The Troy chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. came together for Pham Week— a week of community engagement, learning, fellowship and fun.
“Pham week is basically a week dedicated to community service for the Alphas and AKAs,” said Jacob Wilson, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and a freshman exercise science major from Montgomery, Alabama. “We do community service, and we have different events going on throughout the week.”
The brother and sister organizations kicked off the week by meeting in the Trojan Center for their “Get to Know the Pham” table. During the event, they introduced themselves to their fellow students.
“Both of our chapters wanted to have a combined TC Table and it is called “Get to Know the Pham,” said Kyra Jenkins, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and a sophomore political science major from Alexander City, Alabama. “We wanted to be in the atmosphere with our fellow classmates and students and give them the opportunity to get to know us better.
“We want to learn students interests and different facts about them just so we can collaborate better on different things and organizations. Overall, we want to help make campus better, be more involved, and give back any way we can by getting to know what we can do better as a chapter.”
The two organizations held a range of activities throughout the week including a community clean up day, a food drive for the CHIPP Program, an “Ice the Alphas and Pie the Ivies” event, a Phamily Feud game night, a Yard show, an Interview Prep Seminar, and more.
During the Interview Prep Seminar, over 25 students came together and learned how to prepare for interviews, tips to impress future employers, and how to answer tough questions. Students in attendance then asked questions to a panel of five students.
“I hope students took away how to approach an interview,” said Madison McElrath, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and a sophomore psychology major from Millbrook, Alabama. “At times I feel like it can get really mind-boggling and they may not feel comfortable in those situations, so our hope was to provide techniques for them to do better in those spaces.
“Even if you don’t do better, just know that there are more people in this predicament. Interviewing shouldn’t be this daunting activity. It can actually be fun and exciting.”
Pham Week will come to an end with the two organizations going to Charles Henderson Middle School to share their wisdom and advice to the youth in the community.
“We usually just talk to the kids and we like to see what their plans are and ask them what their future plans are in life,” Wilson said. “At our young age we can be a role model to them because I know when I was in their position, and people would come talk to me, it was like I could really gain something from them because they were only a few years older than me.
“They had been through what I was experiencing in middle school.”
To learn more about Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. follow them on Instagram @troyakas and @troyalphas.
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