Prytanean Alumnae Association
Prytanean, the oldest honorary alumnae organization of the UC system, is comprised of UCLA alumnae and very recently has also opened its membership to men who give service to the university and the community. It is an honor to join and be part of UCLA Prytanean; the word Prytanean comes from the Greek word “prytanes”, which means representatives; prytanean is a council of chosen ones.
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Connect with us
If you are interested in learning more about Prytanean, please contact us.
Join Prytanean
Prytanean is a volunteer-supported organization and is always looking for new members as well as members willing to serve in leadership positions.
Support us
Please join us in supporting the Prytanean Alumnae Scholarship Campaign. Your contribution, in any amount, goes directly to our Scholarship Fund and helps our mission to support students and UCLA. To make a fully tax deductible donation.
about
Each year begins with our October Dinner, introducing the year’s Prytanean scholarship recipients and reconnecting with fellow alumnae. The Annual Benefit is always a fun and philanthropic event and at the June Luncheon, we welcome Prytanean’s newest provisional class of members.
Additionally, Prytanean contributes to UCLA in amazing ways:
- Raising money for and providing scholarships to first-year and transfer students at UCLA.
- Coordinating Dinners for 12 Strangers with the UCLA Alumni Association
- Creating “Bear Hugs” for pediatric patients at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA
- Supporting UCLA’s “Spring Sing” with the annual Prytanean Alumnae Award for Best A Cappella performance
Prytanean is a strong and influential organization of motivated women and membership is very important to the vitality of our group. If you are interested in learning more about Prytanean, please contact me at info@uclaprytanean.org For questions regarding membership, please contact 2nd Vice President/Membership Lori Gilchrist.
Pamela Farber ’85, President
our story
The Prytanean Society of the University of California, the oldest women’s collegiate honorary society in the U.S., was founded on the Berkeley campus in September 1901 with 18 charter members. As the first senior class women’s honor society, its pledge was “Faith, Service, and Loyalty to the University of California.”
The name Prytanean and the symbol of the lighted lamp—chosen from an ancient Athenian council that placed burning lamps outside the rooms where representatives from Greek political chambers met—express the timeless ideal of representative government: eternal vigilance for the good of all.
In 1914, Prytanean Society ideals and practices worked their way to Los Angeles. On the original UCLA Vermont Avenue campus, the ladies of the Los Angeles State Normal School (the predecessor to UCLA) began a Social Efficiency Club (“SEC”), affirming as did its northern prototype, “Service without Self.”
When the Normal School officially became the University of California, Southern Branch, SEC members continued to serve the university in many capacities, including hostessing and fundraising. Later, the Berkeley organization extended official recognition to the Southern Branch group. SEC joined with Prytanean, assuming the latter’s name in 1924, and was installed at UCLA in 1925.
UCLA Prytanean activities included shepherding a vocational guidance program, assisting with orientation activities at the university, and raising scholarship and loan funds for deserving female students. A “B” grade point average, combined with dependability and leadership in student body activities, laid the foundation for admission to membership in Prytanean.
In 1939, Prytanean became an honorary alumnae organization while its undergraduate counterpart disbanded at some time in the mid-1970s when the Chancellor’s Office adopted a policy that required all student groups at UCLA be co-ed. As the co-ed requirement was contrary to Prytanean’s charter and Mortar Board, another senior women’s honorary group, had already converted to co-ed, the members (of the undergraduate group) at the time opted to disband.
Today, UCLA Prytanean Alumnae Association’s official motto, “Honor through Service,” has been realized through the funding of annual scholarships to outstanding students, raising substantial funds to assist in the construction of such university structures as Pauley Pavilion, donating Bear Bags/toys to the UCLA Mattel’s Children’s Hospital, and coordinating Dinners for Twelve Strangers, which unites students, alumni, and faculty in an informal atmosphere.
Prytanean membership totals in excess of 125, composed of five categories: honorary, active, contributing, nonresident, and provisional members. Each year, outstanding UCLA senior female students and alumnae are invited to become members.
