About Alpha Phi
Symbols
- Alpha Phi Badge
- •The official badge of Alpha Phi is an unjeweled monogram of gold showing the symbol of Alpha superimposed upon the symbol of Phi. Inscribed in black on the symbol Phi are the letters a, o, e. The meaning of these letters is reserved for the initiation ceremony.
- New Member Pin
- •When women join Alpha Phi, they are given our beautiful new member pin. The pin is fashioned in the shape of an ivy leaf and is set in pewter. New members wear this pin until initiation, after which, they will receive the official Alpha Phi badge. The ivy leaf represents the way our lives intertwine with one another's as we become friends and Sisters in Alpha Phi.
- Symbol
- •The ivy leaf is perhaps our most recognizable symbol. The ivy leaf is reflected in our new member pin and is part of our crest. Ivy symbolizes the intertwining of intellectual, philanthropical and social pursuits. It is also symbolic of the way in which our lives become intertwined with one another's as we become friends and Sisters in Alpha Phi.
- Coat of Arms
- •The Fraternity Crest is the Alpha Phi coat-of-arms, adopted by Convention delegates in 1922. The shield is bordeaux with a scroll and ivy leaf above it. Inscribed on the scroll is the public motto, "Union Hand In Hand." A bar of silver crosses the shield from left to right; the upper half of the shield contains a Roman lamp in silver and the lower half, Ursa Major.
- Flowers
- •The flowers of Alpha Phi are the Lily-of-the-Valley and the sentimental Forget-Me-Not. The blue and gold of the forget-me-not remind us of our fraternity's original colors.
•Lilies of the Valley consist of clusters of small, white, bell-shaped flowers that hang from a single stem. Known for their sweet fragrance, their scent has inspired countless perfumes.
- Colors
- •Silver and Bordeaux are Alpha Phi's rich and distinct colors.
•Alpha Phi's original colors were blue and gold. In 1879, noting that a fraternity had colors too similar to hers, Alpha Phi adopted the more distinctive colors of silver and bordeaux.
- Mascot
- •Our mascot is the "Phi Bear," whose name is taken from the Greek words "Ursa Major," or the "Great Bear."
•Alpha Phi International adopted the Phi Bear as its mascot in 1974.
