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The face she gives me when she wants to get on the couch

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WELCOME TO APO AT PITT

Alpha Phi Omega, Pitt's largest co-ed community service fraternity, is excited to welcome new members this fall semester! For those interested in learning more about APO at Pitt, like our Facebook page for updated information, and feel free to check us out on twitter! https://www.facebook.com/PittAPO twitter.com/apo_beta Additionally, please feel free to contact our President, Hannah Robinson, or our Pledgemaster, John DiDominic if you have more questions! Hannah- president.apobeta@gmail.com John- pledgemaster.apobeta@gmail.com

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HOT BROS

have a cute picture of Kat and I from a few weekends ago :)

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The poster reads:

Just because I stayed silent when you made fun of my race, didn’t mean I enjoyed it. I didn’t know how to stand up for myself. I’m different NOW. I am empowered.

Bullied? Share your story: weareempowered.net

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The poster reads:

"for months you told me how annoying and stupid your FRIEND "Gina" was. 

little did I know, “Gina” was ME.”

Bullied? Share your story: weareempowered.net

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Brothers and Pledge of the Week (2/26)

From left: VPM Joe, Effy (pledge), Jenna (bro), Matt (bro), President Danny

Jenna Goldstein is a Communication Science and Disorders major.

When and why did you pledge APO?

I pledged APO spring of my Freshman year, so Spring 2013!

What is your favorite APO memory?

My favorite APO memory is probably when I got to experience open meeting as a brother for the first time this fall, as opposed to a pledge. The room was full of excitement and every brother was wearing their letters. It sounds super cheesy and whatnot, but there's an unspoken bond between two people wearing the same letters and seeing brothers around campus all day wearing them just made the brotherhood seem smaller and more cohesive!

Matt Nitkiewicz is a Materials Science Engineer with a Chemistry minor. 

When and why did you pledge APO?

I pledged fall 2013 because I had some underclassmen friends who encouraged me to join knowing I did a lot of service in high school and I liked the social aspect also of APO.

What is your favorite APO memory?

My favorite APO memory is honestly just hanging out with Blue Sword at Dunkin and getting to now everyone a little better.

Effy Vu is a actuarial mathematics major.

Why did you pledge APO this semester?

I pledged because I wanted to be more involved with the school and society. Also because I could connect with more people outside the friends I've made since freshman year.

What is your favorite APO memory so far?

My favorite APO memory would probably be either induction or big/little reveal!

CONGRATS GUYS! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!! 

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Brothers and Pledge of the Week! (2/19)

(from left) Seth, Marisa, President Danny, Historian Alex 

Pledge of the week Blessy (center)

Seth Scheetz is a neuroscience major.

When and why did you rush APO?

I rushed fall semester this year. I had heard great things about APO from a lot of brothers and was looking for more ways to get involved in service, so it was a perfect fit.

What is your favorite APO memory?

It's hard to pick my favorite memory, but the weekend I rushed was great. I went to a lot of the events and all of the brothers were welcoming right away. I could tell then that I'd made a great decision by joining, and I've looked forward to APO events every week since then

Marisa Fab is a nursing major.

When and why did you rush APO?

I rushed in the spring  of 2013 because I went to open meeting with my friend, and was amazed by the strong brotherhood! APO was like a little community inside the huge campus of Pitt, and that was something that I was looking for. I decided that since I love people and service, I should join!

What is your favorite APO memory?

My favorite APO memory was the chimichanga fellowship event at Brett's house. It was a really fun time, and I could feel the close brotherhood we have.

Blessy Bellamy is a psychology major (pre-med).

Why did you decide to pledge this semester?

I pledged because I love service and I've heard so many awesome things about APO from brothers. I wanted to be more involved in service and APO seemed like the perfect fit! : )

What is your favorite APO memory so far?

Since I am a pledge, I haven't been involved in APO very long but my favorite memory thus far was when a group of us wobbled right before pledge meeting! 

CONGRATS TO ALL THREE OF YOU!!

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Brothers of the Week (2/12)

(From left): Historian Alex, Johanna, President Danny, Margaret

Johanna Seitenbach is a dual major in business management and English (fiction) writing.

When and why did you pledge APO?

It was second semester freshman year and I didn't have many friends and I was looking for an organization that I could look back after graduation and be proud that I was a part of. And APO happened to be tabling on the perfect day. So I guess it was meant to be.

What is your favorite APO memory?

 Last years formal when we danced to "Thrift Shop." That's when it hit me, and I really felt like I belonged with all these crazy, awesome, selfless people I am lucky enough to call my brothers!

Margaret Haughney is a Biological Sciences major and a Spanish minor.

When and why did you join APO? I joined APO last semester because I wanted to get more involved in service and with the Pitt campus. Also, Christine Grassi would continually tell me how awesome it was.

What is your favorite APO memory? I don't really have a specific memory since I only joined last semester, but I have loved getting to know so many awesome people through service events and at meeting. Getting Bro of the Week was pretty great, too, though!

CONGRATS TO BOTH OF YOU!! <3

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Brothers of the Week (2/5)

(From left) Mickey, Historian Alex, Brandon, President Danny

Mickey Banas is a Biology Major.

When did you pledge APO?

I pledged last spring.

What is your favorite APO memory?

My favorite memory of APO was when I was doing Adopt-A-Block during a complete downpour.

Brandon Small is a Microbiology and Anthropology double major.

When and why did you pledge APO?

I pledged last spring because my friends told me it was an awesome group.

What is your favorite APO memory?

My favorite thing about APO was realizing how much I love doing service.

