Lazaro Zamora was elected as the president of Mu Alpha for the year of 2010. The other Executive Board members elected were EB Meerson, Vice President of Communications; Jenny Devine, Vice President of Service; Chris Leader, Vice President of Fellowship; Michelle Lee, Vice President of Finance; Olivia Sawyer, Vice President of Pledging; Megan Berard, Alumni Secretary; Erin Brinig, Historian; Tommy Barnes, Operations Officer.
Amanda Hughes, an alumna from Alpha Alpha Omicron chapter at Longwood College, was appointed as Mu Alpha’s chapter representative by Section Chair Mark Driscoll.
Mu Alpha entered the Pepsi Refresh Contest in February of 2010 with a proposal to help a Boy and Girl Scout troop in the D.C. area. With the help and perseverance of the brotherhood, the chapter was able to recruit Georgetown students to vote for Mu Alpha’s project and win $25,000. Chris Leader, Maya Chaudhuri, and the rest of the brotherhood played key roles in winning the contest, as did Scott Beale, the alumnus to whom Line 109 was dedicated.
At the alumni association meeting on Friday, March 19, 2010, the following officers were elected unanimously: Adam Doverspike, President; Ally Kruger, Vice President of Service; Krista Robertson, Vice President of Communications; Abbie Wheeler, Vice President of Fellowship; Clare McKenzie, Secretary; Kavitha Subramanian, Treasurer; Members at Large: Kindra Tully, Corrine Tapia, and Jennifer Doverspike. Rashid Darden remained Chancellor and was appointed Chairman of the 55th Anniversary Celebration, to be held the following year.
The spring of 2010 brought Mu Alpha the biggest line in its history. Twenty-nine new brothers were initiated on March 20th at the Holiday Inn Georgetown. Also on this evening, Kavitha Subramanian and Nicole Pedi were awarded Distinguished Service Keys. In addition, the Mu Alpha Alumni Association established for the first time the Distinguished Service Key, the first ever going to David Bujard for his service to the alumni association. The Alumni Association DSK was created at the 2008 national convention and was supported wholeheartedly by the Mu Alpha delegation.
At the Bi-Sectional Conference Sections 85 and 86, held at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Mu Alpha was awarded the Most Outstanding Chapter award for the second consecutive year. The voting delegates were Lazaro Zamora and EB Meerson. Also in attendance were Tommy Barnes and Sonia Kikeri.
In the Fall of 2010, Mu Alpha continued its work with the Pepsi Refresh Grant, donating over $20,000 to Boy and Girl Scouts in the Greater D.C. Area. The money went to scholarships, educational leadership conferences, and recreational activities like camping and service projects.
Ashley Grant of Line 105 was elected as VP Pledging for the Fall of 2010. The members of the executive board remained the same with the exception of a new VP Fellowship: Matt Wallace of Line 107. On November 6th, 2010, twenty-five new brothers of Line 110 were initiated at the Holiday Inn Georgetown.
The 2010 National Convention was held in Atlanta, Georgia. Mu Alpha’s delegation, led by voting delegates Lazaro Zamora and EB Meerson, enjoyed several days of workshops, receptions, banquets, and social excursions in the Atlanta community. Past National President Jerry Schroeder chaird the election portion of the agenda, while Rashid Darden unsuccessfully sought a National Program Director Position. He was nominated from the floor by Jofnie Mathurin of Alpha Delta Lambda Chapter, Florida Atlantic University. The nomination was seconded by Marques Butler of Kappa Delta Chapter, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and by EB Meerson, Mu Alpha.
At the convention, Mu Alpha was recognized with an H. Roe Bartle Award, Chapter of Excellence and Pledge Program of Excellence Awards at the Diamond Level for the third year in a row, and for the first time, the Josiah Frank National Historian’s Award.
Megan Berard was elected as the president of Mu Alpha for the year of 2011. The other Executive Board members elected were Erin Brinig, Vice President of Communications; Kevin Leahy, Vice President of Service; Julia Chang, Vice President of Fellowship; Jason Sotomayor, Vice President of Finance; Tommy Barnes, Vice President of Pledging; Erika Kawahara, Alumni Secretary; Haley Cottrell, Historian; Patrick McCusker, Operations Officer.
