Alpha Zeta (professional) explained

Alpha Zeta
Letters:Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΖ
Crest:AZCoatofArms.png
Birthplace:Ohio State University
Affiliation:PFA
Former Affiliation:PIC
Status:Active
Type:Professional and Honorary
Emphasis:Agriculture, natural resources
Scope:National
Colors: Mode (Old gold) and Sky Blue
Flower:Pink Carnation
Chapters:31 active; 74 total
Members:1,000
Lifetime:125,000
Publication:Alpha Zeta News
City:Paducah
State:Kentucky
Zip Code:42002
Country:United States

Alpha Zeta (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΖ) is an honorary professional fraternity for students and industry professionals in agricultural and natural resources fields.[1] [2] It was founded in 1897 at Ohio State University and was the first collegiate society for agriculture.

History

Charles W. Burkett and John F. Cunningham, roommates and students at the College of Agriculture at Ohio State University, founded the Alpha Zeta fraternity on November 4, 1897. Three years prior, Burkett and Cunnigham had the idea of forming an organization to support agricultural students, create fellowship, and promote agriculture.[3] They recruited ten other agriculture students who became the fraternity's charter members, including

Alpha Zeta formed as a professional fraternity but became an honorary fraternity in 1936.[4] Its chapters were limited to land-grant institutions until 1951.[5]

At the fraternity's 1940 Conclave, a proposal was presented to open membership to non-white males. This was presented at each Conclave for twelve years, finally passing in 1952.[6] Also in 1952, a proposal to admit women was defeated with a tied vote. The fraternity's constitution was amended in 1972, allowing its chapters to initiate women.

The fraternity was headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the 1960s. It was located in Lafayette, Indiana from 1974 to 1994, when it moved to St. Louis, Missouri.[7] Its headquarters is currently located in Paducah, Kentucky. As of 2023, Alpha Zeta has chartered 74 chapters.

Its print publication was the Quarterly of Alpha Zeta, first published in the early 20th century.[8] [9] AZ News is now its primary publication.

Symbols

The fraternity's badge is a monogram of the letter Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Α on top of the letter Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ζ, with a small star at the center of the Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Α. Its key is the shape of two overlapping circles in gold and black. Its colors are old gold (mode) and sky blue. Its flower is the pink carnation.[10]

Charitable activities

In 1942, Alpha Zeta began issuing scholarships to a select number of members for graduate studies. The Washington, D.C. Alumni Association helped form the National Alpha Zeta Foundation of America, Inc. in 1960, allowing the expansion of the scholarship program.[11] The foundation accepts and manages donations for "scientific, educational and charitable purposes which best advance agriculture for the public good."

The Alpha Zeta Foundation, Inc. was formed in Indiana on April 4, 1984, to oversee the fraternity's national scholarship program and to support its leadership development program.

Governance

The fraternity is overseen by a seven-member High Council that is elected by student representatives of each chapter at Biennial Conclaves held on odd calendar years. The council includes the High Chancellor, High Censor, High Scribe, High Treasurer, High Chronicler, Alumni Representative, and student representative. Alpha Zeta also has staff who oversee the fraternity's operations and communications.

Membership

To be eligible for membership in Alpha Zeta, students must be majoring in agriculture or a related field, must have completed one year of study, and must be in the upper two-fifths of their class. Prospective members are also evaluated for character and leadership.

As of 2023, Alpha Zeta has initiated 125,000 members and has 1,000 active members. Its membership types are student, alumni, associate, and honorary. Honorary members can be nominated by chapters every ten years after their Charter date.[12]

Membership was limited to white males for the fraternity's first 55 years but became open to any male in 1952. Membership was made open to women starting in 1972.

Chapters

Following is a list of Alpha Zeta chapters.[13] [14] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italics. Chapters are named in some way concerning agriculture or after the locality of the chapter.

ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationRegionStatusReferences
TownshendOhio State UniversityColumbus, OhioNortheastActive
Morrill–1900; 1903University Park, PennsylvaniaNortheastActive
MorrowUniversity of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUrbana, IllinoisNorth CentralActive
CornellCornell UniversityIthaca, New YorkNortheastActive
KedzieMichigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MichiganNorth CentralInactive
GraniteDurham, New HampshireNortheastInactive
NebraskaUniversity of Nebraska–LincolnLincoln, NebraskaNorth CentralActive
North CarolinaNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, North CarolinaSoutheastActive
La Grange–1973University of MinnesotaSaint Paul, MinnesotaNorth CentralInactive
Green MountainUniversity of VermontBurlington, VermontNortheastInactive
WilsonIowa State UniversityAmes, IowaNorth CentralActive[15]
BabcockUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonMadison, WisconsinNorth CentralInactive
CentennialColorado State UniversityFort Collins, ColoradoWesternInactive
MaineUniversity of MaineOrono, MaineNortheastInactive
MissouriUniversity of MissouriColumbia, MissouriNorth CentralInactive
ElliottWashington State UniversityPullman, WashingtonWesternInactive
California–1957University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CaliforniaWesternInactive
PurdueWest Lafayette, IndianaNorth CentralActive[16]
KansasKansas State UniversityManhattan, KansasNorth CentralActive
DacotahNorth Dakota State UniversityFargo, North DakotaNorth CentralInactive
ScovellLexington, KentuckySoutheastInactive
MorganUniversity of TennesseeKnoxville, TennesseeSoutheastInactive
GeorgiaUniversity of GeorgiaAthens, GeorgiaSoutheastInactive
LouisianaLouisiana State UniversityBaton Rouge, LouisianaSoutheastInactive
Oklahoma Oklahoma State University–StillwaterStillwater, OklahomaSouthwestActive
ArkansasUniversity of ArkansasFayetteville, ArkansasSouth CentralInactive
OregonOregon State UniversityCorvallis, OregonWesternInactive
MarylandUniversity of MarylandCollege Park, MarylandNortheastInactive
IdahoUniversity of IdahoMoscow, IdahoWesternInactive
MontanaMontana State UniversityBozeman, MontanaWesternActive
FloridaUniversity of FloridaGainesville, FloridaSoutheastActive
CookRutgers UniversityNew Brunswick, New JerseyNortheastActive
West VirginiaWest Virginia UniversityMorgantown, West VirginiaNortheastInactive
South DakotaBrookings, South DakotaNorth CentralActive
New MexicoNew Mexico State UniversityLas Cruces, New MexicoSouth CentralInactive
ArizonaUniversity of ArizonaTucson, ArizonaWesternInactive
MississippiMississippi State UniversityStarkville, MississippiSoutheastInactive
South CarolinaClemson UniversityClemson, South CarolinaSoutheastInactive
VirginiaVirginia TechBlacksburg, VirginiaSoutheastActive
WyomingUniversity of WyomingLaramie, WyomingWesternInactive
Rhode IslandUniversity of Rhode IslandKingston, Rhode IslandNortheastInactive
California Beta–1961University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CaliforniaWesternInactive
UtahUtah State UniversityLogan, UtahWesternInactive
California GammaUniversity of California, DavisDavis, CaliforniaWesternInactive
AlabamaAuburn UniversityAuburn, AlabamaSoutheastInactive
DelawareUniversity of DelawareNewark, DelawareNortheastActive
Texas AlphaTexas A&M UniversityCollege Station, TexasSouthwestActive[17]
Texas BetaTexas Tech UniversityLubbock, TexasSouthwestActive
ConnecticutUniversity of ConnecticutStorrs, ConnecticutNortheastActive
MassachusettsUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstAmherst, MassachusettsNortheastInactive
California DeltaCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadena, CaliforniaWesternInactive
Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto Rico at MayagüezMayagüez, Puerto RicoSoutheastActive
Illinois BetaSouthern Illinois University CarbondaleCarbondale, IllinoisNorth CentralActive
California Epsilon–xxxx?; 2005California State University, FresnoFresno, CaliforniaWesternActive[18]
NevadaReno, NevadaWesternInactive
Arizona BetaArizona State UniversityTempe, ArizonaWesternInactive
Louisiana BetaSouthwestern Louisiana UniversityLafayette, LouisianaSouth CentralInactive
California ZetaCalifornia Polytechnic State UniversitySan Luis Obispo, CaliforniaWesternInactive
Illinois GammaWestern Illinois UniversityMacomb, IllinoisNorth CentralActive[19]
Utah BetaBrigham Young UniversityProvo, UtahWesternInactive
Wisconsin BetaUniversity of Wisconsin–PlattevillePlatteville, WisconsinNorth CentralActive
Texas GammaTarleton State UniversityStephenville, TexasSouthwestActive
Wisconsin GammaUniversity of Wisconsin–River FallsRiver Falls, WisconsinNorth CentralActive
Illinois DeltaIllinois State UniversityNormal, IllinoisNorth CentralActive
Louisiana GammaLouisiana Tech UniversityRuston, LouisianaSouthwestActive
Tennessee BetaUniversity of Tennessee at MartinMartin, TennesseeSoutheastInactive
Texas DeltaWest Texas A&M UniversityCanyon, TexasSouth CentralInactive[20]
Alabama CarverAlabama A&M UniversityHuntsville, ALSoutheastInactive
MurrayMurray State UniversityMurray, KYSoutheastInactive
Mount BerryBerry CollegeMount Berry, GeorgiaSoutheastActive
Oklahoma BetaOklahoma Panhandle State UniversityGoodwell, OklahomaSouthwestActive
Western KentuckyWestern Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KYSouth CentralInactive
California EtaCalifornia State University, ChicoChico, CaliforniaWesternActive
Louisiana DeltaSouthern UniversityBaton Rouge, LASoutheastColony

