Phi Omicron History:

      Ferrum College was established in 1913 as a training school.   It later became a two-year junior college.   In 1969 a group of students attending Ferrum were interested in forming the first fraternity on campus. Under the sponsorship of Mr. Bill Passan and the advisors Mr. Roy Reynolds, Col. Earl "Bud" Skeens, and Dr. Carroll Rabom, the fraternity leaders began the process of applying for national recognition as well as a charter.   This process began the establishment of the Phi Omicron chapter of Alpha Phi Omega through the Zeta Beta Chapter at Virginia Tech.   The president at the time was Doug Crist, vice president Miguel Cartegena, 2 nd vice president Steve Cole, and secretary Jim Houser.

      The group hoped to charter in December of 1969, however this did not happen because of some complications.   Therefore, they continued their strive for a charter and national recognition in the spring of 1970.   Their first rush was held to welcome new pledges.   The chartering ceremony was postponed to the fall of 1970.   However, during the summer of 1970, Ferrum College was in the process of making the transition into a four-year school.   At this time, the Vietnam War was also being fought.   With the drafting of young men into the war and because of the transition from a two-year school to a four-year school, Ferrum lost many of its students.   This posed a problem for Alpha Phi Omega.   These two incidents had caused abandonment of the group.   The members were either drafted into the war, or they had graduated from Ferrum because of it being a two-year institution therefore leaving no one in association with the group.   Alumni that may have been a part of this group are currently trying to be reached.

      Thirty years later, students Lindsay Morton and Brandon Rooks met with Jamie Conover on September 5, 2000.   At this time, Jamie Conover was the section 81 chair.   In attendance from the Zeta Beta chapter at Virginia Tech were Darrin Schmidt and Holly Lynne McKinley.   On October 25, 2000 Ferrum College Prospective Group met for the first time at 7:00 p.m. in Britt 107.   In attendance were Jonah Starr, Stephanie Hall, Andy Nester, Lindsay Morton, and Brandon Rooks.

      Throughout the next couple of months the group did a wide variety of service projects.   For instance blood drives, middle school dances, open house tours for campus and many more. During this time the group increased in members.     On March 14, 2001 the Ferrum College group received their official Interest Group Status.   The group was now ready to work towards petitioning group status and the chance to wear letters. The group members bonded through fellowship and service projects both at Ferrum College and Virginia Tech. Through hard work and time, the Interest Group received Petitioning Group status on March 28, 2001. It was formally announced at the Section 81 Conference at Roanoke College.    The Zeta Beta chapter at Virginia Tech performed the ceremony.   Members who received their pins were: Brandon Rooks, Lindsay Morton, Alice McDaniel, Brid Harris, Jamie Morton, Jessica Henry, Jonah Starr, Erik Hanna, Mark Swift, Stephanie Hall, Erin Russell, Andrew Nester, Tim Heck, Cory Gulliams, and Katie Andrews.

      One thing that has benefited the Ferrum College group in their progress in becoming a chapter is having advisors with a strong Alpha Phi Omega and community service background.   The advisors are Mark DeWeese, Corri Browell, Dean Browell, Lydia Odell, and Andrea Zuschin.   Andrea Zuschin is a brother of the Upsilon Nu Chapter at Bervard Univeresty.   Corri Browell is a founding father of Christopher Newport Alpha Delta Xi chapter.   Dean Browell is a founding father of the Theta Omega Chapter at Randolph Macon College.   Mark DeWeese had a daughter in Alpha Phi Omega and wanted to get involved.

2001

     In the fall of 2001, the interest group elected to have their first rush. The Beta pledge class began their history with the Ferrum College Petitioning Group on September 12, 2001 when the pledges attended their first pledge meeting in the Panther’s Den in lower Franklin Hall. At the first meeting, the pledges were introduced to the members of the Ferrum College Petitioning Group and Pledge Manuals were handed out. The pledges were introduced to the history of Alpha Phi Omega and they began their process of becoming brothers of Alpha Phi Omega.

     The pledges met every week at 6:00pm in the Panther’s Den. They learned the history and had weekly quizzes. They had their own fellowship events and were included in all the service projects of the Ferrum College Petitioning Group. Some of the events that the pledges participated in are the “Fun in the Woods” that consisted of a cookout and hide & seek in the dark; there was also another cookout where the pledges and members got to know each other by socializing and playing volleyball. During the cookout, the pledges discovered whom their “Bigs” were after five days of secrecy where the members dropped hints to their “Littles” to help them figure out who they were. The pledges also helped in service projects such as Pantherthon, helping at the NASCAR event, and the YMCA Middle School Dances in Rocky Mount, VA.