At the 2011 Bi-Sectional Conference Sections 85 and 86, held at Howard University, Mu Alpha was awarded the Most Outstanding Chapter award for the third consecutive year. Other awards won were Outstanding Alumni Association, Outstanding Community Service Project (Damien Ministries), Advisor of the Year (Rashid Darden), Outstanding Alumni/Student Collaboration (55th Historical Book), Randolph Finder Historical Award, and the Joe Scanlon Membership Award. The voting delegates were Erin Brinig and George Hartmann. Also in attendance were Ryan Harbison, Julie Menken, and Megan Berard.
On March 19, 2011, Mu Alpha celebrated the 55th anniversary of its founding at Georgetown University. Sixteen new brothers were initiated on Line 111, which was dedicated to the late Colonel Jessup. Jenny Devine and Kelsey Schweiberger received the Chapter Distinguished Service Keys and Jerry Schroeder was presented the Alumni Association DSK.
Over 200 brothers attended the celebration at the Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center. Mu Alpha received letters of recognition from National President Mark Stratton, Region III Director Dawn Gurganious, and Immediate Past Section 85 Chair Jeri Ogden. Colonel John (Jack) E. Jessup was the dedication and his wife, Jean, was present for a reflection on his behalf. Also, siblings Grace and Jason Sotomayor addressed the audience on APO being part of their family.
The Region III Conference was hosted by the Epsilon Mu Chapter at the University of Maryland-College Park in the fall of 2011. Mu Alpha brothers and pledges were in attendance. Mu Alpha received the Pledge Program of Excellence (Diamond Level) and Chapter of Excellence (Blue Level) awards.
On November 12, 2011, twenty-eight brothers on Line 112 were initiated into Mu Alpha under the guidance of Nicole Banister of Line 109, that semester’s Vice President of Pledging. Zach Yoder and Derek Holiday received the Mu Award, a new chapter award given in the fall semester to two non-senior, non-executive board brothers for their commitment and dedication to service beyond what is expected.
In the winter edition of the 2011 Torch and Trefoil magazine, the feature article was on Scott Beale (Line 81) and his non-profit, Atlas Service Corps, Inc., an international network of nonprofit leaders and organizations that address social issues by developing leaders, strengthening organizations, and promoting innovation and idea sharing through a global fellowship program. Scott talked about how it was his Alpha Phi Omega experience that prepared him for his career path.
Elections for the 2012 Executive Board were held at the end of 2011. Thomas Barnes was elected as President of Mu Alpha. The other Executive Board members elected were Kyle Zhu, Vice President of Communications; Maya Chaudhuri, Vice President of Service; Fahad Abdul, Vice President of Fellowship; David Lizza, Vice President of Finance; Dean Ensley, Vice President of Pledging; Pat Curran, Alumni Secretary; Margaret Formorso, Historian; Tommy Pigott, Operations Officer.
In January 2012, Vice President of Service Maya Chaudhuri created a new service project, partnering with the non-profit So Others Might Eat (SOME). Once a month, brothers would go to SOME’s Center of Employment Training in Anacostia to assist with a variety of job preparation activities such as conducting mock interviews, critiquing resumes, and helping with job searches.
At the Section 85/86 Conference in late February 2012 at Frostburg State University, Mu Alpha was voted Most Outstanding Chapter for the fourth consecutive year. In addition, Mu Alpha received the following recognitions: Joe Scanlon Membership Award, a recognition for our 55th Anniversary (from spring 2011), H. Roe Bartle Chapter Award (2010-11), Outstanding Alumni Association, Outstanding Alumni Association/Chapter Collaboration (55th anniversary celebration), Outstanding Campus Service Project (Van Escort Service), Most Outstanding Fellowship (Assassins), and the Randolph Finder Historian Award. In Section 85, Mu Alpha was recognized for the Advisor of the Year (David Bujard) and the Jerry Schroeder Leadership Award was given to Megan Berard. The brothers in attendance, led by voting delegates Tom Barnes and George Hartmann, presented a successful bid for Mu Alpha to host the Bi-Sectional Conference at Georgetown the following spring.
