Pi Alpha Xi

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Pi Alpha Xi
ΠΑΞ
FoundedJune 1, 1923; 100 years ago (June 1, 1923)
Cornell University
TypeHonor
AffiliationIndependent
ScopeNational (US)
MottoAlways to Excel
Colors  Nile green and   Cerulean blue
SymbolStylus, Nile Lotus, Egyptian hoe, Ancient Vase
FlowerNile Lotus
PublicationLotus Leaflet
Chapters42
Members14,000+ lifetime
Headquartersc/o Angie Lower, American Society for Horticultural Science
1018 Duke Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
United States
WebsitePi Alpha Xi home page

Pi Alpha Xi (ΠΑΞ) is an American collegiate honor society for horticulture founded in 1923 at Cornell University.

History[edit]

After attending the 1923 International Flower Show in New York City, a group from Cornell University had the idea to start the honor society.[1][2] Under the leadership of Professor Arno Nehrling, the Pi Alpha Xi constitution, ritual, and insignia/key were developed.[1][2] Alpha chapter was installed at Cornell on June 1, 1923.[1][2]

Pi Alpha Xi was established as an honor society for floriculture and ornamental horticulture but later changed to include all horticultural disciplines.[1][2] Its mission is promoting fellowship, professional leadership, and scholarship and to enrich life through plants.[2] Chapters are located in four-year colleges and universities that have horticultural programs.[1][2]

By 1950, Pi Alpha Xi, chapters were established at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Beta), Pennsylvania State University (Gamma), Michigan State University (Delta), Ohio State University (Epsilon), Rutgers University (Zeta), Washington State University (Eta), and the University of Maryland, College Park (Theta).[2] The society's added a significant number of chapters during the 1970s. As of January 24, 2024, Pi Alpha Xi has forty chapters and 14,000 members.[1] Its publication is the Lotus Leaflet.[1][3]

Pi Alpha Xi is managed by the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), based in Alexandria, Virginia.[1] Its annual business meeting is held in conjunction with the ASHS annual conference.[1][2]

Symbols[edit]

The society's name was selected to represent:[4][5][2]

  • Pi (Π) – the first letter of polumathia, or scholarship;
  • Alpha (Α) - from the word anthemorgous, meaning to work with plants;
  • Xi (Ξ) – for zunoia, signifying the bond among gardeners, educators, and professional horticulturists.[5]

Its colors are Nile green and cerulean blue, and its flower is the Nile lotus.[3] Its symbols include the stylus, the Nile lotus, the Egyptian hoe, and the ancient vase.[3][4] The motto of Pi Alpha Xi is "Always to Excel".

Its badge is a pin or key which is inscribed with the Greek letters ΠΑΞ and the stylus, Egyptian hoe, Nile lotus, and the ancient vase.[3]

Membership[edit]

Membership is open to undergraduate students who are juniors and seniors interested in floriculture, landscape horticulture, or ornamental horticulture who meet GPA requirements.[2][3] Faculty and graduate students are also eligible for membership.[2] The society also issues honorary memberships.[3]

Activities[edit]

Primarily, Pi Alpha Xi exists to recognize academic excellence.[2] The national society sponsors the Pi Alpha Phi Annual Photography Contest, and publishes the Pi Alpha Xi Flower Judging Manual. [2] It also recognizes Fellows from the Pi Alpha Phi membership for service or excellence in floriculture, landscape horticulture, ornamental horticulture, or Pi Alpha Phi.[2] There is a limit of 25 living Fellows.[2]

Some chapters also sponsor field trips to horticultural sites and lectures with guest speakers. Chapters also sponsor scholarships so that members can attend the ASHS conference.[2] The national organization matches local scholarships.[2]

Chapters[edit]

Following is a list of Pi Alpha Xi chapters.[6][3][7] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters and institutions are in italics.