CONGRATS BROS <3333

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Brothers of the Week (1/29)

From left: VPM Joe, Kelsey, Ellen, President Danny

Kelsey O'Brien is a Rehabilitation Science major on the pre-physical therapy track.  

When and why did you join APO?

I joined APO last semester. I heard about it through a good friend, and decided to join because I have always loved community service, and wanted to be apart of an organization full of people who have the same passion for it that I do.

What is your fondest APO memory?

My fondest memory of APO is from the Megafellowship two weekends ago. A big group of brothers participated in an ice breaker game that involved giving each other compliments, and the amount of love I saw from brother to brother was incredible.

Ellen Choi is a Psychology major with an Economics minor.

When and why did you join APO?

I joined APO because I had friends from high school in other chapters and they told me how great it was.

What is your fondest APO memory?

My favorite part of APO is the brother booster segment of chapter meetings.

****CONGRATS LADIES****

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The posters read:

"Where are you from?"

"I’m from Texas."

"No, where are you ORIGINALLY from?"

"Texas."

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Just because I’m not WHITE doesn’t mean the U.S. isn’t my home. I’m proud of my heritage and proud to be an American!

Bullied? Share your story: weareempowered.net

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

The poster reads:

You said that my skin was disgusting and that no one would ever think I was beautiful

Bullied? Share your story: weareempowered.net

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Brothers of the Week (1/22)

Brothers of the Week

From left: Ashley, VPF Allison, Andrew, President Danny

Ashley Byrne is a Communication Science and Disorders major with a minor in Linguistics and the ASL certificate.

When and why did you pledge APO?

I pledged my freshman year, fall 2011. Why? Because I went through 1 night of sorority recruitment and realized I was not about that life. Plus I did a lot of community service in high school so it all came together in APO.

What is your happiest APO-related memory?

Happiest APO memory is being initiated! ... Back when we were small enough to fit in CL G8.

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Andrew Cunningham is majoring in Philosophy and History and plans on going to law school.

When and why did you pledge APO?

I joined my sophomore year in spring 2013 because service runs in my blood and I wanted an organization with plenty of volunteer opportunities.

What is your favorite APO memory?

My favorite memory was prolly formal of last year just cause it was a lot of fun!!

***CONGRATS TO YOU BOTH!***

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Light Pitt Up Blue is an annual event run by Alpha Phi Omega in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh and Autism Speaks as a part of Autism Awareness Day, April 2nd.

During Autism Awareness Day buildings around the world light themselves up blue to show support...

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Brother of the Week (1/15)

Brother of the Week

Shira Barnett is a senior Biology and Anthropology major.

When and why did you join APO?

I pledged my sophomore year (fall 2011) because I tried a bunch of other service organizations and didn't like them very much.

What has been your favorite service event?

For service I like the big events like pmadd and most of the weekly ones we have I like a lot too.

What about your favorite fellowship event?

For fellowship, movie/ game nights are always fun!!

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Brothers of The Week: 10/30

(From Left: Brother, Alex Topper, Brother, Erin Deluca, Pledge, Kat Loh)

Brothers Of The Week

Alex Topper is a Junior Psych Major on a Pre-Med track

When and Why did you pledge APO?

I pledged APO in the Fall 2012 semester (fall of my sophomore year)...I pledged because I had just transferred to Pitt from Boston University and was looking for a group to join that would help set me up with community service because I knew I wanted to do service, but I didn't know how to do it on my own. Also, I thought it would introduce me to other students with similar interests!!

Do you have a favorite service event?

My favorite service event so far this year was PMADD...I got to work with about 10 other brothers to help serve a luncheon to elderly women who work together on Project Linus, a national project where volunteers knit beautiful blankets to be distributed to patients throughout the country. It was really rewarding to meet adults who regularly dedicate their time to service even though they don't get "hours" or "leadership points" for it. It was very humbling

What about fellowship?

My favorite fellowship events are usually potlucks because it's always a very casual setting with tons of food and I think everyone gets a chance to get to know each other and chill. I'm also SUPER into weekly brother boosters, they're the best part of meetings, hands down! I love being a brother of APO and I am so happy that I stumbled upon it when I first got to Pitt!!

  Erin Deluca is a Junior Emergency Medicine major with a certificate in Women's Studies

When and Why did you pledge APO?

I pledged APO because of Nour Shahab and Ashley Byrne. I had done service clubs in high school and they pledged APO the semester before me and told me how awesome it was and all the people were and I wanted a taste of that.

Is there anything you want to share about you're experience in APO? How has being a brother impacted you?

Being in APO has really helped me feel like I can make a difference. I have planned a few service events, like a collection of candy and supplies for soldiers overseas. We got a letter back from the soldiers saying how thankful they were for what we sent and that really made me happy. The biggest impact APO has made on me, though, is the lifelong friends I have made and continue making.

Pledge Of The Week: Kat Loh

Kat is a freshman, currently undecided major.

Why did you decide to pledge APO?

I was having a hard time making new friends at the beginning of the semester with the transition into college and everything and I was advised to just get involved and Abby Cohen, who is in APO, told me about it so I joined and I don't regret it for a second.

Is there anything you want to share about you're experience in APO thus far. Do you have a favorite service/fellowship event?

APO is a great group of people and like I said, I'm so happy that I joined. I've made friends within my family (Green Arrow, TWANG!), and throughout the whole Beta Chapter. The first event I went to I believe was Take Back the Night and that was a cool thing to be a part of and it really just started from there. I signed for more events both service/fellowship and continued to meet more people and make more friends and now I just do it because I want to, not to fulfill some requirement. APO always fills up my calendar with things to do so I'm never really bored for too long (: I'm definitely excited for Initiation and to become a brother and hopefully get a little (or two haha)!