The Kappa Alpha Order Fraternity hosted its induction ceremony for its inaugural class of 29 members Friday.

The reception and public induction ceremony took place at the Odd Fellows Lodge, at 24th and G streets. In addition to the new members of the chapter, representatives from the national Kappa Alpha Order office and other GW Greek-letter organizations attended the event.

Local Kappa Alpha Order alumni, members from the chapter’s Alumni Advisory Committee and officers from the local alumni chapter also attended, said Jesse Lyons, director of Chapter Development and national officer for the order.

The reception was “a time for all of the new members to continue their brotherhood building,” Lyons said in an e-mail this week.

“It was a huge success,” Lyons said. “It was one of the liveliest and (most) interactive receptions I’ve seen.”

In October 2005, the University elected Kappa Alpha Order’s Alpha Nu chapter, which left campus in 1960, to return to campus. The chapter was originally chartered at GW in 1894.

The induction ceremony marks the beginning of a year-long process for re-chartering and transitioning from a provisional to an active chapter on campus. Lyons said the chapter will be involved in many philanthropy, education, recruitment, brotherhood-building and social networking events during the semester.

While working towards re-chartering, a local Alumni Advisory Committee will help mentor the chapter. Lyons said he will work with the chapter’s leaders and members to assess their progress over the year.