     The pledges were invited to attend the Region III Conference at William and Mary College on November 2-4, 2001. Four pledges along with seven members and one advisor traveled to Williamsburg for the conference. On November 3, 2001, the petitioning group presented their chartering presentation at the Regional business meeting. Ferrum College Petitioning Group’s Charter Application was deemed to have set new standards for all other charter applications. A motion was made and passed in favor of Ferrum College Petitioning group to receive their charter with the passing of a final Alpha Phi Omega history test.

     On November 7, 2001, mid semester evaluations were held on the pledges and a vote was taken on whom to make members of the petitioning group. All pledges were voted in and the petitioning group ceremony was held on November 12, 2001and the following pledges were made part of the petitioning group: Tressa Holland, Shamaill Ross, Sandra Via, Crystal Hutchens, Lynette Evans, Kimberly Clay, Natasha Taylor, Missy Hood, J.J. Schindler, and John Arnold.

     On November 17, 2001, Holly Lynne McKinley came to Ferrum College to present the history test to the members of the petitioning group. The group was informed that they would be notified as to whether they had passed the test within the next week or two. The group passed the test with a 91.7% average.

     On December 7, 2001, a chartering ceremony was held for the official formation of the Phi Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega. The ritual team of the Zeta Beta chapter from Virginia Tech performed the ceremony with attendance from several other chapters in the region. Founding fathers and advisors who were chartered were: John Arnold, Jr., Kimberly Clay, Lynette Evans, Cory Guilliams, Stephanie Hall, Eric Hanna, Brid Harris, Jessica Henry, Tressa Holland, Melissa Hood, Crystal Hutchens, Alice McDaniel, Jamie Morton, Lindsay Morton, Andy Nester, Brandon Rooks, Shamaill Ross, Erin Russell, J.J. Schindler, Jonah Starr, Natasha Taylor, Sandra Via, Tim Heck, Corrine Browell, Dean Browell, and Mark DeWeese. Beverly Fitzpatrick, Jr., the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Ferrum College, and Jamie Conover, Region III Director of Alpha Phi Omega, became honorary members and Lindsay Morton and Alice McDaniel were presented with Distinguished Service Keys.

     In the year of 2001, Phi Omicron completed 3, 213 service hours, we are VERY proud of our achievement!!!

2002

President – Alice McDaniel
Secretary – Melissa Hood
Vice President of Membership – Jonah Starr
Treasurer – Jessica Henry
Vice President of Service – Crystal Hutchens
Sergeant at Arms – Tressa Holland
Vice President of Fellowship – Sandra Via
Historian – Crystal Hutchens
Public Relations– Lynette Evans
Spring Pledge Trainer – Lindsay Morton
Fall Pledge Trainer– Tiffanie Gatling
Alumni Chair – Brid Harris
Advisor Chair – Dean Browell

      In the spring of 2002, the brotherhood elected to have their next rush. The Gamma pledge class began their history with the Phi Omicron Chapter on January 30, 2002 when the pledges attended their first pledge meeting in the Panther’s Den in lower Franklin Hall. At the first meeting, the pledges were introduced to the members of the Phi Omicron Chapter and Pledge Manuals were handed out. The pledges were introduced to the history of Alpha Phi Omega and they began their process of becoming brothers of Alpha Phi Omega. The pledge initiation ceremony was held on February 4, 2002 in Vaughn Chapel on campus.

     The pledges met every week at 6:00pm in the Panther’s Den. They learned the history and had weekly quizzes. On February 8, 2002, the pledges discovered whom their “Bigs” were after five days of secrecy where the members dropped hints to their “Littles” to help them figure out who they were at a pledge/brother fellowship. The pledges participated in such events as blood drives and the YMCA Middle School Dances in Rocky Mount, VA.

     On February 27, 2002, mid semester evaluations were held on the pledges and a vote was taken on whom to make members of the petitioning group. All pledges were voted to remain in the pledging process, as they were all making great progress.

     On April 2, 2002, final evaluations were held and on April 3, 2002, the brother induction ceremony was held in Vaughn Chapel. The following pledges were inducted as brothers of the Phi Omicron Chapter: Jerusha Dunning, Evelyn Covrrubias, Stephanie Moody, Tiffanie Gatling, Adrienne Bridgeforth, Sabrina Tribbett, Kenneth Morris, Sarah Wingfield, Lexie Ninio, Katie Manhart, Jeanne Apple, Jimmy Pride, Doug Appich, Justin Muse, Tristen Ashely, Jayson Copponiti, Christine Tanner, and Lindsey Laughlin.

