The Alpha Upsilon (ΑΥ) chapter at the University of Washington was established in 1919. The first six charter members were:

• Russel B. Ring 1916
• Robert Bowman Van Horn 1916
• Edward Rollins Beaman 1917
• John Thomas Bond 1918
• Floyd Raymond Hammel 1918
• George Frederick Beck 1918

There are countless Phi Kaps from the Univeristy of Washington that have gone on to do great things. A few of the more well-known ones are:

• James B Douglas 1930 - President of Northgate Centers, Inc.
• He was the developer of Northgate Shopping Center and the organizer and chairman of the advisory board. He graduated from the University of Washington Graduate School of Business.




• Peter J. Nichols 1980 - President of the Phi Kappa Sigma Foundation
• He currently serves as the president of the Phi Kappa Sigma Foundation, which awards over $50,000 in scholarships to our brothers every year. Additionally, he served as Grand Alpha (president of our international fraternity) for 2 terms.




• Reynold R. Hagel 1980 - Scholarship Vice President of the Phi Kappa Sigma Foundation
• He currently serves as the Scholarship Vice President of the Phi Kappa Sigma Foundation, which awards over $50,000 in scholarships to our brothers every year.

Nationally, our nickname is "Phi Kaps", however because we have an outdoor pool, we are known as "Phi Pools" here at the University of Washington. We are fortunate to be one of only two Phi Kappa Sigma chapters with a pool.

The other chapter that has a pool is the Beta Psi chapter at Washington State University and was started in 1982 by several members here at the University of Washington Alpha Upsilon chapter. In the Spring of 2007 six Alpha Upsilon members joined them in celebrating their 25th anniversary on Founders' Day. This is evidence of the fact that although we are rival schools, our brotherhood connects us together with a deep and life-long bond.

Phi Kappa Sigma International Fraternity was founded by Samuel Brown Wylie Mitchell at the University of Pennsylvania on August 16, 1850. Phi Kappa Sigma International Fraternity has Chapters in both the United States and Canada and currently has over 60 active Chapters, Colonies, and interest groups with over 2,000 active members and 40,000 living alumni.

Phi Kappa Sigma is more than an organization to be a part of during college; it is a valuable learning experience, a life-long commitment, and philosophy of life. Along with the Phi Kappa Sigma Ritual, our Purpose and Principles state who and what we are as a Fraternity and as members of that Fraternity. All members take an oath to uphold these ideals and it is up to all of us to make sure that we, and those who come after us, learn and understand what it is to be a true "Phi Kap" and "Man of Honor" and incorporate that into our Chapters and into our lives.

The theme of our 89th Grand Chapter was "A Return to Our Founding Principles" and since then Phi Kappa Sigma has been working with our Chapters to help them re-focus on the Purpose and Principles that Phi Kappa Sigma was founded on 157 years ago. We drafted a Statement of Core Values at our 90th Grand Chapter in Philadelphia in the summer of 2000, and have started an annual leadership development program called "Men of Honor." In 2004 at our 92nd Grand Chapter in Chicago, our members created the Doctrine of Excellence. The Doctrine of Excellence will serve as a road map for our Fraternity to apply our Statement of Core Values.

In the summer of 2000, Phi Kappa Sigma also completed the last phase of our substance-free housing initiative joining several other fraternities committed to providing safe and healthy living environments for our undergraduate members. We have been working hard to make sure our members have an excellent undergraduate experience and graduate to become more than just productive members of society, but leaders that possess a foundation built on steadfast values and a duty to help their fellow man.

"Stellis Aequus Durando - Equal to the stars in endurance"
Phi Kappa Sigma is a long lasting Fraternity; we're here to stay. Our Fraternity has survived hardships, World Wars, and countless other obstacles, yet we still remain strong. Started in 1850, and keeping in mind what we've learned over the past 157 years, we're looking forward to success and prosperity over the next 157 years.

"Once a Phi Kap, always a Phi Kap."
Our Brothers retain membership throughout life, because our organization is a lifelong commitment. The Fraternity is not something you are a part of for four years in college and then forget about it when you graduate – it is the facilitator of a lifelong learning process that helps you mature into a better man and gives you solid ideals to live by. In fact, it could be said that your commitment to the Fraternity will be greater after you graduate than while you are in college.

"Brotherhood is more than skin deep."
In 1858 a proposal was introduced to the Fraternity that would have made Phi Kappa Sigma an all-white organization. Fortunately the proposal was unanimously voted down, therefore making Phi Kappa Sigma the first Fraternity to be openly anti-discriminatory. Our Brothers choose men to become new members based on the worth of their character, not superficialities like race, religion, or wealth.