What do the nine ivy leaves in the International Logo of Alpha Kappa Alpha represent?

The nine ivy leaves in the International Logo of Alpha Kappa Alpha symbolize the nine founders of the sorority. Each leaf represents one of these remarkable women who established the organization in 1908. The founders played a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for AKA, and their vision and commitment continue to guide the sorority’s mission and activities. This representation of the founders reinforces the significance of their contributions and the ideals they instilled, including scholarship, service, and sisterhood.

The other options, while related to the sorority, do not accurately capture the specific meaning of the ivy leaves. For instance, the chapters in the North Atlantic region and the years of service represent different aspects of AKA's operations and history, rather than being specifically tied to the logo’s design. Similarly, while the sorority's values are certainly important, they do not directly link to the visual elements represented by the ivy leaves.