The Tradition Continues…
contact us
If you are interested in learning more about Prytanean, please contact me at info@uclaprytanean.org
For questions regarding membership, please contact 2nd Vice President/Membership Lori Gilchrist.
scholarship and support
Each year, through both our Annual Benefit & Silent Auction as well as direct donations, UCLA Prytanean raises funds to support both merit and need based scholarships for freshman and transfer students. Our scholars come from diverse backgrounds and are amazingly talented and accomplished. We are proud of our scholars, many of who have overcome great personal challenges to be here at UCLA. Prytanean supports our scholars not only through the awarding of scholarships, but also by including them as part of our membership events, and providing mentoring and guidance through their time at UCLA and beyond.
Please join us in supporting the Prytanean Alumnae Scholarship Campaign so that we can help UCLA students like Hannah, Tesia, Paola and Roland. Your contribution, in any amount, goes directly to our Scholarship Fund and helps our mission to support students and UCLA. To make a fully tax deductible donation.
join prytanean
Prytanean is a volunteer-supported organization and is always looking for new members as well as members willing to serve in leadership positions, whether on the Board of Directors, Chair of a Standing Committee or helping out at an event.
If you are interested in joining Prytanean, please contact Pamela Farber, 1st Vice President of Membership at pamela@pamelafar.com.
If you are interested in completing a sponsorship recommendation for someone to join, please fill out the Sponsorship Form.
As a member of Prytanean Alumnae Association, you are required to complete various member requirements and obligations. Your membership status determines your level of obligation, to find out your current obligation, please refer to the Prytanean Membership Structure.
events
Each year, Prytanean holds events in support of their mission “Honor Through Service”:
Provisional Welcome: Prytanean Board of Directors and Provisional Class brunch
October Dinner: Kicks off the year with a member social and introduces Prytanean’s newest freshmen and transfer Scholars
Bear Hugs: Service event benefiting pediatric patients at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA
Annual Benefit: Prytanean’s largest member and guest event featuring a themed lunch and silent auction which raises funds for Prytanean Scholarships
New Member Luncheon: Bringing together Active, Contributing, Associate, Life and and Honorary members and welcoming Prytanean’s Provisional class
annual benefit
Prytanean’s signature fundraiser is their Annual Benefit featuring a silent auction. While raising much needed funds in support of student scholarships, members and their guests enjoy a wonderful day of food and fun. Past events have included:
- Tour of the Tournament of Roses/Wrigley Mansion
- Wine Tasting and Tour at San Antonio Winery
- Day at the Races at Hollywood Park
- Magic Castle
- Coach Jim Mora at Brookside Golf Club
Sponsorship opportunities are available and Benefit donations of goods and services are welcome. To become a sponsor or to make a donation, please contact President Pamela Farber
board of directors
2024-25 executive board
president: Patricia Schned ’83
- The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Executive Board; appoint chairs of committees and have a general supervision of the business of the Association
1st vice president: Heather Hoffman ’86
- The First Vice President shall preside in the absence of the President, and in case the President shall become incapacitated, shall assume all the President’s duties. She shall also be Program Chair and shall prepare the newsletter and oversee photography of Association events
2nd vice president/membership: Pamela Farber ’85
- The Second Vice President shall be the Membership Chair, shall be responsible for programs to enlist new members, shall encourage and direct the activities of the Provisional Members and maintain records of attendance of all members
treasurer: Kara Bouton ’94
- The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of all monies and shall furnish proper acknowledgements of all receipts and expenditures. She shall also have charge of all funds belonging to the Association and shall pay out money by order of the President. She shall keep a written statement of all money received and expended, submitting a statement at the end of the year to the Executive Board, to the membership, and the UCLA Council
corresponding secretary: Lucy Tseng ’12
- The Corresponding Secretary shall keep an up-to-date roster of membership and list of e-mail addresses. She shall also conduct such correspondence as delegated to her by the President
recording secretary: LB Baer ’87
- The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes of the regular meetings and of the meetings of the Executive Board
parliamentarian: Pamela Farber ’85
- The Immediate Past President shall serve as Parliamentarian. In the event of the Immediate Past President is unable to serve, the President shall appoint a Parliamentarian. She shall serve as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Executive Board to advise the presiding officers on points of parliamentary law