Mortar Board Fast Facts

Founding date 

Founding chapters 

Mission 



Motto 


Symbol 


Colors 

Official Publication 




Pin 

Membership 


National Project 



Mortar Board Week 


Unique Facts 















Notable Initiates






Notable Honorary Members

February 15, 1918 

Cornell University, The University of Michigan, The Ohio State University and Swarthmore College 

Mortar Board, Inc., a national honor society that recognizes college seniors for their achievements in scholarship, leadership and service, provides opportunities for continued leadership development, promotes service to colleges and universities and encourages lifelong contributions to the global community. (Adopted July 1994) 

Pi Sigma Alpha (ΠΣΑ), letters that correspond to three Greek words representing the ideals of Mortar Board: scholarship, leadership and service. 

A mortarboard, an ancient symbol of honor and distinction, represents the organization.  Many early scholars also adopted the clerical or monastic robes as a symbol, illustrating their devotion to the profession of learning. 

Gold (representing achievement) and silver (symbolizing opportunity) 

The Mortar Board Forum is a semi-annual magazine that features stories about alumni, articles about chapter activities and accomplishments, current issues and trends, messages from Mortar Board national leaders and more.  It is distributed to approximately 35,000 collegiate and alumni members across the nation.  Alumni can continue to receive the Mortar Board Forum by contacting the National Office to sign up for a subscription. 

Shaped like a black mortarboard with the Greek letters representing the motto engraved in gold 

Nearly a quarter of a million members have been initiated across the nation. There are 228 chartered collegiate chapters in 47 states. 

In 1985, the collegiate members decided they wanted each chapter to engage in and actively promote a national project each year.  Over several years, the national project promoted many issues, and today’s permanent project is “Reading is Leading.”  

Mortar Board members commemorate the founding of Mortar Board with a weeklong celebration, annually held the week of the February 15 founding.  

• Mortar Board was established as the first national organization honoring senior college women.  Even after Mortar Board began accepting men in 1975, it remained loyal to its heritage with a commitment to the advancement of the status of women. 
• Mortar Board functions as an honor society rather than an honorary.  The difference is that while an honorary exists solely for the purpose of honoring its members, an honor society, although co­mposed of mmbers who have already distinguished themselves and been recognized for such, continues to make significant contributions to college and community life.  Belonging to an honor society carries a commitment of individual and group participation.  Therefore, Mortar Board members are not an idle part of the organization, but are active and involved, accepting the responsibility and obligation to be devoted to their chapters. 
• Mortar Board makes a commitment to the success of individual students and chapters by bringing students together for an annual conference, as well as supporting students with graduate fellowships as they further their education. 
• Mortar Board and its chapters are governed by members.  Chapter delegates set the purpose and direct the organization at the annual national conference.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Astronaut on the Challenger Judith Resnick
Best-selling author Aron Ralston
Professional football player Drew Brees
Best-selling author Bruce Littlefield
Writer and motivational speaker David Coleman

Professional cyclist Lance Armstrong
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor
Poet Maya Angelou
Former President Jimmy Carter
Former Mayor of New York City Rudolph Giuliani
First woman in space Sally Ride
American educator, minister, songwriter and television host Fred Rogers