Line 113 brought fifteen new brothers into Mu Alpha on March 17, 2012. The late Suzanne Tarlov was the dedication. Although not a brother, Suzanne served as Mu Alpha’s advisor in the Center for Social Justice for many years and is remembered for her commitment and dedication to the Chapter. Megan Berard and Kevin Leahy received Distinguished Service Keys.
In 2012, Mu Alpha received a Youth Service Grant from the fraternity to fund a project benefitting pre-college aged children on National Youth Service Day. On April 20, Mu Alpha brought Troop 1650 from the Boy Scout service project to Georgetown’s campus. Brothers talked with the scouts about the importance of higher education. They also led them on a tour of campus, worked on the Citizenship in the World merit badge, and taught the scouts basic rugby skills on the front lawn.
On April 21, 2012, Alumni Secretary Pat Curran led the undergrads in hosting an Undergraduate-Alumni Appreciation Dinner in the Leavey Program Room. This was the first time that the Phillips Trust was used to sponsor a fellowship program since the Phillips Trustees voted to expand the use of the funds from just service to all three cardinal principles (December 2010).
At the end of the semester, Mu Alpha received the Outstanding Direct Service Organization Award from Georgetown’s Center for Social Justice. In spring 2012 alone, 97 undergraduate members participated in the service program and completed almost 3500 hours of service, partnering with at least twelve other student organizations during service week and throughout the semester.
The newly elected officers for the fall of 2012 included Erin Brinig, Vice President of Pledging; George Hartmann, Alumni Secretary; and Brittany Stauch, Operations Officer.
Former Ambassador to Paraguay and Mu Alpha brother Maura Harty (Line 45) was the National Pledge Class Namesake for the fall 2012 semester. Her career in public service (State Department, Make-a-Wish Foundation, International Center for Missing and Exploited Children, to name a few) shows her dedication to improving the lives of others all over the world.
On November 10, 2012, Line 114 introduced Mu Alpha with tied for the largest number of initiates thus far in a semester at twenty-nine new brothers (Line 109). The Mu Award recipients were Chris Jenkins for his dedication and leadership on Grace’s Table service project for many semesters and Jamie Slater, for serving as Service Secretary.
George Hartmann was elected President for the 2013 calendar year. The other Executive Board members that were elected were Margaret Formoso, Vice President of Communications; Patrick McCusker, Vice President of Service, Chris Jenkins, Vice President of Fellowship; David Lizza, Vice President of Finance; Tim Buckey, Vice President of Pledging; Anna Stone, Alumni Secretary; Carrie Cosgrove Historian; Jake Robinson, Operations Officer.
The National Convention for 2012 was in Anaheim, CA. The Voting Delegates were Dean Ensley and Kyle Zhu. Mu Alpha received the Chapter of Excellence and Pledge Program of Excellence Awards, both at the Diamond (highest) Level. Further, Mu Alpha received two of the five national awards given out at each convention. The first was the Earle M. Herbert National Friendship Award, for the Chapter with the best fellowship programs over the two preceding years (some events over the past two years included game nights, ice cream socials, an alumni appreciation dinner, and the 55th celebration). The second was the MR Disborough Service to Scouting Award, given to the chapter with the best service program relating to Scouting (for the Pepsi Refresh Grant and the ongoing Boy Scout service project).
In the spring of 2013, Mu Alpha was placed in a difficult situation regarding its office space. Since being relocated from the Leavey Center, the Chapter was using a shared Center for Social Justice and Center for Student Programs (Center for Student Engagement) storage closet in Riverside Lounge, an open space beneath the New South residence hall. Among the storage containers and boxes were two tables and about a dozen chairs that APO dubbed its ”office” for the past several years. The space was used for hosting five hours of office hours, daily, for six weeks a semester, Executive Board and other committee meetings, service projects, a study space at night, and even a hang out place to catch up with friends.
The Riverside lounge space beneath the New South residence hall, along with the two dance studios, a computer lab, seminar classrooms, and other storage spaces were being renovated to create the Healey Family Student Center. With the construction beginning in the summer of 2013, APO and all the other groups that met or stored items there were displaced or moved.
Mu Alpha was given no alternative for an office or meeting space. Throughout that academic year, 2013 President George Hartmann and VP Communications Margaret Formoso, along with Chancellor Tom Barnes and previous VP Communications Erin Brinig, met with student leaders and administrators in the Center for Student Programs and were able to reserve a room on the 4th floor of Leavey the following semester for office hours and meetings. However, the loss that space created a void for APO for someplace they could call their own.
