AKA MIP TEST 2026/2027 – Q&A Alpha
Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® –
Official MIP Certification.
Section 1: Founders, History, and Founding Date (Questions 1–12)
Q1. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® was founded on what exact date and at which
institution?
A. February 21, 1908, at Fisk University
B. January 15, 1908, at Howard University [CORRECT]
C. January 29, 1913, at Howard University
D. May 25, 1909, at Spelman College
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Per the official AKA history, the sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard
University's Miner Hall. Option C (January 29, 1913) is the incorporation date, not the founding
date. Option D (May 25, 1909) marks the first Ivy Day celebration.
Q2. Who is recognized as the visionary and principal founder of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority?
A. Lucy Diggs Slowe
B. Nellie May Quander
C. Ethel Hedgemon Lyle [CORRECT]
D. Beulah Elizabeth Burke
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ethel Hedgemon Lyle conceived the vision for the sorority and led the founding
effort. While Lucy Diggs Slowe was the first president and Nellie Quander led incorporation, Lyle
is specifically designated as the principal founder in official AKA records.
Q3. The "Original Nine" founders were primarily which class standing at Howard University in
1908?
,A. All sophomores
B. All freshmen
C. Juniors and seniors [CORRECT]
D. Graduate students
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Original Nine consisted of juniors and seniors who constituted the initial core
group. The seven sophomores were invited later in 1909 without initiation and are recognized
as founders alongside the Original Nine.
Q4. Which of the following is NOT one of the Original Nine founders?
A. Anna Easter Brown
B. Marie Woolfolk Taylor
C. Norma Elizabeth Boyd [CORRECT]
D. Lavinia Norman
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Norma Elizabeth Boyd was one of the seven sophomores invited in 1909, not one of
the Original Nine. She later became an incorporator in 1913 and AKA's last surviving founder.
Q5. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was incorporated on January 29, 1913, making it the first Black
Greek-letter organization to achieve this status. Who was the lead incorporator?
A. Ethel Hedgemon Lyle
B. Nellie May Quander [CORRECT]
C. Lucy Diggs Slowe
D. Julia Evangeline Brooks
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nellie May Quander, initiated in 1910 and Alpha Chapter president 1911–1912,
formed the committee and led the incorporation effort after opposing proposed changes to the
sorority's name, colors, and symbols.
Q6. The first graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Theta Omega, was established in which
year?
, A. 1913
B. 1921
C. 1924 [CORRECT]
D. 1930
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Theta Omega Chapter was established in 1924 in Chicago, Illinois, as the first
graduate chapter. Xi Omega Chapter in Washington, D.C. followed in 1923 as the first graduate
chapter in the District of Columbia.
Q7. TRUE or FALSE: The seven sophomores invited to join Alpha Kappa Alpha in 1909
underwent the same initiation ceremony as the Original Nine.
[FALSE - CORRECT]
Correction: The seven sophomores (including Norma Boyd, Ethel Jones Mowbray, and Harriet
Terry) were extended membership without initiation in 1909. All 16 women are recognized as
founders, but the sophomores did not participate in the first initiation held February 11, 1909.
Q8. Which founder is credited with creating the name, motto, and colors of Alpha Kappa Alpha?
A. Ethel Hedgemon Lyle
B. Beulah Elizabeth Burke [CORRECT]
C. Margaret Flagg Holmes
D. Lillie E. Burke
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Beulah Elizabeth Burke is credited with creating the sorority's name, motto ("By
Culture and By Merit"), and colors (Salmon Pink and Apple Green). Her sister Lillie Burke helped
with the motto creation.
Q9. The first volume of The Ivy Leaf magazine, AKA's official publication, was published in which
year?
A. 1908
B. 1913
C. 1921 [CORRECT]
D. 1934
Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® –
Official MIP Certification.
Section 1: Founders, History, and Founding Date (Questions 1–12)
Q1. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® was founded on what exact date and at which
institution?
A. February 21, 1908, at Fisk University
B. January 15, 1908, at Howard University [CORRECT]
C. January 29, 1913, at Howard University
D. May 25, 1909, at Spelman College
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Per the official AKA history, the sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard
University's Miner Hall. Option C (January 29, 1913) is the incorporation date, not the founding
date. Option D (May 25, 1909) marks the first Ivy Day celebration.
Q2. Who is recognized as the visionary and principal founder of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority?
A. Lucy Diggs Slowe
B. Nellie May Quander
C. Ethel Hedgemon Lyle [CORRECT]
D. Beulah Elizabeth Burke
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ethel Hedgemon Lyle conceived the vision for the sorority and led the founding
effort. While Lucy Diggs Slowe was the first president and Nellie Quander led incorporation, Lyle
is specifically designated as the principal founder in official AKA records.
Q3. The "Original Nine" founders were primarily which class standing at Howard University in
1908?
,A. All sophomores
B. All freshmen
C. Juniors and seniors [CORRECT]
D. Graduate students
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Original Nine consisted of juniors and seniors who constituted the initial core
group. The seven sophomores were invited later in 1909 without initiation and are recognized
as founders alongside the Original Nine.
Q4. Which of the following is NOT one of the Original Nine founders?
A. Anna Easter Brown
B. Marie Woolfolk Taylor
C. Norma Elizabeth Boyd [CORRECT]
D. Lavinia Norman
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Norma Elizabeth Boyd was one of the seven sophomores invited in 1909, not one of
the Original Nine. She later became an incorporator in 1913 and AKA's last surviving founder.
Q5. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was incorporated on January 29, 1913, making it the first Black
Greek-letter organization to achieve this status. Who was the lead incorporator?
A. Ethel Hedgemon Lyle
B. Nellie May Quander [CORRECT]
C. Lucy Diggs Slowe
D. Julia Evangeline Brooks
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nellie May Quander, initiated in 1910 and Alpha Chapter president 1911–1912,
formed the committee and led the incorporation effort after opposing proposed changes to the
sorority's name, colors, and symbols.
Q6. The first graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Theta Omega, was established in which
year?
, A. 1913
B. 1921
C. 1924 [CORRECT]
D. 1930
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Theta Omega Chapter was established in 1924 in Chicago, Illinois, as the first
graduate chapter. Xi Omega Chapter in Washington, D.C. followed in 1923 as the first graduate
chapter in the District of Columbia.
Q7. TRUE or FALSE: The seven sophomores invited to join Alpha Kappa Alpha in 1909
underwent the same initiation ceremony as the Original Nine.
[FALSE - CORRECT]
Correction: The seven sophomores (including Norma Boyd, Ethel Jones Mowbray, and Harriet
Terry) were extended membership without initiation in 1909. All 16 women are recognized as
founders, but the sophomores did not participate in the first initiation held February 11, 1909.
Q8. Which founder is credited with creating the name, motto, and colors of Alpha Kappa Alpha?
A. Ethel Hedgemon Lyle
B. Beulah Elizabeth Burke [CORRECT]
C. Margaret Flagg Holmes
D. Lillie E. Burke
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Beulah Elizabeth Burke is credited with creating the sorority's name, motto ("By
Culture and By Merit"), and colors (Salmon Pink and Apple Green). Her sister Lillie Burke helped
with the motto creation.
Q9. The first volume of The Ivy Leaf magazine, AKA's official publication, was published in which
year?
A. 1908
B. 1913
C. 1921 [CORRECT]
D. 1934
