By Zoe Poindexter, Contributing Writer

More than 100 years ago, on April 17, 1893 at Lombard College Galesburg, IL  Alpha Xi Delta was founded by ten young woman who shared the vision of a national organization dedicated to the personal growth of women. Today it is known as one of the oldest women’s fraternities. The spirit of Alpha Xi Delta has enriched the lives of thousands of women throughout the world with its emphasis on lifelong learning and lasting friendship.

Now a national fraternity with more than 120,000 initiated members, Alpha Xi Delta has grown to be an organization with college chapters and alumnae associations throughout the United States. Our Founders left us a great legacy–they taught us the value of education because it would free us to achieve our goals and give us the power to be whatever we choose to be.

They taught us to support one another with respect and understanding. They taught us to serve others–to reach out to those less fortunate to make their lives better. It is for these reasons that the Epsilon Theta Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta would like to extend their appreciation and gratefulness for our founding sisters—Cora Bollinger Block, Alice Bartlet Bruner, Almira Lowry Cheney, Frances Elisabeth Cheney, Bertha Cook Evans, Eliza Drake Curtis Everton, Julia Maude Foster, Lucy W. Gilmer, Harriet Luella McCollum, and Lewie Strong Taylor—for creating the women’s fraternity of Alpha Xi Delta which continues to inspire countless women to realize their full potential.

To learn more about the Founders of Alpha Xi Delta, please log onto alphaxidelta.org/founders-and-insignia/.