15 Jun Introducing your student host and celebration lead for 2023 national convention

We are pleased to announce that Elodie Quinn has been chosen to serve as the student host and celebration lead for the much-awaited 2023 National Convention. Continue reading to discover more about Elodie, in their own words, and their experiences in APO.

My name is Elodie Quinn, and in the fall, I will be a senior studying creative writing. I’m a member of the Alpha Alpha Chapter at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This December, I will be taking on the role of student host and celebration lead for the 2023 Alpha Phi Omega National Convention, and I could not be more excited! My experiences thus far through my time in my chapter, as well as my involvement in sectional and regional conferences, have grown my love and enthusiasm for our service Fraternity. I am incredibly honored to be a part of creating that experience on a national level!

I’ve had a lot of great memories in my four semesters of brotherhood, but my favorite was building a marshmallow/spaghetti noodle tower with members of other chapters at the spring 2023 Region F Sectional conference! Aside from causing us to tear up from laughter, it also helped us develop incredible leadership skills and paved the way for new connections with other chapters. It reminded me just how widespread the values of this Fraternity are, and how much I have in common with people across the country.

I joined APO for the same reason as a lot of people: I wanted to make friends and I wanted to make a difference in the world. What I found, was a group of people who are passionate about not only improving the world one service moment at a time, but who also would welcome me in with open arms and encourage me to follow my strengths as a leader.

The more time I spend involved in conferences and conventions, the more I recognize that Alpha Phi Omega is more than a Fraternity. One of my favorite service events was writing care messages to individuals hospitalized nationwide due to COVID-19. It was incredible to see the impact we were able to have on such a large scale, and to be a part of something much larger than myself. Conventions and conferences allow us to see that impact, and to recognize just how many people share our love for Leadership, Friendship and Service across the country. I am most excited for the beginning of National Convention when we all see, for the first time in a while, just how many brothers we stand beside every day. I know that moment will be incredibly special for so many people!

My biggest advice to someone new to this Fraternity would be simply to apply yourself to every opportunity you are given with excitement and confidence. APO is a place to grow, and in my time here I’ve learned that there is no one way to be a leader, a friend or of service. We’re a family of individuals, and our Fraternity is so much better with each one of us in it. Try new things, learn from failures and celebrate successes! And remember: we’re all here for a reason. Make the most of it!