Greek Orgs Help Syracuse Students Start the School Year

Current and alumni members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, who helped organize a school supply drive

While just settling into the start of classes themselves, three Syracuse University Greek organizations took time on Sept. 7 to welcome Syracuse City School District students to the start of their school year.

Nearly 20 current and alumni members from the Iota Upsilon chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; Delta Zeta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated; and Kappa chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, joined members of the Syracuse community at Van Duyn Elementary School to greet the students and get them excited for the year ahead.

“Greeting the students was so heartwarming,” says Monique Witter, a senior in the School of Education and president of Alpha Kappa Alpha. “Being able to see the smiles on their faces and how excited they were to be back in school shows how much of a difference we can make.”

When the organizations learned of the opportunity to get involved, they were eager to join in the effort.

“As an organization we’re very invested in the promotion of education for our youth,” says Javaughn Loftman, a senior in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and member of Alpha Phi Alpha. “We find it very important to get into the community, especially into the Syracuse City School District, to help in any ways that we possibly can. When we were notified of an opportunity to help, we jumped on it immediately.”

In addition to the high fives and cheers, the members of Omega Psi Phi brought along book bags and school supplies for the students. Omega Psi Phi launched the book bag drive two years ago, inspired to help ensure students were equipped with the supplies they needed to succeed in school. After purchasing the book bags, the Omega Psi Phi chapter works with partners and organizations across campus to collect the school supplies to fill the book bags.

“It was a warming feeling to be able to give back to students and help those who aren’t afforded the opportunities that everyone should have,” says Justin Alvarez, a senior in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Omega Psi Phi’s Keeper of Finance.  “It was nice to see children be happy over the small things we take for granted.”

Organizations interested in getting involved in the book bag drive can contact Omega Psi Phi President Eddie Nwaba at eonwabaj@syr.edu.  To learn more about Greek organizations on campus, visit the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs website.