The History of Sigma Gamma Tau

Sigma Gamma Tau was founded on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana,

on February 28, 1953, "to offer appropriate recognition to persons of superior scholarship,

outstanding character, and professional achievement in the field of Aeronautical Engineering."

The new society was formed by the merger of two existing societies, Tau Omega, founded in 1927

at the University of Oklahoma, and Gamma Alpha Rho, founded in 1945 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

The name of the society was selected by combining the Greek letter Sigma, indicating sum,

with Gamma and Tau from the initial letters of the parent organizations.

Since 1953, the society has grown from 14 to around 50 collegiate chapters from 1,900 to over 21,000 initiated members.

PAST NATIONAL CONVENTIONS

1953...................Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

1956...................Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

1964...................West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia

1967...................University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois

1970...................St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri

1973...................University of Texas-Arlington, Arlington, Texas

1976...................Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.

1979...................Monteleone Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana

1982...................Sheraton Twin Towers, Orlando, Florida

1985...................Sheraton Twin Towers, Orlando, Florida

1988...................Ft. McGruder Inn, Williamsburg, Virginia

1991...................Bally's, Reno, Nevada

1994...................Reno Hilton, Reno, Nevada

1997...................Econo Lodge Hawaiian Resort, Orlando, Florida

2000...................Wyndham Hotel Midtown, Atlanta, Georgia

2003...................Norfolk Waterside Marriott, Norfolk, Virginia

2006...................Hyatt Regency, Wichita, Kansas

This document is maintained by the

Missouri University of Science and Technology
chapter of Sigma Gamma Tau.

Last Modified: May 2, 2008 by Sean Trapp, Secretary

URL: web.mst.edu/~sgt