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