Happy 119th birthday, Alpha Omicron Pi!

At a small college within New York City 119 years ago, something incredible was created.

Barnard College was the first college in New York and one of the first in the entire nation that allowed women to receive the same rigorous and challenging education that was available to men. This idea for such a college was bold at the time, and it was in this groundbreaking setting that another bold idea developed.

This college had four particularly incredible students. Stella George Stern Perry, Jessie Wallace Hughan, Helen St. Clair Mullan, and Elizabeth Heywood Wyman forever not only changed the course of their lives with the installation of their fraternity, but the lives of thousands of women in the many years following.

Driven by their dedication to their friendships and academic success, emerged a magnificent testament to scholarship, loyalty, and service that has thus become Alpha Omicron Pi.

In their junior year, on Dec. 23, 1896, the four friends climbed some stairs in the old Columbia College Library that led to a rarely used room and pledged themselves to each other.

On Jan. 2, 1897, Alpha Omicron Pi was formally organized at the home of Helen St. Clair.

Stella George Stern Perry said: “We wanted a society that should continue our companionship through life, and extend the like joys to others, usefully, unselfishly and without pettiness. We wanted to enshrine, sublimate and perpetuate our love and our unity through service worthy of these blessings, deserving to persist. We wanted a fraternity that should carry on the delightful fellowships and cooperations of college days into the workaday years magnanimously, both in school and afterwards.”

Alpha Omicron Pi has continued to thrive throughout the changing 20th and 21st centuries, just by following the values that our founders instilled in us. Such values of lifelong friendship, service, and love have helped AOII grow despite many wars, economic recessions, the women’s suffrage movement, and the consistent chaos in our lives, for AOII has continued to hold true to its ideals.

This organization has given us a place to grow and be loved endlessly, for without the unwavering love and enduring values of AOII, we would not be the strong and passionate women we are today.

Our four founders saw a vision: a vision of a sisterhood that could withstand any trial, for it was based primarily on love. Love for our universities, communities, and most importantly, each other.

We are more than a sorority full of women that stand out in cardinal, proudly call ourselves pandas, and have a deep love for roses.

Because of you, AOII, we have learned to become leaders, loving friends, and better women. We have become passionate about helping others, for we understand that we cannot better ourselves until we work to better those around us.

Happy 119 years. You have never let me down nor have you failed me. You have lifted sisters to feel important and beautiful on our worst days. You gave us friends that love unconditionally. You taught us what love is and how to be someone others can look up to. You gave us irreplaceable memories of laughter, tears, and a love that extends well past our collegiate careers. You taught us patience and you showed us the importance in forgiveness.

In your 119 years, you gave us more than we could have asked for. We are so lucky to be yours forever.

Happy birthday to the organization that has forever changed my life, and the lives of thousands of women.