2026 Milestone Moments

• I Love Lucy debuted and became an instant national sensation.  

• The first commercial color television broadcast took place on CBS.  

• The U.S. celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, marking a major government milestone.  

• An American in Paris was one of the highest grossing films of the year.  

• Gamma Xi (Western Michigan University) was founded on April 21, 1951.  

• Founders Estelle Leonard and Olive Burnett Clark were in attendance at the 28th National Convention, held in Roanoke, Virginia making this the last known convention graced by any of the Founders.   

• The position of national editor of  The Lyre was removed from the National Council, and a department of publications was established.   

• The National Cerebral Palsy project, part of the National Altruistic effort, was in full momentum. Chapters  created orthopedic toys that brought both skills and joy to affected children.   

• The Beatles' Revolver was released in 1966.  

• The very first Super Bowl agreement was finalized this year, with the first game played in early 1967.   

• The National Historic Preservation Act was passed, creating the National Register of Historic Places.  

• Batman premiered on television starring Adam West and Burt Ward, becoming a national craze.  

• Rosemary Newman Hittle (Alpha Chi, Butler University) began her term as National President.  

• Delta Omega (University of Kentucky) was founded on March 26, 1966.  

• The 35th National Convention took place in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Hannah Keenan (Alpha, DePauw University), daughter of  Founder Bessie Grooms Keenan, announced her retirement after serving 37 years on Alpha Chi Omega staff!  

Elthea Turner (Gamma, Northwestern University), who held a residency at the Star Studio at MacDowell in 1919, and Alpha Chi sisters at convention, 1966.  

• Rocky  premiered and became a cultural phenomenon.  

• Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne and Steve Wozniak founded the Apple company.   

• The first class of women at the United States Naval Academy was inducted.   

• Happy Days  dominated television, finishing the year as one of America's top-rated shows.  

• The 40th National Convention took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For the opening session, National President Adele Drew wore a dress inspired by the cover of the Spring 1976 issue of  The Lyre.   

• Karen Aunan Miley (Alpha Lambda, University of Minnesota) was elected as National President.  

• The Founders' Memorial Carillon was dedicated on October 9, 1976  at DePauw University.   

• Wikipedia  launched, changing how people access information.  

• The September 11 attacks reshaped global politics, travel,  security and American foreign policy.  

• Apple released the first iPod.  

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone became the highest-grossing film worldwide for the year.  

• Presentations of Kristin's Story began, becoming one of the first national philanthropy educational programs.  

• Iota Chi (Middle Tennessee State University) and Iota Psi (Elon University) were established.   

• Alpha Chi Omega’s website got a makeover, making it more accessible and user-friendly for members.   

• Hamilton became a Broadway obsession and cultural touchstone, bringing musical theater into mainstream pop culture.   

• Rupi Kaur's  Milk and Honey became one of the bestselling poetry books of the 21st century, selling more than 2.5 million copies in its first published year.   

• The National Park Service celebrated its 100th anniversary.  

• Stranger Things  premiered its first season, with the series wrapping up at the beginning of 2026.   

• The 59th National Convention was held in Orlando, Florida. The convention app was first launched this year!  

• Angela Costley Harris (Alpha Beta, Purdue University) was elected as National President.  

• Women & Wisdom, an online mentoring program for collegians and alumnae, was launched.  

• Kappa Psi (Western Oregon University) and Kappa Omega (Indiana University Indianapolis) were established; Lambda (Syracuse University) reopened.