Omega Phi Alpha National Service Sorority selected education as its shared service focus for the 2026–2027 academic year. National President Nanda Jayaseelan announced Paving Pathways for Education during the closing session of the sorority’s 2026 National Convention in Richmond, Virginia.
The project asks chapters and individual members to work with schools, libraries, educators, and youth organizations to identify local educational needs before planning service.What is Paving Pathways for Education?
Paving Pathways for Education is Omega Phi Alpha’s 2026–2027 President’s Project. The official August 11 announcement explains that the President’s Project gives members and chapters a shared annual service focus selected by the National President.
Suggested service areas include tutoring, student mentoring, literacy programs, library story times, school field days, special school events, book collections, educational-supply drives, classroom-material assistance, and direct work with educators and youth programs. These are suggested activities, not completed national results.
The sorority directs chapters to speak with community partners about actual needs rather than treating one project as suitable for every school or community.
Where was the project announced?
Jayaseelan announced the project at Omega Phi Alpha’s 2026 National Convention, held July 9 through 12 in Richmond.
According to the sorority’s September 10 convention report, 100 members attended from across the country. They represented 26 active chapters and the prospective new chapter at the University of Louisville.
The convention included governance sessions, leadership development, national-partner engagement, service education, chapter planning, alumni recognition, awards, and the project announcement. The attendance and chapter figures describe the convention. They should not be reported as project volunteers or program participants unless the sorority later confirms their participation.
Why make education a national service focus?
Educational needs appear in many forms. A school might need books, classroom supplies, event volunteers, tutoring support, or mentors. A library might need readers or program assistance. A youth organization might need adults to help with homework or academic enrichment.
A shared theme allows members in different states to address the same broad issue while responding to local conditions. A national office can establish direction, but a local partner should explain what assistance is useful, safe, and practical.
A book drive may help one organization. Another may already have books but lack volunteers, transportation, technology, or classroom materials.
What makes this different from a one-day service event?
The project covers the 2026–2027 academic year. That gives chapters time to identify a community partner, ask what the partner needs, select an appropriate project, confirm volunteer or youth-safety requirements, complete the service, record participation and outputs, obtain partner confirmation, and report the result.
A year-long focus can support repeated service or continuing relationships. It does not guarantee that every chapter will complete the same activity or produce the same outcome.
How should youth-related projects be handled?
Tutoring, mentoring, school events, and library programs may involve minors. Chapters should follow the partner’s requirements for volunteer screening, background checks, staff supervision, parental permission, photography, transportation, emergency contacts, one-on-one interactions, confidential student information, and incident reporting.
A fraternity or sorority’s approval does not replace school, library, nonprofit, or legal requirements. Service involving children should be planned with the institution responsible for their care.
How should the project’s impact be measured?
Omega Phi Alpha has announced the theme and possible service activities. National participation and community results have not yet been published.
Future reports could distinguish among chapters participating, individual volunteers, verified service hours, schools, libraries and programs assisted, students attending approved activities, books and supplies accepted, classroom requests completed, money raised, money delivered, frequency of tutoring or mentoring sessions, and results confirmed by community partners.
Providing books is an output. Improving reading performance is an outcome that requires separate evidence. The sorority should not claim an academic result unless a qualified partner measured it and authorized publication.
Why does this matter to the Greek-letter ecosystem?
Omega Phi Alpha is a national service sorority. Its organizational model is distinct from a Panhellenic social sorority, professional sorority, honor society, or local service club.
The President’s Project demonstrates how a service organization can set national direction while leaving local decisions with chapters and community partners. It also recognizes education as work involving students, teachers, librarians, advisors, families, schools, and community programs.
Omega Phi Alpha has appeared in the GLOs United record before. This selection is tied to a significant new development: the launch of its 2026–2027 national education-service focus and the organization’s September 10 convention report.
The Gold Standard of Excellence
GLOs United recognizes National President Nanda Jayaseelan, Omega Phi Alpha members and chapters, convention volunteers, educators, librarians, schools, youth organizations, and the community partners that will help define appropriate projects.
Submit your impact story