When the doors opened at East Linden Elementary School, the tone for the year was set by a line of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Eta Nu Nu Chapter members. Wearing their signature purple and gold, they encouraged students with claps and affirmations. It was a sign of the fraternity's steadfast commitment that would extend throughout the 2024-2025 school year, according to a recent article published on CCS's website.
Not merely relegated to the role of the first day greeters, "the Ques," as the fraternity is affectionately known in the Linden community, were recognized for their broader impact on students in Columbus City Schools (CCS). Through various educational and mentoring initiatives, Eta Nu Nu Chapter has embodied their core principles of "manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift," as mentioned by Gregory Riggins, chair of the Chapter's social action committee. Riggins told CCS's website, "Everything we do in the schools and community is driven by that."
This dedication led to the Eta Nu Nu Chapter being honored by the Columbus Board of Education. They received a formal resolution of recognition for the prestigious Friend of Public Education Award, extended by the Ohio School Board Association (OSBA). Due to their remarkable commitment to educational advancement and community service across Franklin County, the Eta Nu Nu Chapter was affirmed for their multifaceted contributions to CCS students and schools.
Throughout the last academic year, the fraternity donated 2,500 STEM books to 24 CCS elementary schools and provided an additional 1,500 STEAM books to 15 more schools. Walking beside East Linden Elementary School students, Eta Nu Nu members funded trips to educational destinations like COSI, Franklin Park Conservatory, and Circle S Farms. A Chess for Success program was launched by them to teach strategic thinking to 4th–6th graders at East Linden and Linden STEM Academy. And in an act of school spirit, they co-hosted a Game for Grades reward trip to a Dallas Mavericks game in Cleveland for Linden-McKinley STEM High School students. Their engagements weren't limited to educational outreach; they also distributed Black History Month books, winter clothing, and hosted monthly mentoring breakfasts, culminating in awards for fifth-grade boys.
Moreover, their outreach expanded to the distribution of coats, hats, and gloves through a partnership with Kingdom Knowledge Foundation, further demonstrating the Eta Nu Nu Chapter’s commitment to not only nurturing the minds but caring for the well-being of the students in the Columbus community.
