Alpha Psi Omega
| Alpha Psi Omega/Delta Psi Omega | |
|---|---|
| ΑΨΩ/ΔΨΩ | |
 |
|
| Founded | August 12, 1925 Fairmont State University |
| Type | Honorary |
| Emphasis | Theatre |
| Scope | United States |
| Motto | Seek a life useful (αιτειτε ψύχην ωφελιμον) (open) |
| Colors | Moonlight blue and bastard amber |
| Publication | The Playbill of Alpha Psi Omega and Delta Psi Omega |
| Chapters | 551 (997 including inactives) |
| Headquarters |
1100 East 4th St. Box X-2 Wichita, Kansas USA |
| Homepage | www |
Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society (ΑΨΩ) is an American recognition honor society for participants in collegiate theatre. The Alpha Cast (Alpha Psi Omega's term for "chapter") was founded at Fairmont State College (now Fairmont State University) on August 12, 1925 by Prof. Paul F. Opp.
Alpha Psi Omega was founded after Opp was denied charter petitions by both Theta Alpha Phi (ΘΑΦ), the National Theatre Honors Fraternity and the National Collegiate Players/Pi Epsilon Delta (ΠΕΔ), which were unwilling to charter a chapter at Fairmont State College, then primarily known as a "teacher's college." The first student members of the society were Elinor B. Watson and Robert Sloan.
Membership is open to students (primarily undergraduate) who are active in collegiate/university theatre at four-year institutions (full colleges and universities). Most casts/chapters use a "point system" for determining eligibility of membership, with a certain number of points being dealt to a certain task in theatre. With some chapters there is an induction/training process, while other chapters choose members solely on merit, where the theatre experience is considered the induction process. Honorary membership may be conferred on certain individuals (usually department faculty) after obtaining permission from the National Officers.
Delta Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society (ΔΨΩ), Alpha Psi Omega's "Sister Society," was founded in 1929 as the official junior-college division of Alpha Psi Omega. Both societies are governed by the same National Officers, yet have a separate coat-of-arms and induction ceremony. Delta Psi Omega is founded at two-year institutions (junior colleges/community colleges).
Opp and Alpha Psi Omega were also instrumental in helping to organize the Thespian Society, now known as the International Thespian Society, the theatre honor society for high school students (also founded in 1929). With an original grant of $500, the society was able to help organize I.T.S. and help publish the first issues of the I.T.S. magazine. The International Thespian Society has since been assimilated into the Educational Theatre Association, but the influences can be seen in the similarities of both organizations' colors and induction ceremonies.
Members are most commonly referred to as "APOs". However, due to some confusion with members of the national service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, some campuses refer to their members as "Alpha Psis" or "AYOs". Members of Delta Psi Omega are commonly known as "DPOs".
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