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Delta Tau Alpha

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Delta Tau Alpha
ΔΤΑ
FoundedMarch 19, 1960; 64 years ago (1960-03-19)
Southwest Missouri State College
TypeHonor Society
AffiliationACHS
StatusActive
EmphasisAgriculture
ScopeNational
Colors  Green and   Harvest gold
SymbolCorn, Wheat, Scroll
FlowerChrysanthemum
PublicationThe Achiever
Chapters31
Members16,000 lifetime
HeadquartersNational DTA
c/o Dr. Elizabeth Walker,
MSU, School of Agriculture,
2401 S Kansas Expressway

Springfield, Missouri 65807
United States
Websitenactateachers.org/page/DTA

Delta Tau Alpha (ΔΤΑ) is an American scholastic honor society for the field of agriculture. It was established at Southwest Missouri State College in 1960.

History

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The Honor Society of Delta Tau Alpha was founded at Southwest Missouri State College on March 19, 1960.[1] Its purpose is the promote and recognize leadership and scholarship of agricultural students.[2] It also promotes character development and helps prepare undergraduate students for a career in agriculture.[1]

The society held its first national convention in March 1960.[3] Its emblem was adopted at that convention.[3] Delta Tau Alpha was admitted to the Association of College Honor Societies in 1992. The society has 31 active chapters across the United States and a total membership of approximately 16,000.[1]

Symbols

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Delta Tau Alpha's colors are green and harvest gold.[3] Green represents "the fresh, new ideas that members bring into agriculture, just as a new crop springs to life each year"; harvest yellow was selected to represent "reaping the benefits of technology through the application of knowledge in the same way a farmer harvests his golden crop of grain"[3]

Its flower is the chrysanthemum.[3] Its symbols are corn, wheat, and a scroll. Corn and wheat represent hard work, experimentation, and products of applied education.[3] The scroll symbolizes the society's founding ideals of "scholarship, character, responsibility, leadership, and lifelong commitment".[3]

The society's emblem features a scroll.[3] On top of the scroll is a Greek letter Delta (Δ) formed by wheat on the upper two sides and an ear of corn on the bottom.[3] The Greek letter Delta signifies change because agricultural professionals continually adapt to changing environments and resources.[3] In the center of the letter Delta is the fraternity's Greek letters, ΔΤΑ, stacked on top of each other.[3]

Delta Tau Alpha's publication is The Achiever.[4][2]

Activities

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The society has an annual convention each spring that rotates between member campuses.[2][1] It presents awards for the best chapter, outstanding teacher-advisor, and the winner of an agricultural knowledge contest.[1] Chapters award scholarships and participate in community service activities, including canned food drives for local food banks, educating children about livestock, and donating to The Angel Tree Project.[1][5]

Membership

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To be eligible for membership in Delta Tau Alpha, a student must have completed at least nine semester hours in agricultural courses and 45 hours in college courses, with a rank in the top 35 percent of their class.[6] Members are initiated at a ceremony and reception/banquet.[2] Membership is for life.[2]

Chapters

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Following is a list of Delta Tau Alpha chapters.[7]

Chapter Charter date and range City State Status References
Abilene Christian University March 19, 1960 Abilene Texas Active
Angelo State University 1998 San Angelo Texas Active [5]
Arkansas State University Jonesboro Arkansas Active
Austin Peay State University Clarksville Tennessee Active
Berea College Berea Kentucky Active
College of the Ozarks Point Lookout Missouri Active
Crowder College Neosho Missouri Active
Delaware Valley College Doylestown Pennsylvania Active
Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Kentucky Active
Ferrum College Ferrum Virginia Active
Fort Hays State University Hays Kansas Active
Mcneese State University Lake Charles Louisiana Inactive
Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Tennessee Active
Missouri State University Springfield Missouri Active
Morehead State University Morehead Kentucky Active
Nicholls State University Thibodaux Louisiana Inactive
North Carolina A&T State University Raleigh North Carolina Active
Northwest Missouri State University Maryville Missouri Active
Sam Houston State University Huntsville Texas Active
Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau Missouri Active
Southern Arkansas University Magnolia Arkansas Active
Stephen F. Austin State University Nacogdoches Texas Active
Sul Ross State University Alpine Texas Active
Tennessee Tech Cookeville Tennessee Active
Texas A&M University–Commerce Commerce Texas Active
Texas State University San Marcos Texas Active
Truman State University Kirksville Missouri Active
University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Missouri Active
University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe Louisiana Active
University of Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne Maryland Active
Wilmington College Wilmington Ohio Active

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Delta Tau Alpha Honor Society- Agriculture". Association of College Honor Societies. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved 2024-03-20 – via web.archive.org.
  2. ^ a b c d e "About Us". Delta Tau Alpha. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Insignia". Angelo State University Delta Tau Alpha Agricultural Honors Society. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  4. ^ "The Achiever". Delta Tau Alpha. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  5. ^ a b "DTA Home". Angelo State University Delta Tau Alpha Agricultural Honors Society. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  6. ^ "Active Chapter Information". DTA. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  7. ^ "Delta Tau Alpha Honor Society Chapters". Association of College Honor Societies. Archived from the original on 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2024-03-20 – via web.archive.org.
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