"In high school, my assistant principal was an initiate of Alpha Phi Alpha, and he became one of my mentors. I was also in Summer Seniors, which is a residential program for Black high school juniors from South Carolina to come to USC and learn more about the university. When I got to college, I rekindled relationships with brothers who had gone through that program. I would go to their events, Hip-Hop Wednesday, and mingle with the brothers in the chapter. Then, the second semester of my freshman year is when I was intaken. The rest has been history.
Brotherhood and our relationships come first in our organization. Not only do we get into positions and opportunities and keep them, but we also help younger brothers or future brothers take on those positions as well. It’s really about keeping that next-up mentality. Since 1906, there’s been a precedent that’s been set, and it’s on us younger brothers to make sure that precedent remains high and also encourage younger brothers to do more as well."
— Kaleb Phelps, senior public health major, sociology minor