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha June 1, 1923 Cornell University Ithaca, New York Active [8]
Beta April 2, 1924 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Urbana, Illinois Active
Gamma May 29, 1926 Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania Active
Delta April 12, 1929 Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan Active
Epsilon January 6, 1929 Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Active [9]
Zeta November 16, 1933 Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey Active
Eta March 12, 1949 Washington State University Pullman, Washington Active
Theta September 14, 1949 University of Maryland, College Park College Park, Maryland Active
Iota February 15, 1957 North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina Active [10]
Kappa June 1, 1968 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia Active [11]
Lambda May 28, 1968 University of Minnesota Saint Paul, Minnesota Active
Mu May 16, 1974 University of Florida Gainesville, Florida Active
Nu May 30, 1974 Auburn University Auburn, Alabama Active
Xi December 1, 1974 New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico Active
Omicron February 23, 1975 Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana Active
Pi April 17, 1975 Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina Active
Rho March 1, 1975 University of Wisconsin–Madison Madison, Wisconsin Active
Sigma April 2, 1975 Southern Illinois University Carbondale Carbondale, Illinois Active
Tau May 30, 1975 University of Georgia Athens, Georgia Active
Upsilon September 1, 1975 California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California Active
Phi October 29, 1975 South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota Active
Psi May 31, 1978 Texas A&M University College Station, Texas Active
Chi May 29, 1975 Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Active [12]
Omega March 16, 1979 Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas Active [13]
Alpha Beta May 26, 1980 University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Active
Alpha Gamma April 23, 1982 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska Active [14]
Alpha Delta April 24, 1983 Oklahoma State University–Stillwater Stillwater, Oklahoma Active
Alpha Epsilon April 1984Spring 1984 University of California, Davis Davis, California Active
Alpha Zeta May 16, 1985 University of Wisconsin–River Falls River Falls, Wisconsin Active
Alpha Eta Spring 1985 Delaware Valley University Doylestown, Pennsylvania Active
Alpha Theta November 6, 1986 Iowa State University Ames, Iowa Active [15]
Alpha Iota March 24, 1988 Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas Active
Alpha Kappa Spring 1990 Mississippi State University Starkville, Mississippi Active
Alpha Lambda February 1, 1992 Florida A&M University Tallahassee, Florida Active
Alpha Mu Spring 1992 Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Active
Alpha Nu June 2, 1995 Utah State University Logan, Utah Active
Alpha Xi April 18, 2005 Texas State University San Marcos, Texas Active
Alpha Omicron May 2, 2006 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Active
Alpha Pi May 4, 2006 University of Wisconsin–Platteville Platteville, Wisconsin Active
Alpha Rho February 13, 2012 Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon Active [16][17]
Alpha Sigma October 13, 2015 University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming Active
Alpha Tau September 21, 2015 University of Maine Orono, Maine Active

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Pi Alpha Xi". American Society for Horticultural Science. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Albrecht, Mary Lewes. "Pi Alpha Xi—A Tradition of Excellence in Floriculture, Landscape Horticuture, and Ornamental Horticulture" . HortTechnology. 12 (3): 373-376. July 2002. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Pi Alpha Xi.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991). Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VII-41–42. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  4. ^ a b Pi Alpha Xi Symbols
  5. ^ a b Letter From Your President – 43
  6. ^ Roster of Chapters American Society for Horticultural Sciences. Accessed January 22, 2024
  7. ^ "Chapters of Pi Alpha Xi as of August 2001" (PDF). HortTechnology. 12 (3): 375. July 2002. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Pi Alpha Xi.
  8. ^ Cramer, Craig (November 16, 2021). "Pi Alpha Xi welcomes new members". Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  9. ^ "Pi Alpha Xi : Find a Student Organization : Student Activities". The Ohio State University. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  10. ^ "History". Pi Alpha Xi - Iota Chapter at N.C. State University. 2014-08-25. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  11. ^ "Pi Alpha Xi - GobblerConnect". Virginia Tech. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  12. ^ "Pi Alpha Xi | College of Agricultural Sciences". Colorado State University. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  13. ^ "Pi Alpha Xi Honor Society | Horticulture and Natural Resources". Kansas State University. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  14. ^ "Pi Alpha Xi – Alpha-Gamma Chapter | Department of Agronomy and Horticulture". University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  15. ^ "Pi Alpha Xi | Department of Horticulture". Iowa State University. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  16. ^ "Pi Alpha Xi | College of Agricultural Sciences Department of Horticulture". Oregon State University. 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  17. ^ "HORTICULTURE STUDENTS RECOGNIZED DURING PI ALPHA XI INITIATION CEREMONY AND CHARTER PRESENTATION". Oregon State University. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
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