Share. Grow. Improve. Invest.
Four words used to describe the fellowship and unity of Alpha Phi Omega, a national coeducational service organization.
Founded on the principles of friendship and service, the fraternity provides members with the opportunity to develop leadership skills through community service, according to the organization’s website.
It all started when USF St. Petersburg students Patrick Davis, Jerry Cano, Lindsey Geiger and Samantha Mann wanted to bring more Greek life to the university. The four were interested in volunteering, and when they learned about Alpha Phi Omega, they discovered a way to incorporate their passion.
In August, Mann, a senior, contacted Alpha Phi Omega nationals to start the process of establishing a USFSP chapter.
“Bringing a fraternity on campus wasn’t an easy process,” said Mann, who now serve as the president and co-founder of the organization at the school.
She said it took two months of discussion with national officers before she could bring the fraternity to the campus.
Alpha Phi Omega members took part in the USFSP dance marathon, where the group raised $3,396, the most money from an organization. Front row, from left: Amber Piazza and Samantha Mann. Back row, from left: Michaela Tolbert, Alyssa Federovich, Briana Daviau and Amanda Swalby.
A four-step process must be completed before a group can become an active fraternity.
Each step is centered on the establishment of a group: an interest, prospective and petitioning group, as well as a fully chartered chapter.
The groups are separated by levels, with the interest group being the lowest and the full chartered chapter being the highest. Though it typically takes a university one to two years to advance from the interest to the petitioning group, it only took USFSP three months.
“Depending on our progress, we will be a fully chartered chapter by either fall 2016 or spring 2017,” said Mann.
Since reaching petitioning status, the group has participated in several community service projects including Toys for Tots, and a 5K in support of St. Jude’s Hospital.
The group’s major service project of the year was the school’s annual Miracle Dance Marathon.
APO raised a total of $3,396 doubling its goal of $1,500 by working concession stands at Tampa Bay Rowdies games and contributing multiple personal donations.
Alpha Phi Omega is open to all students who have a passion for community service. The organization meets on Monday nights at 8 p.m.
