Spirits are soaring for a special sisterhood whose vibrant chapter was just named the best sorority in Aggieland.

Founded in 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, also recognized as Alpha Kappa Alpha or AKA, was brought to Texas A&M’s campus in 1985 and is officially known as the Xi Psi chapter. Having recently celebrated their 4oth anniversary at the university, emotions and pride are radiating from the spirited group.

Alpha Kappa Alpha is a part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), also known as the Divine Nine, which is home to nine African-American Greek organizations. AKA, founded at Howard University, is known as the first African-American sorority.

According to the official AKA website, there are five program initiatives: empower our families, build our economic wealth, enhance our environment, advocate for social justice and uplift our local community. The goal of each initiative is to “improve the lives of those we serve.”

Throughout the semester, the chapter hosts several events, often referred to as programs. When planning, current vice president and education senior Eniya Clements said they base their programs on these respective initiatives.

As stated on their Instagram page, the organization thrives off of its core pillars: sisterhood, scholarship and service. Just last semester, the Xi Psi chapter completed a collective total of 232 community service hours, selflessly serving the Bryan-College Station community.

For Clements, a core memory from the Xi Psi chapter would have to be the 40th anniversary celebration of being chartered here at A&M.

“We had a dinner, and I think everyone in the room got emotional because it was so cool just seeing the lineage of the first people who were able to bring the sorority to this campus, and then now we’re here 40 years later and we’re still doing it,” Clements said.

Current chapter president and information technology service management senior, Kaiya Burden, shared how involvement within the organization makes a broader impact.

“We all use our personal goals to shape a better campus experience for our peers or benefiting our surrounding community, whether that be Bryan or College Station,” Burden said.

Burden mentioned that they look for women who selflessly strive to leave an impact on their community.

One notable way Xi Psi strives to serve the community is through their consistent service with Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach. Clements shared how volunteering there became a core memory that has stuck with her.

“When we do serve, it’s fun because it kind of feels like a sisterhood moment, too, because we’re doing the service together,” Clements said. “So we’re still talking, we’re still laughing with each other, but we’re still doing something for the greater good.”

These strong values don’t fade, but carry on through generations. President Burden said she has many family members in the sorority from all different schools, dating as far back as 1928.

“I had a lot of influential people in my life who kind of inspired me, and I saw the path that they were going down and I wanted to be a part of AKA,” Burden said. “I wanted to do that for myself. I think it kind of motivated me to become a part of the organization when I reached college.”

The special feeling of being able to bond with new members each year has been a big part of Burden’s experience as a member of AKA.

“Maybe you’ll come to this university and it’s not easy to find friends,” Burden said. “It’s not many people who have the same experiences as you, but through the organization, you can connect with people who are genuinely passionate about the same things as you, or maybe different things, and then open your eyes to those experiences as well.”

The sisterhood is not just a collegiate organization for students. It’s one that, if you allow it to, will grow with you throughout the years post-grad, as the sorority prides itself on lifelong membership.

With chapters around the nation ranging from undergraduate to graduate, there is truly a home for everyone, no matter their stage of life.

“I can look at you, however old you are, and say “You’re my sister in this sorority that we decided to join.’ I think that is what truly highlights Alpha Kappa Alpha,” Clements said. “It’s the sisterhood that we share – and holding the same values, going towards the same goals, no matter how old we are.”