History Of Beta Omega: Washington College
The Mission of the Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order seeks to create a lifetime experience that centers on reverence to God, duty, honor, character, and gentlemanly conduct as inspired by Robert E. Lee, our spiritual founder.
Kappa Alpha Order became a reality at Washington College in the state of Maryland in 1936 just as it did at Washington and Lee in Lexington, VA in 1865. The original founders of the great southern Order labored for ten years to found KA. Similarly the founding brothers of Alpha Kappa (later Beta Omega Chapter)
labored ten years to become an active chapter of Kappa Alpha Order.
Alpha Kappa was organized in 1923, becoming the oldest local fraternity in Washington College history. Two years later those same men began to make their vision a reality; they began the journey down the path towards acceptance into Kappa Alpha Order. Their first achievement came in 1929, when AK was formally
recognized by the Board of Visitors and Governors of the college. Finally, their dream became a reality in March 1936, when the Alpha Kappa chapter's petition for acceptance into KA was formally approved.
March 28, 1936 Alpha Kappa was renamed Beta Omega and became a national chapter of Kappa Alpha Order. The chapter held its first meeting on the evening of March 28, initiating the new brothers into the chapter, and Mr. Preston P. Heck walked into history as the first man to be initiated into Beta Omega by an initiation team.
Yet after these initial days as a new chapter,came hard times for Beta Omega. In 1941, the United States entered World War II, and many of the frat brothers enlisted in the armed forces to defend their country. The war affected the Greek system countrywide. Beta Omega's active number decreased as men enlisted in 1943 causing the chapter to become temporarily deactivated.
In 1946 the war had ended, and many men returned home...and to their schools all across the country. In 1946 Beta Omega chapter was reactivated with five brothers: the only fraternity to close and reopen in Washington College history. That spring the brothers rushed and initiated 16 young men. KA reentered Washington College with flair.
Since then Beta Omega chapter of Kappa Alpha Order has excelled academically and socially. In 1952, KA took its place on the hill in Middle Hall. In 1961 the chapter received the National Loving Cup from the Order for the highest average academic index in the nation. In the fall of 1972 the chapter received the coveted J. Edgar Hoover award. Then came the string of five Samuel Zenas Ammen awards in the 1980's, 90's, and 00's: 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004. In 1997 KA moved from Middle Hall into Talbot house were
they reside today and continue to practice KA customs. In 2003 the chapter was honored with the highest award the Order can present a chapter, the George C.
Marshall Award for chapter excellence.
For sixty years KAs have walked
the halls of Washington College, continuing the traditions and beliefs
of our founders. For seventy years AKs and KAs have been leaders on this
campus and these academic fields. Beta Omega has watched from the hill
as Hodson Hall, Dunning-Decker Science Building, Minta Martin Dorm,
Gibson fields, Cain Gymnasium, the Eugene B. Casey Academic Center (CAC),
the Eugene Casey Swim Center, the Johnson Lifetime Fitness Center,
Goldstein Hall, and the most recent addition
the John Toll
Science Center. Washington College and Beta Omega
have kept
pace with the computer
age, and the ever expanding
"Information Age." We stand ready to meet the many unknown challenges that lie ahead. Beta Omega will continue to be a key player in the total education effort of Kappa Alpha Order.
