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Pi Alpha Xi

American horticultural honor society From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pi Alpha Xi
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Pi Alpha Xi (ΠΑΞ) is an American collegiate honor society for horticulture founded in 1923 at Cornell University.

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History

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After attending the 1923 International Flower Show in New York City, a group from Cornell University had the idea to start the honor society.[1][2] Under the leadership of Professor Arno Nehrling, the Pi Alpha Xi constitution, ritual, and insignia/key were developed.[1][2] Alpha chapter was installed at Cornell on June 1, 1923.[1][2]

Pi Alpha Xi was established as an honor society for floriculture and ornamental horticulture but later changed to include all horticultural disciplines.[1][2] Its mission is promoting fellowship, professional leadership, and scholarship and to enrich life through plants.[2] Chapters are located in four-year colleges and universities that have horticultural programs.[1][2]

By 1950, Pi Alpha Xi, chapters were established at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Beta), Pennsylvania State University (Gamma), Michigan State University (Delta), Ohio State University (Epsilon), Rutgers University (Zeta), Washington State University (Eta), and the University of Maryland, College Park (Theta).[2] The society's added a significant number of chapters during the 1970s. As of January 24, 2024, Pi Alpha Xi has forty chapters and 14,000 members.[1] Its publication is the Lotus Leaflet.[1][3]

Pi Alpha Xi is managed by the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), based in Alexandria, Virginia.[1] Its annual business meeting is held in conjunction with the ASHS annual conference.[1][2]

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Symbols

The society's name was selected to represent:[4][5][2]

  • Pi (Π) – the first letter of polumathia, or scholarship;
  • Alpha (Α) - from the word anthemorgous, meaning to work with plants;
  • Xi (Ξ) – for zunoia, signifying the bond among gardeners, educators, and professional horticulturists.[5]

Its colors are Nile green and cerulean blue, and its flower is the Nile lotus.[3] Its symbols include the stylus, the Nile lotus, the Egyptian hoe, and the ancient vase.[3][4] The motto of Pi Alpha Xi is "Always to Excel".

Its badge is a pin or key which is inscribed with the Greek letters ΠΑΞ and the stylus, Egyptian hoe, Nile lotus, and the ancient vase.[3]

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Membership

Membership is open to undergraduate students who are juniors and seniors interested in floriculture, landscape horticulture, or ornamental horticulture who meet GPA requirements.[2][3] Faculty and graduate students are also eligible for membership.[2] The society also issues honorary memberships.[3]

Activities

Primarily, Pi Alpha Xi exists to recognize academic excellence.[2] The national society sponsors the Pi Alpha Phi Annual Photography Contest, and publishes the Pi Alpha Xi Flower Judging Manual. [2] It also recognizes Fellows from the Pi Alpha Phi membership for service or excellence in floriculture, landscape horticulture, ornamental horticulture, or Pi Alpha Phi.[2] There is a limit of 25 living Fellows.[2]

Some chapters also sponsor field trips to horticultural sites and lectures with guest speakers. Chapters also sponsor scholarships so that members can attend the ASHS conference.[2] The national organization matches local scholarships.[2]

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Chapters

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Following is a list of Pi Alpha Xi chapters.[6][3][7] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters and institutions are in italics.

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References

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