By Madison Fraser | Reporter
The service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, has been hosting recruitment meetings all week, looking for new students to join .
At 7 p.m. Thursday, Alpha Phi Omega hosted an interest meeting in the Beckham Room of the Bill Daniel Student Union Building. Food and games were provided for students that gathered to listen to members of the fraternity share what service opportunities and social events they host.
Alpha Phi Omega is a nation-wide fraternity that focuses on serving communities and the campuses they are apart of. At Baylor, the Zeta Omega chapter provides service opportunities for their members to take part in every day of the week.
“A really rewarding service project we do is Adult Education,” said Clarendon Hills, Ill., junior Jillian Deboer. “It’s at the Heart of Texas Goodwill and we get to mentor adults looking to work up to getting their GED or learn English. It’s really special to meet people outside of the Baylor Bubble and help them further their education.”
While the fraternity’s main focus is volunteering their time to organizations in the community, they also stress the importance of fellowship and brotherhood within the group. Many members spoke about their desires to be a part of a traditional fraternity or sorority when they came to Baylor, but could not afford it or weren’t able to make the time commitment.
Alpha Phi Omega operates like a traditional Greek Life organization, with formal recruitment once per semester, dues at $200 and GPA requirements of 2.5 for non-transfer students and a 3.0 for transfers. The organization also hosts formal dances and establish families within the fraternity to bond the students further.
The organization is made up of a diverse group of students from all majors and walks of life. Each student brings something different to the group forming connections and having the focus of service at its core.
“My enjoyment of college doubled because of Alpha Phi Omega,” said Argyle junior Matt Davenport.
Through Alpha Phi Omega, Baylor students have the opportunity and privilege to connect on a deeper level with the Waco community. Some of the popular places the organization has volunteered at include the World Hunger Relief Farm, the Humane Society, Mission Waco, the Salvation Army and the Cameron Park Zoo.
“You’re going to come away knowing not just Baylor, but also Waco, and that’s really special,” said Warner Robins, Ga., senior Ashley Thetford.