The Van Escort Service that Mu Alpha had been running for decades (starting in spring 1979 as a walking service) was incorporated into the Department of Public Safety’s (Georgetown University Police Department) SafeRides program. Previously, the Van Escort Program was a service where brothers picked up students at the bottom of the Lauinger library steps on the hour from 10pm-1am Sunday through Thursday nights (through 2am during finals), safely taking them to their off-campus destination. Over the years, the van experienced wear and tear and was no longer fit when more serious repairs were needed. So, Mu Alpha worked with GUPD to enhance their SafeRides program without losing the value of the project. Now, two brothers operate one of the SafeRides vans for GUPD, picking up students from wherever they call and transporting them safely to their destination within a given radius from main campus. Mu Alpha still operates the same hours Sunday through Wednesday nights.
On March 16, Line 115, which was dedicated to the Hurricane Sandy victims, introduced twenty-three new brothers to Mu Alpha. Receiving Distinguished Service Keys in 2013 were Tom Barnes and Maya Chaudhuri.
The following weekend, on March 23rd, Mu Alpha hosted the annual Bi-Sectional 85/86 Conference. Stacey Taber was the conference chair, working the past year to organize the workshops, service projects, and closing banquet. Sectionals Committee members Tom Barnes, George Hartmann, and David Lizza as well as the current Executive Board worked behind the scenes to ensure the logistics and finances went smoothly. The Sectionals Committee successfully requested funds from the Phillips Trust to help subsidize ticket costs for Mu Alpha undergrads to attend the conference. Tom Barnes and Erin Brinig personified the theme, “The 85/86th Annual Sectional Games: May the Odds be Ever in your Favor” by dressing up as Caesar Flickerman and Effie Trinket–with blue and pink hair.
Over 200 attendees from twelve universities participated in the workshops during the day or attended the evening banquet. There were over twenty workshop presenters featuring speakers from APO alumni, ESCAPE, the CSJ’s After School Kids Program and D.C. Schools Project, GUSA, and the Corp. The keynote address was given by Fmr. Amb. Maura Harty (Line 45), who spoke about her experiences as a member in APO and how those translates to her professional life in public service. The last time Mu Alpha hosted the bi-sectional conference was in 2005.
The conference was a way “to showcase Georgetown University and the Center for Social Justice, to promote the work we do on campus and in the community, and to offer training to improve the service programs that APO runs throughout the greater-DC area.” -2012 President Tom Barnes.
At the Center for Social Justice celebration ceremony at the end of the 2012-13 academic year, Mu Alpha received the Direct Service Organization Spotlight for the second year in a row as the best student-run organization for its commitment to serving others. Mu Alpha also received the Outstanding Community Partner award for its collaboration with Grace’s Church for Grace’s Table service project.
Mu Alpha retired the Rachel’s Women’s Center service project after the spring 2013 semester. At Rachel’s Women’s Center, volunteers helped prepare, serve, and clean up after meals at a local women’s shelter. Accompanying the women during meals was a direct service while talking with them exposed the brothers to this specific social issue in Washington, DC.
At the end of the semester, Kyle Zhu was elected Vice President of Pledging and Greg Saydah was elected Alumni Secretary for following fall.
During the summer of 2013, dedicated brothers continued to run Grace’s Table service project every Saturday. Brothers and other volunteers walked to Grace’s Episcopal Church on Wisconsin Avenue in the late morning to help prepare and serve a hot meal and join in conversation with those in need.
In the fall of 2013, Mu Alpha brothers attended the Region III Conference hosted by Alpha Delta Delta Chapter at George Mason University. In attendance was David Emery, that semester’s National Pledge Class Namesake, and several pledges were able to meet him. Mu Alpha received the Chapter of Excellence and Pledge Program of Excellence awards (Diamond Level). Voting Delegates were David Lizza and Dana Suekoff.
On November 16, 2013, fourteen new brothers were initiated on Line 116. Mariam Pallathucheril and Stephen Brandon received the Mu Award.