     In the fall of 2002, the brotherhood elected to have their next rush. The Delta pledge class began their history with the Phi Omicron Chapter on September 25, 2002 when the pledges attended their first pledge meeting in the Panther’s Den in lower Franklin Hall. At the first meeting, the pledges were introduced to the members of the Phi Omicron Chapter and Pledge Manuals were handed out. The pledges were introduced to the history of Alpha Phi Omega and they began their process of becoming brothers of Alpha Phi Omega. The pledge initiation ceremony was held on October 7, 2002 in Vaughn Chapel on campus.

     The pledges met every week at 6:00pm in the Panther’s Den. They learned the history and had weekly quizzes. On October11, 2002, the pledges discovered whom their “Bigs” were after five days of secrecy where the members dropped hints to their “Littles” to help them figure out who they were at “Fun in the Woods.” The pledges participated in such events as blood drives, chapter bonding, home alone, and the YMCA Middle School Dances in Rocky Mount, VA.

     On October 23, 2002, mid semester evaluations were held on the pledges and a vote was taken on whom to make members of the petitioning group. All pledges were voted to remain in the pledging process, as they were all making great progress.

     On November 13, 2002, final evaluations were held and on November 18, 2002, the brother induction ceremony was held in Vaughn Chapel. The following pledges were inducted as brothers of the Phi Omicron Chapter: Sara Craft and Sarah Hookham.

     On December 4, 2002, elections were held for the officer of the upcoming year. An updated list of advisors follows: Dean Browell, Corrine Browell, Mark DeWeese, Andrea Zuschin, George Loveland, Sherry Sigmon, Sheri Sigmond, and Bev Fitzpatrick.

2003

President – Jonah Starr
Secretary – Tristen Ashley
Vice President of Membership – Sandra Via
Treasurer – Jessica Henry
Vice President of Service – Jeanne Apple
Sergeant at Arms – Sabrina Tribbett
Vice President of Fellowship – Jerusha Dunning
Historian – Crystal Hutchens
Public Relations– Katie Manhart
Spring Pledge Trainer – Lynette Evans
Fall Pledge Trainer– TBA
Alumni Chair – Lindsay Morton
Advisor Chair – Mark Deweese

     In the spring of 2003, the brotherhood elected to have their next rush.   The Epsilon pledge class began their history with the Phi Omicron Chapter on January 22, 2003 when the pledges attended their first pledge meeting in the Panther's Den in lower Franklin Hall.   At the first meeting, the pledges were introduced to the members of the Phi Omicron Chapter and Pledge Manuals were handed out.   The pledges were introduced to the history of Alpha Phi Omega and they began their process of becoming brothers of Alpha Phi Omega.   The pledge initiation ceremony was held on January 26, 2003 in Vaughn Chapel on campus.

     The pledges met every week at 6:00pm in the Panther's Den. They learned the history and had weekly quizzes.   On January 31, 2003, the pledges discovered whom their "Bigs" were after five days of secrecy where the members dropped hints to their "Littles" to help them figure out who they were.   The pledges participated in such events as blood drives, chapter bonding, can tab drive, events for the Ronald McDonald House in Roanoke, VA, and the YMCA Middle School Dances in Rocky Mount, VA.  

     On February 26, 2002, mid semester evaluations were held on the pledges and a vote was taken on whom to allow to continue pledging.   All pledges were voted to remain in the pledging process, as they were all making great progress.   

     On April 8, 2003, final evaluations were held and on April 18, 2003, the brother induction ceremony was held in Vaughn Chapel.   The following pledges were inducted as brothers of the Phi Omicron Chapter: Kristin Data, Daisy Davis, Ty'Nesha Jamison, and Chris Ward.

     On the weekend of April 16-18, 2003, the section 81 Conference was held at Virginia Tech by the brothers of the Zeta Beta chapter.   At this conference, Lynette Evans and Crystal Hutchens made a bid for the next Sectional Conference to be held at Ferrum College.   The bid was won and the date was set for March 12-14, 2004 with a theme of, "Wally invites you to Service at the End of the Rainbow!"   The 2004 Section 81 Conference Chair was elected, Crystal Hutchens, and the Vice Chair, Lynette Evans.

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