The Jewel founders and early leaders of the Fraternity succeeded in laying a firm foundation for Alpha Phi Alpha's principles of scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity.
The Fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority students who faced racial prejudice educationally and socially at Cornell.
While continuing to stress academic excellence among its members, Alpha also recognized the need to help correct the educational, economic, political, and social injustices faced by African-Americans.
The Fraternities many national programs date back as far as 1919 when Alpha introduced it's "Go to High school, Go to College" campaigned to increase the education level of the African American Community and "A Voteless People is a Hopeless People", an effort to register African American voters.
Alpha Xi Chapter was chartered at the University of Washington, Seattle in 1969. Alpha Xi promotes Alpha Phi Alpha tradition through a number of fraternal programs.
The University of Washington community looks forward each year to the Annual Miss Black & Gold Padget. Since it's chartering the brothers of Alpha Xi have held high the Alpha Phi Alpha commitment to scholarship and manly deeds.