About Eta Phi

The original Eta Phi chapter of Alpha Phi Omega at American University was founded on May 15th, 1949. The chapter, however, became inactive in 1973 and it wasn’t until a few students in the fall of 1996 took the initiative to make Alpha Phi Omega one of the most thriving clubs on American University’s campus once again.
Mike Alexis, a law student at American and a brother of the College of William and Mary Chapter was instrumental in creating interest of Alpha Phi Omega on campus. Two other students joined him in his efforts, Dan Pollack, a chartering member of Case Western University chapter and Crystal Roberts, a founding member of the George Mason University chapter. Mike, Dan, and Crystal, with the help of Karyn Cassela, director of the Community Service Center at AU, assembled a group of interested students in March of 1997.
The interest group became to develop and build their service, membership, and fellowship programs and in April of 1997 officially became a Petitioning Group with the help of our Big Brother chapter, Epsilon Mu at the University of Maryland and the Region III director, Lee Correll. Then, on November 7, 1998 the Eta Phi Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega was officially rechartered. Twenty-eight members participated in the ceremony in Hughes Hall.
The first chapter officers were:
President: Kelly Hunt
Service VP: Colleen Keefe
Membership VP: Phillip Laffey
Fellowship VP: Jaime Huff
Treasurer: Julie Patterson
Secretary: Rebecca McKeon
Sergeant at Arms: Jaime Yarussi.
In December of 1998 Eta Phi performed the first brotherhood ceremony for the 12-member Kutchta Alpha pledge class.
The Eta Phi chapter has been growing ever since and now has over seventy members dedicated to the principles of Alpha, Phi, and Omega: Leadership, Friendship, and Service.