Established: University of Michigan
(1912)
St. John's University-Staten Island
Chapter: Gamma Pi Chapter (2009)
Service Channel: Colonies, Chapters,
Alumnae Associations and Alumnae Clubs throughout the United
States
Motto: “Nothing great is ever achieved
without much enduring.”
Values: Justice, Wisdom, Loyalty,
Faith, Truth, Honor
Sorority Flower: The white rose
Sorority Mascot: The penguin
Sorority Colors: Silver, Gold and
Sapphire Blue
Nicknames: Theta Phi
President: Karen Gillick
Chapter Email: gammapi@thetaphialpha.org
Website:www.thetaphialpha.org
The founding of Theta Phi Alpha is a story of a group of young
friends, not unlike the members of today. They were faced with a
myriad of challenges and issues on their campus. By joining
together, they provided support and friendship to one another, to
meet the challenges that they faced and to create an organization
that would enable future generations to share that sisterhood. We
recognize the contributions of the sisters who have gone before us
and acknowledge that, without them, our experience today would be
very different.
In 1912, a small, local Fraternity of Catholic women at the
University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, was struggling. The
organization had originally been formed by Father Edward D. Kelly
in 1909, when he was pastor of the student chapel at the
University. He believed that there should be some kind of home life
provided for the young Catholic women who attended the University
and he realized that a sorority offered such society, friendship,
and atmosphere. Several women students were originally very
interested in joining, partly because Catholics were not always
welcome in the other Greek-letter sororities on campus. By founding
this new sorority, Catholic women had sorority life opened to them.
Unfortunately, however, by the late spring of 1912 membership in
Omega Upsilon was low and the treasury was unable to support the
activities of the group.
By this time, Father Kelly had become Bishop of Grand Rapids,
but he retained his dream of an organization which, in ritual and
in practice, would help shape the lives of young college women. He
enlisted the aid of Amelia McSweeney, an 1898 graduate of the
University of Michigan and a woman prominent in educational and
civic life in Detroit. She and several alumnae of Omega Upsilon
felt that a fraternity for Catholic women was a pressing need and
believed that many of the problems of Omega Upsilon were perhaps a
result of the operations of the chapter being left completely in
the hands of undergraduate members. The alumnae felt that, with
their guidance in matters such as finances and housing, a new
organization for Catholic women would be quite successful.
Throughout the summer of 1912, Amelia McSweeney, seven other
alumnae, and two undergraduate women worked tirelessly, meeting at
the home of Dorothy and Katrina Caughey, to prepare the plans for
the new organization. May C. Ryan contributed the name, motto, and
original coat of arms, and the membership selected the Fraternity's
flower, jewels, and colors.
Two undergraduate members of Omega Upsilon became members of
Theta Phi Alpha. They were Eva Stroh, a sophomore, and Otilia
Leuchtweis, a senior, who became Theta Phi Alpha's first Chapter
President. Plans for the coming school year were completed on
August 30, 1912, and Theta Phi Alpha began operation on the campus
of the University of Michigan.
Otilia and Eva, the undergraduate members, proved an
enthusiastic team. During the first week, they pledged Kathlyn
Holmes, Theta Phi Alpha's first pledge sister, and Marie Sullivan.
With the aid of the alumnae, they held their first initiation on
November 16, 1912.
Mission Statement
The mission of Theta Phi Alpha is to create close
comradeship, to advance educational, social and philanthropic
interests and leadership training; to encourage spiritual
development and adherence to the highest moral standards; and to
promote lifelong bonds of friendship.
Service
Key to the mission of Theta Phi Alpha is our emphasis upon
Education and philanthropy.
The Theta Phi Alpha Foundation, Inc. manages the Fraternity's
educational and philanthropic aims. Although originally founded in
1959 with the express intent of providing educational advantages
and opportunities through scholarships, incentives and awards and
to carry out the Fraternity's activities in the field of charity,
the Foundation has broadened its scope to include supporting all of
the Fraternity's educational and charitable goals.
The Theta Phi Alpha Foundation subsidizes educational
programming at conventions and conferences, awards scholarships to
collegians and alumnae, provides fellowships to leadership
training, and raises funds to continue those efforts. Foundation
Scholarships are awarded to sisters who qualify based on scholastic
record, financial need and service to the Fraternity.
Through the Theta Phi Alpha Foundation, Inc., Theta Phi Alpha
supports two national philanthropic causes: Glenmary Home
Missioners and The House Theta Phi Alpha Built.
Glenmary Home Missioners
Glenmary's work in depressed rural areas of the United States,
primarily in the Appalachian states, leads them to distribute food,
clothing and books to needy persons, assist in providing medical
care, job training and tutoring, and provide a spiritual home to
those who desire it. To find information on volunteer opportunities
or to learn more, please visit their website.
The House That Theta Phi Alpha
Built
The House That Theta Phi Alpha Built was established in 1993. The
common goal through The House is to improve the plight of the
homeless in any way. The chapter can seek to provide assistance to
shelters, home building organizations or neighborhood
revitalization projects, to name just a few. This goal permits all
Theta Phi Alphas develop projects that serve specific needs within
their own communities, while remaining united in our aim and
purpose.
In addition to support of our national philanthropies, the Gamma
Pi Chapter at St. John’s University participates in a number of
projects throughout the year, which include:
- Service Day
- Midnight Run
- American Heart Association
- Breast Cancer Walk
- St. Jude’s Up ‘Til Dawn
- Memory Walk
Recent Awards
- Recognized at Theta Phi Alpha Leadership Conference 2009 for
Outstanding Chapter GPA
- Recognized at Theta Phi Alpha Leadership Conference 2009 for
Outstanding Pledge Sister Retention
- Members of our Chapter have been inducted into the Order of
Omega
- Members of our Chapter have been named to Dean’s List
- Members of our Chapter have been named to Phi Eta Sigma Honor
Society