BRIDGEWATER, Va- Alpha Phi Omega is a national organization at Bridgewater College that focuses on service to have a lasting impact on others around the community.
Bridgewater College sophomore Valerie Gayle said Alpha Phi Omega’s most impactful service opportunity was trash pickup at the local park. “We made a difference in the community and it impacted our lives,” Gayle said.
“When we arrived at the park, it looked clean, but as my brothers and I walked around, there was lots of trash,” Gayle said. We came out with a total of three bags of trash.”
Gayle is the Vice President of Fellowship in APO at Bridgewater College, and when she refers to brothers, this means all members of APO, regardless of gender.
A Tradition Of Service
A 2017 doctoral dissertation from Regent University stated that APO’s motto is, “Be a leader, Be a friend, Be of Service,” striving for future leaders to create change in the surrounding community and beyond.
“While helping out the local community, people around us have mentioned that they are happy to see that college students are doing good deeds for others,” Gayle said.
Lafayette College’s chapter regularly partners with the local food pantry, the Center for Animal Health and Welfare and Paxinosa Elementary School for weekly tutoring.
Also from the 2017 doctoral dissertation from Regent University, APO asserts that completion should lead to obtaining transferable skills that apply to the work world and other organizational leadership.
Gayle said a key aspect of APO is brotherhood, as members have to participate in various service projects and events that benefit the community and themselves.
Building Bonds Through Service
Carleigh Atkins, Vice President of Membership in APO at Bridgewater College, said that time and commitment expectations are critical to the success of this fraternity. All members must complete service hours each semester.
Clemson University indicated APO creates lifelong bonds of brotherhood between members by making a difference in others’ lives.
“APO has positively impacted the community by completing volunteer hours at community homes and working concession stands at local high schools,” Atkins said.
“All members of APO were active in the BC Food Drive, with everyone’s help on campus they received 3,139 canned foods,” Gayle said.
Gayle said that she has benefited from APO through the service aspect by getting to know the community of Bridgewater better.
Becoming a Brother
There are 11 active members in APO at Bridgewater College. “The process of becoming a member is to go through training, complete initiation and take a final test,” Atkins said.
At Lafayette College, APO shares the same operations as Bridgewater College, having a “rush” and “pledging” period to recruit and weekly chapter meetings for others to get involved.
Gayle said they are always looking for new members to help APO at Bridgewater College grow for the future.
If interested in joining APO at Bridgewater College, visit Clubs, Societies, and Organizations | Bridgewater College. For more information about the fraternity, visit Alpha Phi Omega- National Service Fraternity.
