Engineering Student Sorority Prepare For A Virtual Fall Term

Amidst a virtual term with online classes and opportunities, Drexel Engineering student organizations have prepared to adapt and rise to the challenge, creating all new experiences which will allow new students and members to feel a sense of community through the computer screen. When the Beta Mu chapter of Alpha Omega Epsilon (A.O.E.) went online, they stood by their motto of “friendship, leadership and professionalism,” and set a standard for how to acclimate to a virtual setting.

The Beta Mu chapter of A.O.E. is a social and professional sorority for women in engineering and technical sciences, and was founded at Drexel University in 2015. The organization is made up of members who pride themselves on following the A.O.E. mission — strong and intelligent women who yearn to break STEM barriers. Since 2015, the sisters at Alpha Omega Epsilon have created a strong bond in sisterhood in STEM, and a virtual term certainly isn’t stopping them.

With a large network of alumni in a variety of career fields and industries across the country, A.O.E. implements a strong source of mentorship, providing members with a professional network to keep in touch with and learn from at events. At their most recent event, alumni were invited to speak on a panel to talk about their lives after college. Their network also involves employees from sisters’ past co-op experiences. Supported by relationships they’ve built while on co-op, A.O.E. has held professional engineering panels with leadership from AECOM, an American multinational engineering firm and Fortune 500 company, as well as with Supporting Women in Manufacturing (SWiM), a group established by AdvanSix, an American chemical company and fully-integrated nylon manufacturing leader.

Chapter vice president Emma Youngs says that new students can find a home away from home by joining A.O.E. “We know Drexel students, especially freshmen, will have a hard time finding their niche with Drexel being remote, but by joining different organizations like A.O.E., [they] can create meaningful friendships and bonds on campus before they get here,” she says. “A.O.E. can help increase networking skills, establish and develop leadership skills, and most importantly, help you find your best friends for life."

Internationally, there are 49 chapters of Alpha Omega Epsilon at different universities, and Drexel’s chapter hopes to further build relationships with these sisters through virtual events and experiences. In the past, they’ve teamed up with nearby chapters at Lehigh University, Widener University and the University of Delaware. They’ve participated in events like football tailgates and fundraising for UDance, but they hope to expand these opportunities in the future to fit a virtual format. This past August, Alpha Omega Epsilon held their first ever virtual convention, an event that typically sends a group of members to different national locations every other year. This year, they were able to send more sisters to attend the event on behalf of their chapter due to its virtual format.

“When Beta Mu went online in the spring, they adapted quickly,” Youngs explains. “Some events we hosted were a Step Challenge, Netflix Party Night, and a Virtual Social with Widener University’s chapter of A.O.E. In the summer term, events included a sister and alumni Pen Pal event, baking night, and an online escape room. This fall term, on top of recruitment, we have some fun fundraising, philanthropic, and sisterhood events planned.”

This fall, the Beta Mu chapter of Alpha Omega Epsilon will be holding fall formal recruitment, kicking off on Wednesday, September 30 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. with a virtual informational session. See the full roster of events , sign up for events, or email Vice President Emma Youngs for more information.