Founded: March 1, 1868 at
Founders:
Executive Vice President
Membership 220,000 Alumni
Official Colors: Garnet and Old Gold
Official Flower: Lily of the Valley
Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity Website
Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity (ΠΚΑ) is an international, secret, social, Greek-letter, college fraternity. It was founded at 47 West Range at the University of Virginia on March 1, 1868.

History

Six men are generally recognized as the Fraternity's founders - Frederick Southgate Taylor, Robertson Howard, Julian Edward Wood, James Benjamin Sclater Jr., Littleton Waller Tazewell (Bradford) and William Alexander. Prior to enrolling at Virginia, at least two of the Founders saw action in the Civil War as young cadets at the Virginia Military Institute. While the chapter at Virginia is the Fraternity's founding chapter, the longest continuously operating chapter is located at Rhodes College in Memphis.

The Fraternity is a chapter-based fraternal association. Undergraduate chapter delegates gather every two years to elect a board of directors and adopt policies for the benefit of the organization. The Fraternity's translated name and ritual are secret - a tradition of most fraternities that goes back to the days when fraternities were outlawed on many campuses and members could be persecuted for their affiliation.

Pi Kappa Alpha experienced a period of tremendous growth in the 1980s largely thanks to its aggressive policy of expansion - adding new chapters to college campuses. By the end of that decade, the Fraternity was widely regarded as one of a handful of leading inter/national fraternities. To this day, Pi Kappa Alpha pledges and initiates more members on a per-chapter basis than any other fraternity.

Beginning in the late 1990s and continuing presently, Pi Kappa Alpha began a refocus on its values and how those values are communicated. Recent conventions have focused on the development of vision, mission and creed statements and have adopted innovative programs such as Pike University - the Fraternity's leadership and educational programming arm. New alumni programs (e.g. Pike Loyal Order and the inCircle network) have also been launched in an effort to reconnect alumni both amongst themselves and with undergraduate chapters as mentors and advisors.

The Fraternity has grown to an international brotherhood composed of more than 200,000 initiated members, 200 chapters and 100 alumni associations. Pi Kappa Alpha, through its members, has donated millions of dollars to philanthropic causes and community organizations across North America. Pi Kappa Alpha states that its vision is to “set the standard of integrity, intellect, and achievement for our members, host institutions, and the communities in which we live.”

Educational Foundation

The Pi Kappa Alpha Educational Foundation was founded in 1948. It is currently guided by a 12 member board of trustees. Among its many functions include providing scholarships to undergraduate members, supporting educational and leadership programs such as Pike University and assisting in the maintenance of libraries and study rooms in Pi Kappa Alpha owned facilities. The foundation also helps in the preservation of books, documents and other archives.

Famous Pikes

Business

  • Jeremy Batter - Founder/CEO of BumBoards Enterprises.
  • Nolan Bushnell - Founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theater.
  • Stephen R. Covey - CEO FranklinCovey Co., author of "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People".
  • Thomas H. Davis - Founder, Former President and CEO, Piedmont Airlines.
  • R. Lamar Durrett - Former CEO, Air Canada.
  • Joe Ford - Vice Chairman of Augusta International Golf Course.
  • Chad O. Holliday - CEO, DuPont.
  • Bill McCartney - Founder and CEO, Promise Keepers.
  • Neal Patterson - CEO and Founder, Cerner Corporation.
  • Richard R. Simmons - CEO Simmons, Inc.
  • Jeff Taylor- Founder/CEO of Monster. Com (Zeta Sigma Chapter).
  • Clayton Thomas - Co-Founder of Premier Properties, Real Estate Tycoon.
  • Kevin Turner - Chief Operating Officer, Microsoft.

Education

  • Gordon Gee - Chancellor, Vanderbilt University.
  • Michael David McCoy - Head Physician (Viral Pathogens), World Health Organization.
  • William Nester - Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
  • Dr. Samuel H. Smith - President Emeritus, Washington State University.
  • Andrew Sorensen - President, University of South Carolina.

Government

  • Thad Cochran - U.S. Senator, State of Mississippi.
  • Everett M. Dirksen - Former U.S. Senator, State of Illinois, deceased.
  • Jon Kyl - U.S. Senator, State of Arizona.
  • Karl Rove - White House advisor to President George W. Bush and Deputy Chief of Staff.
  • Samuel Skinner - Secretary of Transportation and White House Chief of Staff to George H. W. Bush.
  • J. Strom Thurmond- Former United States Senator, South Carolina, deceased.
  • Elbert P. Tuttle - Federal Judge and Civil Rights Pioneer.
  • Adrian A. Uberto - Former Director of World Bank, Latin American Studies.
  • James Waring - State Senator Arizona.

Media

Sports

External links - Ordered by Charter Date

Zeta Sigma Chapter - Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL Lambda Gamma Chapter- Montclair State University

1868 establishments | North-American Interfraternity Conference | United States student societies

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Pi Kappa Alpha".

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