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Mme. Julie Rive-King (Alpha, DePauw University) On August 23, 1886, internationally renowned pianist and composer Julie Rive-King was traveling through Indiana and stopped in Greencastle for a performance at DePauw University.
The sisters of Alpha Chi Omega, who were all members of the School of Music, had the opportunity to meet her. Later that same day, Founder Estelle Leonard dutifully recounted in the minutes of the day’s chapter meeting:
“The usual order of the meeting was changed and a discussion held regarding the admittance to the Fraternity of Mme. Rivé-King, America’s famous pianist.
Having signified to Professor Howe her willingness to be one of us, on the same afternoon Mme. Rivé-King was consulted in regard to her initiation. As she was to give a concert that evening in Meharry Hall, it was thought best to have a brief initiatory immediately if agreeable to her.”
And so they did. Madame Rive-King performed that evening as a sister of Alpha Chi Omega, beginning a long tradition of initiating outstanding women to our sisterhood as alumnae and granting them access to all the privileges that lifetime membership affords. Whether they find Alpha Chi on their own or already know one or more members, the sisters we’ve welcomed as alumnae are committed to our values and believe in the connection, leadership, philanthropy and personal growth that Alpha Chi Omega provides. It’s this passion that leads them to seek out membership, just as Julie did when she met our Founders and knew that Alpha Chi was a sisterhood she wanted to be part of.
These days, this pathway to membership is formalized as the National Alumna Initiate Program (NAIP) and includes an interview and education process that is supported by a team of alumnae volunteers called the NAIP panel. Upwards of 40 women are initiated through NAIP annually, and since formal record-keeping began in the 1980s, we have welcomed nearly 1,000 women to our sisterhood through alumna initiation!
Starting in 2012 in St. Louis, this has included group initiations at our National Conventions. Though alumnae initiations can take place at any time of year, there is something extra special about initiating at a convention. It’s more than a ceremony; it’s a celebration of sisterhood across generations and a reminder of the Ritual that binds us together as sisters. In Indianapolis in 2024, we welcomed four initiates who traveled from near and far to make the 62nd National Convention their first official Alpha Chi Omega event.
Newly initiated alumnae at the 2024 National Convention in Indianapolis (front row), with their sponsors (back row). We want to make our upcoming ceremony in Dallas the most remarkable yet—help us reach our goal of 26 alumnae initiates at our 2026 convention!
Imagine: it could be you who travels to Dallas with your friend or family member, who helps her find the ceremony room, who pins her with her lyre badge at that special moment and who spends the weekend celebrating that you are now lifelong sisters! Who will you share the gift of sisterhood with this holiday season?
To sponsor a woman in your life who you want to call your Alpha Chi sister, share the application with her and then complete the individual sponsorship form to tell the NAIP panel why she would make a great member. We can’t wait to meet her, grow our sisterhood and celebrate our Ritual in Dallas with the help of sisters from across the country!