Notable members

NamedChapter and yearNotabilityReferences
George AikenGreen Mountain 1956 (Honorary)horticulturist, Governor of Vermont, U.S. Senate
Alfred AtkinsonMontanaagronomist, President of Montana State University, and president of University of Arizona[21]
Robert C. BakerCornell 1943Inventor of the chicken nugget and professor emeritus of Food Science at Cornell University[22]
Leon Dexter BatchelorGranitehorticulture professor and director of the University of California Citrus Experiment Station[23]
Ezra Taft Benson1953 (Honorary)U.S. Secretary of Agriculture[24]
John Rusling BlockU.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Norman BorlaugLa GrangeNobel laureate[25]
La Grangecollege professor; economist; and chair of the U.S. Tariff Commission[26] [27]
Lester R. BrownCook
Earl ButzPurdue 1931
Herman Cainformer chairman and CEO of Godfather's Pizza
Elbert N. CarvelLieutenant Governor of Delaware and fertilizer manufacture
Arthur B. ChapmanElliott (Honorary)Animal genetic researcher
Walter CloreOklahoma (Honorary)Father of the Washington wine industry
John Eliot CoitNorth Carolinahorticulture professor specializing in avocado, citrus and carob[28]
Dwight D. EisenhowerMorrill (Honorary)President of the United States[29]
Arthur Rose EldredCornell 1916Agriculturalist, first Eagle Scout recognized by the Boy Scouts of America
Orville Freeman1962 (Honorary)
Dan GlickmanU.S. Secretary of Agriculture
president of the Motion Picture Association of America
John A. HannahKedzie (Honorary)president of Michigan State College
Clifford M. HardinPurdue 1953U.S. Secretary of Agriculture[30]
Otto Frederick HunzikerPurdue pioneer in the dairy industry, educator, and technical innovator[31]
William Marion JardineKansas 1911U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, agronomist and president of Kansas State Agricultural College
W. Pat JenningsVirginia 1941United States House of Representatives
Edwin Jackson KyleCornell 1902
Jerry LittonMissouriUnited States House of Representatives
Richard LugarPurdue (Honorary)United States Senator[32]
Richard LyngWilson 1974 (Honorary)U.S. Secretary of Agriculture[33]
Al MaederLa GrangeProfessional football player[34]
Ron MicheliWyomingdirector of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture and Wyoming House of Representatives[35]
Gerald A. MillerVirginiaagronomist, professor, and associate dean emeritus at Iowa State University[36]
Henry A. MungerCornell 1936Vegetable breeder, professor and department chair Cornell University[37]
Robert B. PattersonMississippifootball player, planter, and founder of the first Citizens' Councils
Stanley M. PowellKedzie
Roland RenneCookeconomist and president of Montana State College - Bozeman
Scott RivkeesCookSurgeon General of Florida
Nelson RockefellerCornell 1962 (Honorary)Governor of New York, Vice President of the United States[38]
Richard RomingerCalifornia DavisDeputy Secretary of Agriculture (1993-2001)[39]
Henry P. RuskMissouridean of the Department of Agriculture, University of Illinois
Albert SchatzCookmicrobiologist and co-discoverer of streptomycin[40]
Robert W ScottNorth CarolinaGovernor of North Carolina
Bob SikesGeorgiaUnited States House of Representatives
Mark G. ThornburgWilsonSecretary of Agriculture of Iowa