On December 6th, the undergrads hosted a holiday-themed appreciation dinner in the Leavey Program Room for the alumni and undergraduate chapter. Alumni Secretary Greg Saydah led the effort as over 50 brothers came to the event, funded in part by the Phillips Trust.
Elections for the 2014 Executive Board were held at the end of 2013. Thomas Pigott was elected President. The other elected officers were as follows: Brittany Stauch, Vice President of Communications; Stephen Brandon, Vice President of Service; Iris Pepa, Vice President of Fellowship; Greg Saydah, Vice President of Finance; Steven Choi, Vice President of Pledging; Tess Wrzesinski, Alumni Secretary; Jenna Grove, Historian; and Katie LaScaleia, Operations Officer.
The dedication for Line 117 was Adejimi (Jimi) Shopade (Line 91), who had passed away on March 5, 2012 from complications of Sickle Cell Disease. The pledgeline service project, carried out in Jimi’s name, was “Crepes for a Cure,” a fundraiser and awareness campaign for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.
Katie LaScaleia and Guy Burstein began the Dumbarton Oaks service project. On select Saturdays, brothers would walk to the Dumbarton Oaks park and help clear overgrown and cumbersome plants to allow for the creation of new paths for the Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy.
On March 22nd, seventeen brothers were initiated into Mu Alpha on Line 117. George Hartmann and Margaret Formoso received Distinguished Service Keys.
Maurice McCaulley was elected Vice President of Pledging for the fall, and Nick Cortina was elected Alumni Secretary.
Over the summer, David Lizza was selected for the John Mack Scholarship Award. The John Mack Scholarship Award is a scholarship for APO members that exhibit leadership and participation in extracurricular activities to benefit charitable organizations, or more simply – organizations in need. Any current member may apply for the scholarship.
Past National President Jerry Schroeder (Line 21) was appointed Chairman of the Leaders in Service campaign, a $4.25 million fundraising initiative to expand the National Office and meet the needs of the growing fraternity.
Julia English and Meghan Brown started a new service project, Lucky Dogs. Brothers volunteer about once a month at Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, a volunteer-run animal rescue that saves homeless and abandoned dogs and cats from certain euthanasia. Lucky Dog not only seeks out to rescue and place dogs and cats in loving homes but also educates owners about responsible pet ownership.
Also in 2014 and 2013, undergrads would occasionally join David Bujard to help sort food at the Capital Area Food Bank on Saturday mornings.
Fifteen new brothers on Line 118 were initiated on November 8, 2014 at the Holiday Inn Georgetown. Laura Davis and Dana Suekoff received the Mu Awards.
Greg Saydah was elected President for the 2015 year. The other elected officers were as follows: Katie LaScaleia, Vice President of Communications; Laura Davis, Vice President of Service; Eric Sheetz, Vice President of Fellowship; Julia English, Vice President of Finance; Iris Pepa, Vice President of Pledging; Kendall Dorland, Alumni Secretary; Celeste Rodriguez, Historian; and Ryan Murphy, Operations Officer.
Mu Alpha was represented well at the 2014 National Convention in Chicago, IL. Voting Delegates were Katie LaScaleia and David Lizza, who also served on the Awards and Appreciation Reference Committee. Important legislation to note: delegates approved the restructuring of the National Board of Directors (first major restructuring since the special 1967 Constitutional Convention) to better serve the needs and functions of the fraternity. Also, for the next convention, an investigation will be done on whether to propose a fifth field of service: Service to the World. At the closing banquet, Mu Alpha was presented with the Chapter of Excellence and Pledge Program of Excellence awards, both at the Diamond Level. Other undergraduate brothers in attendance were Tommy Pigott, Haley Shoaf, Laura Davis, and Stephen Brandon.
At the convention, Richard Stratford (Line 23) was presented with the 2014 National Alumni Distinguished Service Key for his lifelong work of service in the State Department dedicated to national security and non-proliferation issues. Brother Stratford also serves the fraternity as a Trustee on the Alpha Phi Omega Endowment, which funds initiatives such as the Youth Service Day grants and John Mack scholarships.
In early 2015, Rashid Darden (Line 87) was appointed Vice Chairman of the Alumni Relations & Internal Volunteer Development Committee (and Chairman of the National Alumni Relations Subcommittee), tasked with enhancing Alpha Phi Omega’s alumni communities and alumni associations across the country.
