ACHIEVEMENT WEEK - Originally designed to promote the study of Negro life and history. Achievement Week is observed in November of each year and is designed to seek out and give due recognition to those individuals at the local and international levels who have made a noteworthy contribution toward improving the quality of life for black Americans. A High School Essay Contest is to be held in conjunction with Achievement Week. This contest is open to all college-bound high school seniors. College scholarships are awarded to the winners, each of whom must submit an essay on a theme/topic chosen by the fraternity. This contest is a phase of the International Achievement Week observance.
SCHOLARSHIP - The Scholarship Program is intended to promote academic excellence among the undergraduate members. Graduate chapters are expected to provide financial assistance to student members and non-members. A portion of the fraternity’s international budget is allocated to scholarships through the Charles R. Drew Scholarship Commission.
SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAMS - All levels of the fraternity are expected to facilitate, participate and coordinate activities that will uplift their communities. An international committee will coordinate the multifaceted programs of the various chapters. Some of the activities under the umbrella of social action include, but are not limited to: voter registration, education and “getting out the vote”; Assault on Illiteracy; Habitat for Humanity; volunteering time to charities and less fortunate individuals; mentoring; and participation in fundraisers for charities such as American Diabetes Association, United Way, Sickle Cell Anemia, etc.
TALENT HUNT PROGRAM - This program provides exposure, encouragement and financial assistance to talented young people participating in the Performing Arts. Winners of the competition are awarded recognition for their talents. Awards may include college scholarships.
MEMORIAL SERVICE - March 12th of each year has been established as Memorial Day. Chapters are expected to conduct an appropriate service to recall the memory of those members who have entered into Omega Chapter.
RECLAMATION AND RETENTION - A concerted effort at the international, district and local levels to retain active brothers and return inactive brothers to full participatory status so that they may enjoy the full benefits of Omega.
COLLEGE ENDOWMENT FUND - Each year the fraternity gives at least $50,000.00 to Historically Black College Institutions (HBCU) in furtherance of Omega’s commitment to provide philanthropic support. Chapters are assessed donations based on chapter size.
HEALTH INITIATIVES - All levels of the fraternity are expected to facilitate, participate and/or coordinate activities that will uplift their communities by promoting good health practices. An international committee will coordinate and facilitate multifaceted programs of the various chapters, districts, etc. It is anticipated that all local chapters will execute the health directives at the local level. Some of the programs under the umbrella of Health Initiatives are the Charles Drew Blood Drive (normally held in June), AIDS/HIV Awareness, and the American Diabetes Association Partnership. This does not prevent the local chapters from performing additional health initiatives under the umbrella of the Health Initiatives mandate.
VOTER REGISTRATION, EDUCATION AND MOBILIZATION - All levels of the fraternity are expected to facilitate, participate and/or coordinate activities that will uplift their communities through the power of the vote. An international committee will coordinate and facilitate multifaceted programs of the various chapters, districts, etc. It is anticipated that all local chapters will execute the directives at the local level. This does not prevent the local chapters from performing additional voter initiatives under the umbrella of the Voter Education, Registration and Mobilization mandate.
NAACP - Every district and chapter of the fraternity is required to maintain a Life Membership at Large in the NAACP. In the event that a chapter or district is not a life member of the NAACP, it must maintain a yearly membership to be in good standing with the fraternity. Furthermore, all members of the fraternity are strongly encouraged to become members of the NAACP.
Tau Rho, A. McKee Banks $5,000 Scholarship Award
Fredericksburg, VA – The Brothers of the Tau Rho Chapter, Third District, of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., awarded and recognized individual students in the Rappahannock, VA region for the A. McKee Banks Scholarship Awards. Brother Calvin Taylor (Zeta, 1970) chaired the program to award scholarship opportunities to the best-qualified applicants and to help them further their education in some form of higher learning. The scholarship is open to African-American male graduating seniors residing in the Rappahannock, VA region.
The A. McKee Banks Scholarship awarded five students $1000 each for a total of $5,000. The honored five graduating seniors were: LaMarrio Pitman, Caroline High School; Elijah Sherfield, King George High School; Joshua Walker, Massaponax High School; and Christian Young, James Monroe High School.
The A. McKee Banks Scholarship Award is named in honor of A. McKee Banks. He was a charter member of the Tau Rho Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He was a graduate of Virginia State University, dedicated to providing personal scholarships to local youth, and committed to social action that enhances the quality of life for all citizens. The funds from the foundation enable students to obtain the education they may not have access to otherwise. Since its inception, the foundation has contributed thousands of dollars to local youth scholarships.
Tau Rho 3rd Annual Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.) Science Fair
Spotsylvania, VA – On Saturday, April 22, 2023, the Brothers of Tau Rho Chapter, Third District of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., conducted its 3rd Annual Doug Carter's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Fair. The event was held at the Ron Rosner Y.M.C.A located in Spotsylvania, VA. The event's purpose was to provide students with a space and opportunity to present their science projects to the community, showcase their technical aptitude and have fun in the process. The goal was to get the kids excited about science by doing it rather than simply learning about it. Tau Rho Social Action Chairman Brother Norman Carter Jr. (Tau Rho, 2014) and his committee orchestrated the event, set up the tables, and provided guidance to all the administrators and students. Students entered the STEM Fair with incredible projects that displayed robotics, wind tunnels, electronic hands, and even a self-contained model of a full-service high school.
The talent on display by these 4th through 8th-grade students was amazing. The students' projects were presented to the judges on a scheduled Zoom video chat and in person at the event. First, second, and third-place winners were recognized and rewarded. The Brothers of Tau Rho and community leaders were invited to log on and provide the adjudication and judging for each project. An engineer from Dahlgren Naval Station nearby volunteered to be a judge. This year's event featured 56 students, including 14 team and individual submissions. There were 22 male and 34 female participants; and 12 elementary school students, displaying over 40 projects at the event. The participants and winners received cash awards, trophies, and a certificate from Social Action Chairman Brother Norman Carter while proud parents watched with pride. The brothers of Tau Rho also provide refreshments for the participants and their families. This year's event was sponsored in part by the Omega Psi Phi Third District Fatherhood Initiative and Mentoring Committee, the Eagles Aerie #4123, and the Noble Benevolence and Charity Foundation.
The event was very successful! The Brothers of Tau Rho are looking for opportunities to expand this type of S.T.E.M Fair throughout the Third District, making these events more accessible to students, encouraging the students to be more excited about S.T.E.M, and providing a greater level of visibility for the use of emerging technologies to students.