Victor A. TiedjensBabcockhorticulturist, agronomist, biochemist, and soil chemist[41]
Selman WaksmanCalifornia AlphaNobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, microbiologist, and co-discoverer of streptomycin[42]
Wilson 1908Vice President of the United States, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Secretary of Commerce[43]
Henry Cantwell Wallace1922 (Honorary)U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Herbert John WebberNebraskaplant physiologist, professor, and first director of the University of California Citrus Experiment Station
James WilsonWilson (Honorary)U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, academic
M. L. WilsonWilson 1907Agronomist, professor, and Undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture [44]
Kenneth E. WingCornell 1958President of State University of New York at Cobleskill
Dale E. WolfNebraskaLieutenant Governor of Delaware and temporary Governor of Delaware
Clayton YeutterNebraska 1950U.S. Secretary of Agriculture[45] [46]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alpha Zeta . 2023-07-10 . Louisiana Tech University . en-US.
  2. Web site: Meet the High Council .
  3. Web site: AZ History . 2023-07-10 . Alpha Zeta.
  4. Web site: Collection: Alpha Zeta Fraternity, LaGrange Chapter records University of Minnesota Archival Collections Guides . 2023-07-11 . Library of University of Minnesota.
  5. Anson, Jack and Marchesani Jr., Robert F. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, vol. 20. Indianapolis: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc., .p V72.
  6. Robson, John, ed. (1963). Baird's Manuel of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 645-656
  7. Web site: 2012-02-07 . History . 2023-07-11 . Alpha Zeta Morrow Chapter . en.
  8. Book: The Quarterly of Alpha Zeta . June 1916 . en . Google Books. Zeta. Alpha.
  9. Book: Quarterly of Alpha Zeta . 1959 . en . Google Books.
  10. Book: Reveille . 1943 . Mississippi State University . Mississippi State University Libraries . 224 . Internet Archive.
  11. Web site: The Founding of the Alpha Zeta Fraternity . 2023-07-11 . Student Organization Database Iowa State University.
  12. News: 1966-03-14 . Alpha Zeta Picks Wallace . 11 . The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, Vermont . 2023-07-11 . Newspapers.com.
  13. Web site: Alpha Zeta Chapters . 2023-07-10 . Alpha Zeta.
  14. Book: Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities . George Banta Publishing Company . 1927 . Shepardshon . Francis W. . 11th . Menasha, Wisconsin . 318 . en . Google Books.
  15. Web site: The Wilson Chapter . 2023-07-11 . Student Organization Database Iowa State University.
  16. Web site: The Purdue Exponent 10 May 1908 — Purdue University Newspapers Collection . 2024-04-12 . historicalnewspapers.lib.purdue.edu.
  17. Web site: Texas A&M Alpha Zeta . 2023-07-10 . Texas A&M Alpha Zeta . en.
  18. Web site: November 29, 2011 . Cal Epsilon Chapter at CSU-Fresno Alumni News . July 10, 2023 . Alpha Zeta.
  19. http://www.e-yearbook.com/yearbooks/Western_Illinois_University_Sequel_Yearbook/1967/Page_184.html 1967 Sequel Yearbook, page 184
  20. News: 1977-03-31 . Alpha Zeta Has Initiation Rites . 11 . The Canyon News . Canyon, Texas . 2023-07-11 . Newspapers.com.
