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Prytanean
Women's Honor Society
University of California, Davis
ABOUT
PRYTANEAN
Prytanean
Honor Society is the oldest collegiate women's honor society
in the United States. Founded as a branch of the UC Berkeley
chapter in 1952, Prytanean seeks to:
-Recognize and honor the scholastic achievement of undergraduate
women
-Encourage fellowship among women with diverse goals and interests
-Provide community service to the University and community
-Define positive roles and encourage leadership for women
Our
mission is to promote the high ideals of scholarship, leadership,
and service within the University and the community.
We
uphold the values of friendship, support, and respect among
diverse women.Read more about the history, and activities
and services of Prytanean.
HISTORY
OF PRYTANEAN
The
Prytanean Society is the oldest collegiate women's honorary
society in the United States. Founded on the Berkeley campus
of the University of California in 1900, Prytanean was established
on the Davis campus in 1952 by the Berkeley chapter. The initiation
class was made up of sixteen members, several of whom live
in Davis today and support the active chapter.
The
word Prytanean derives from the Greek word "Prytanes"
meaning, in a broad sense, a representative. At once time
Ancient Greece was divided into a number of political units,
each responsible for sending a representative to the law-making
convention in Athens. When the convention was in session,
a lamp was kept burning over the door of the building where
the meetings of the Council of the Chosen Ones were held.
This lamp appears on the Great Seal of the University of California,
whose motto is "Let there be light," and also serves
as the Prytanean symbol.
The
history of Prytanean is the development of a respected campus
organization whose members maintain the high ideals of scholarship,
service, friendship, and respect for one another. Its purpose
has been to secure due recognition for women of achievement.
During the academic year, active membership numbers 40-75
students of diverse ethnic backgrounds and majors from all
three colleges. The alumnae membership now numbers over 3,000
women, including physicians, journalists, professors, lawyers,
judges, artists, and other outstanding women dedicated to
community service. The Davis chapter remains a nexus for active
women working toward common goals, both academic and service,
within a supportive framework of active members and alumnae.
ACTIVITIES
and SERVICES
Throughout
our history at UC Davis, Prytaneans have performed extensive
campus and community service. Past service projects have included
volunteering at Davis Community Meals, Buehler Alumni/Visitor
Center, Jazz in the Park, Davis Senior Center, and Valley
Oak Elementary Carnival. Traditionally, Prytaneans have served
as hosts and/or ambassadors for special campus events (e.g
Picnic Day, Women Take Back the Night.)
Prytaneans
are also active on campus. Prytanean publishes and distributes
an informational brochure, Honor Societies at UC Davis, and
hosts annually the popular, Dinner for Ten Strangers. Annually,
Prytanean also bestows the Susan F. Regan Award to one or
more outstanding graduating senior women. The UC Davis Prytaneans
enjoy a close association with local alumnae, who occasionally
host social events at their homes. In addition to social events,
alumni and active members collaborate on many community service
projects, including the Christmas Stocking Project for a local
woman's shelter. The Prytanean Women's Honors Society also
has the pleasure of hosting an annual benefit ball raising
money for the Davis Women's Shelter.
PRYTANEAN
PUBLICATIONS
Prytanean
Honor Society is pleased to announce the publication of the
2008-2009 Honor Societies at UC Davis. This publication is
the only brochure on campus that collectively lists the goals,
requirements, and contact information of honor societies at
UC Davis. The Honor Society brochure is funded by Club Finance
Council and ASUCD.
Prytanean
also continues to feature "Windows on the Past,"
a closer look at various buildings on the UC Davis campus.
This unique book not only explores the history of the structures
but the lives of the men and women for whom they were named.
Interesting and little known facts and anecdotes are supplemented
by photographs drawn from the Special Collections section
of Shields Library.
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