History

Zeta Omicron History:

Our chapter was founded when a group of women, with similar attitudes and values, came together and decided to colonize a new sorority at Georgia Tech.  Feeling strongly that none of the three existing sororities on campus met their needs as collegiate women, these women—Kathy Day, Robin Farrow, Pattie Pope, and Terri Rogers,—met in a dorm room during the winter of 1975 and decided to take action. They established themselves as TBA (Tau Beta Alpha or To Be Announced). They became active on campus and involved themselves in numerous service projects in the community, inviting other women who shared their same opinions to join them as they went along.  The next step for the colony was to interview with three national sororities:  Kappa Delta, Chi Omega and Alpha Delta Pi.  ADPi was chosen and the chapter was installed as Zeta Omicron on November 19, 1977 with Robin Farrow serving as Zeta Omicron’s first president. The women quickly made a name for themselves on campus and established numerous traditions that are still around today, such as bringing the Collegiate Panhellenic Council to Georgia Tech, as well as introducing the school to the current way of riding the tricycles in the Mini 500!

Zeta Omicron acquired its first house on campus in the year of 1980.  The house was built in 1932 and had to undergo major renovations before it could be used.  In the summer of 1981, an addition was made which allowed members to hold chapter meetings and Recruitment parties within the house.  Zeta Omicron quickly outgrew its original house and began construction on an entirely new and beautiful house in 1995. It was opened with a celebration in Spring of 1996.

Many traditions began with the installation of Zeta Omicron. 1978 was the year of our first mixers, which were with Sigma Chi, Kappa Alpha, Pi Kappa Alpha, and Beta Theta Pi.  Our first sweetheart, Jim Elliot, was announced at Black Diamond Formal in 1979.  A Big Brother program was also initiated.  In 1991, after a National Panhellenic conference resolution encouraging sororities to disband from men’s auxiliary groups was issued, Zeta Omicron discontinued the Big Brother and Sweetheart traditions.  George Dougherty, elected in 1991, was our last sweetheart.

Several other traditions reside with Zeta Omicron.  Participation in Homecoming, Greek Week, and service projects continues to be important.  Each year Zeta Omicron focuses on several service projects for our national philanthropy, the Ronald McDonald House. The Run for Ronald 5k, football receptions, Alpha Semi-Formal, Mallard Ball, Founders’ Day, Date Nights, and Black Diamond Formal are some of our major social functions.

Our chapter has won many awards on campus, including Homecoming, Derby Days, Greek Week, CPC’s Scholarship Trophy, and CPC’s Service Trophy.  We have been honored to have nine Miss Georgia Tech recipients, including our first president Robin Farrow,  and consistently have Sisters competing in the final four.  In 2022 Lizzy Wright was crowned as Ramblin’ Royalty. 

From our national organization, our chapter has received the Elizabeth Mosley Coles Award in 1984, which is given to the best chapter in the nation.  We were presented with the highest award given to a collegiate chapter in 1995, the Golden Lion, which takes many years of hard work and excellence to receive and worked hard to bring the award back home in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019. We have also received the Panhellenic Service Award on campus from 2002 to 2006, 2009, and 2014 for the highest average number of service hours per sister, as well as the Panhellenic Best Overall Chapter Award in 2013. In Spring of 2006, we won the Panhellenic Scholarship Award for having the highest GPA on campus out of all Panhellenic sororities and have maintained it for the past seven years. In 2023 our chapter earned the Diamond Distinction award, which commends our academic affairs, facilities, finance, panhellenic, philanthropy and recruitment and marketing for the chapter! We also received the One Diamond House Corporation Award, and had four sisters earn the 2023 Emerging Leader Awards, Ella Dunlop, Hana Ozaki, Abigail Frese, and Sadie Zeigler. The 2023 Dorothy Shaw Leadership award was given to Lizzie Wright. Our Alumnae Association also earned the Outstanding Recruitment and Retention award! We are so proud of our chapter and every one of our members for making 2023 such a successful year!

Alpha Delta Pi History:

Founded on May 15, 1851 at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, GA, Alpha Delta Pi holds the distinction of being the first secret society in the world for college women. The original name of the sorority was "The Adelphean Society", from the Greek word "Adelphean" meaning "sister". Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald founded Alpha Delta Pi along with five of her closest friends: Ella Pierce Turner, Octavia Andrew Rush, Elizabeth Williams Mitchell, Sophronia Woodruff Dews, and Mary Evans Glass. These women, along with thirteen others, made up the very first chapter of the world's first sorority. They developed our open motto "We Live for Each Other" as well as the ritual, oath, badge, and all traditions which we carry throughout every chapter of Alpha Delta Pi today. (A few of these traditions are outlined below.)  The qualifications for membership in Alpha Delta Pi have remained unchanged through the years--scholarship, high principles of behavior, and true friendships.

Founding Date: May 15, 1851

Founder: Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald

Flower: Woodland Violet

Colors: Azure Blue & White

Mascot: Lion

Symbol: Diamond

Philanthropy: Ronald McDonald House

Motto: “We Live for Each Other”