Line 119 was dedicated to Michael Brown and Eric Garner, two African-American men, who died in the summer of 2014, by the mishandling of police force. By making them the dedication, Mu Alpha was taking a stand against racist behavior by police, which was part of a nation-wide social movement against discrimination. There was significant support from the alumni community about the dedication, however it came with criticism because the nature around both deaths could be politicized and there was little consultation with the Chapter on selecting this dedication.
On March 21, 2015, Line 119 brought eleven new brothers to the Chapter. Receiving Distinguished Service Keys were David Lizza and Travis Richardson. Also, Rashid Darden received the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Key for serving as a past President of the Association, chairing the 55th anniversary celebration, and chronicling the Chapter’s history, among other things.
At the March 2015 Alumni Association meeting, Lazaro Zamora was elected President, succeeding David Bujard’s two years. The other unanimously elected officers included Jenny Devine, Vice President of Service; Margaret Formoso, Vice President of Communications; Dean Ensley, Vice President of Fellowship; David Lizza, Secretary; and George Hartmann, Treasurer. Members-at-large included Shomari Smoak, Erin Brinig, Alex Bramlet, Laura Gevarter, and Al Schaapman. Kavitha Subramanian was appointed Chair for the 60th Anniversary, which was to take place the following spring. David Bujard and David Lizza were elected to serve 2-year terms as Phillips Trust Trustees.
The spring 2015 Section 85/86 Conference was hosted by Theta Chi Chapter at George Washington University. The House-of-Cards themed conference gave brothers a chance to participate in workshops regarding official ritual practices, service programs, and alumni involvement. The Voting Delegates were David Lizza and Laura Davis.
On April 25, 2015 a devastating earthquake rattled Nepal. Brothers Meghan Brown and Emeline Kong saw the opportunity to help and quickly organized a bake sale on the second floor of Lauinger Library to raise funds for those affected by the disaster.
After running for more than four years, the Georgetown Retirement Residence (GRR) service project ended due to scheduling conflicts. On GRR, brothers would walk to the Georgetown Retirement Residence in East Georgetown to chat, play games, or even tinkle the ivories with the retirees on Friday afternoons. On occasion, brothers wrote holiday cards for the retirees.
Meredith Bratton was elected Vice President of Fellowship, and Silvana Gutierrez was elected Vice President of Pledging for the fall of 2015.
On November 14, 2015, eight new brothers on Line 120 joined Mu Alpha. Guy Burstein and Carlo Izzo received the Mu Award.
As of 2015, Mu Alpha continued to serve the Georgetown student body through the Rev. Daniel E. Power Scholarship Fund, granting scholarships to several students with financial need each year who embodied Fr. Power’s high standard in scholastic achievement, leadership, and service in their communities. EB Meerson was interviewed in 2010 by The Hoya in an article on APO giving back to its peers.
At the end of 2015, the Executive Board was elected for the 2016 calendar year. Eric Sheetz was elected President. The other elected officers were as follows: Princess Adentan, Vice President of Communications; Bianca Clark, Vice President of Service; Prithish David, Vice President of Fellowship; Ryan Murphy, Vice President of Finance; Rose Reinacher, Vice President of Pledging; Josh Gautreaux, Alumni Secretary; Meredith Bratton, Historian; and Emma Marshall, Operations Officer. Greg Saydah assumed the Chancellor position as the immediate past President and served as the undergraduate contact for the 60th celebration the following spring.
In the Spring 2015 semester, Mu Alpha ran 13 projects on a regular schedule, including three new ones: a homelessness awareness project, Campus Kitchen, and one in conjunction with the Dog Tag Bakery.
On March 19, 2016, twenty-one new brothers were initiatiated at the Georgetown University Hotel & Conference Center. Maurice McCaulley and Gregory Saydah were presented with Chapter DSKs and Manny Miranda (48) was bestowed with the Mu Alpha Alumni Association DSK for his work as an undergraduate to begin the Alumni Association and long-lasting support of the Phillips Trust.
Courtney Beale (87) was honored with the National Alumni Distinguished Service Key for her professional work around the country and world with the State Department and National Security Council.