  21. Who's Who in American Education. Hattiesburg, Miss.: Who's Who in American Education, 1936. p. 24.
  22. Web site: Robert Baker Obituary (2006) - Ithaca, NY - Ithaca Journal . 2023-07-11 . Legacy.com.
  23. Web site: 1959 . Leon Dexter Batchelor, Horticulture: Riverside University of California: In Memoriam . 2023-07-12 . University of California, Davis Library.
  24. Web site: Alpha Zeta Politicians . 2023-07-11 . The Political Graveyard.
  25. Web site: DR. NORMAN E. BORLAUG'S CURRICULUM VITAE . 2023-07-11 . www.agbioworld.org.
  26. Web site: Edgar Bernard Brossard papers . 2023-07-11 . Archives West . Orbis Cascade Alliance.
  27. Web site: Edgar Bernard Brossard . 2023-07-11 . Church History Biographical Database . The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
  28. 1964 . John Eliot COit . California Avocado Society Yearbook . 48 . 19–20.
  29. Web site: President Dwight D. Eisenhower- an Honorary Morrill Chapter Member? . 2023-07-11 . Morrill Chapter of Alpha Zeta at Penn State . en-gb.
  30. Web site: Clifford M. Hardin, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Papers . 2023-07-11 . Archives & Special Collections University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries.
  31. Book: RUS: A Register of the Rural Leadership in the United States and Canada . September 1920 . L. H. Bailey . Bailey . L. H. . 2nd . Ithaca, New York . 234–235 . en . Google Books.
  32. https://alphazeta.org/News/ArtMID/6668/ArticleID/2657/Senator-Richard-G-Lugar-1932-2019 Senator Richard G. Lugar (1932-2019)
  33. https://books.google.com/books?id=pyostEmb51YC&pg=RA6-PA11 Selected Speeches and News Releases By United States. Department of Agriculture. Office of Public Affairs (1989-)
  34. News: 1928-05-06 . Marriage of Laughlin / Maeder . 42 . Star Tribune . Minneapolis, Minnesota . 2023-07-12 . Newspapers.com.
  35. "Agriculture Fraternity Holds Honors Banquet",Casper Star Tribune 1970, May 9
  36. Web site: Gerald Miller: Serviceman, Scholar, Hokie VT Stories . 2023-07-12 . Virginia Tech . en-US.
  37. Web site:
  38. Web site: Malott . Deane . June 8, 1962 . Report of The President 1961-1962, Cornell University . February 20, 2024.
  39. https://alphazeta.org/News/ArtMID/6668/ArticleID/2386/Richard-and-Evelyne-Rominger-Receive-UC-Davis-Medal Richard and Evelyne Rominger Receive UC Davis Medal
  40. Web site: National Agricultural College Establishes Research Laboratory . 2023-07-11 . Albert Schatz PhD.
  41. Book: The Badger . 1924 . Junior Class of the University of Wisconsin . Tegtmeyer . Gamber F. . 410 . en . Google Books.
  42. Web site: Selman A. Waksman . July 11, 2023 . Karger Publishers . 131.
  43. Book: Culver . John C. . American dreamer : the life and times of Henry A. Wallace . Hyde . John . 2000 . Norton . New York . 978-0-393-04645-8 . 33 . Internet Archive.
  44. Web site: Wilson, M. L. (Milburn Lincoln), 1885-1969 . 2023-07-11 . Social Networks and Archival Context.
  45. Web site: Clayton K. Yeutter, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Papers . 2023-07-11 . Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries.
  46. https://alphazeta.org/News/ArtMID/6668/ArticleID/2439/Tribute-to-Dr-Clayton-Yeutter Tribute to Dr. Clayton Yeutter