Why We Joined AΩE

"I never thought I'd join a sorority, but Lauren Raup was my roommate freshman year, and she wanted to start a sorority for engineers. I agreed to help her because I just can't say no to friends who want help! Now, I keep meeting awesome women in engineering, and I'm having a ton of fun! What more could I ask for?"
-Lillian Ng, Alpha

"I really didn't fit in anywhere that was mainly girls. I was typically the outcast because I didn't dress in cute clothes or wanted to be around the drama girls can bring. Then Lauren IMed me over AIM and said there was a new sorority starting up, come to the meeting. So I did and found my place among other people that didn't fit in. The outcasts came together to form something for other people like us. I've never had closer friends that were girls. I felt like I can talk to anyone in the sorority about anything from the beginning and wouldn't be judged. The great thing that drew me towards founding the sorority is the diversity that we have. You can find a little bit of everything with us, and it is a wonderful thing that we accept people for who they are. I love my sisters so much!"
-Jessica Palazzolo, Alpha

"I started the Rho Chapter of AΩE because I felt that Virginia Tech's campus needed a place for engineering women that had or needed a social outlet. This sorority provides a social bond with a professional aspect that has helped me find the bonds of sisterhood in a challenging environment."
-Lauren Raup, Alpha

"I joined AΩE after I rushed the social sororities. I didn't find a sorority I felt I could have a close bond with, so after hearing about an engineering sorority starting up, I came to a few meetings and decided immediately that it was the right place for me! We are a group of hardworking, motivated, and talented girls and I am proud to call all of them sisters! AΩE is very diverse and has aspects for everyone including social, community outreach, and professional. It is definitely the best organization I have been a part of through my entire college experience! As the first alumna, I plan on coming back and visiting my sisters and seeing the new classes be initiated! Thanks for everything girls! I <3 my sisters!! =)"
-Catherine Ross, Alpha

"I joined to create a community where geeky (the less popular, the less pretty, and the less girly) girls could find a place where they belonged and friends who were like them and accepted them as who they were. I hoped to help forge a sisterhood where it was okay to like math, and it was okay to not be normal, because in a sisterhood it's about being who you are and accepting others as they are, brains, looks, and all. It was also a pleasure to help give Lauren's dream flight. Now watch it soar."
-Sam Stolarz, Alpha

"I joined because my roommate send me the link to the original webpage and I just happened to notice that the current president was Lauren Raup, one of my good friends from CEE. I asked her about it the next day, then came to (my) first meeting and signed the "Risk Management" form, and by the second meeting I somehow became Secretary... but it's been one amazing journey since then, and I've had the time of my life!"
-Becky Suther, Alpha

"We formed this sorority as a place for females who had never had female friends, as a chance for them to meet great girls with similar interests. Also for anyone looking for a support group, since Engineering is challenging. Lastly, as a chance to build professional skills to help girls after graduation."
-Maxine Turner, Alpha

"Why did I join... well, my crazy friend Lauren Raup wanted to start a sorority for engineering women after loving Hypatia. I agreed with her that it was a good idea, and the rest is history. Props to Lauren for starting something so great!"
-Michelle Vrikkis, Alpha

"I just loved the girls; they've always been great friends and a wonderful support for me."
-Beth Fairchild, Beta

"Because these ladies are amazing."
-Erica H. Moore, Beta

"This sorority is an awesome opportunity to meet some of the greatest people you will ever know."
-Ashley King, Beta

"I met my big, Jess, in class and she invited me to come out to her sorority's rush. I was interested, because I had kind of wanted to join a sorority but I didn't really fit with all the girly girls in the Panhellenic sororities. So, I went to the rush events, and fell in love with everyone I met there; everyone was so friendly and smart and funny and REAL. And here I am!"
-Christina McLane, Beta

"I joined AΩE so that I could meet and make friends with smart, educated, independent and motivated females like myself. I also joined, because I knew I'd have fun!"
-Liana Algarín, Gamma

"I came to college thinking that I didn't like being around girls because of how they dealt with problems and all the drama they created. But after a year and a half in computer science I realized that I was sick of being surrounded by boys. I needed other girls who were going through the same thing I was."
-Jocelyn Casto, Gamma

"Mainly it was for the connections that it would offer me in the future. Also, Holly Anne and Lauren Rae harassed me. Now, I'm glad I did because I've made some great friends that I otherwise wouldn't know. Everyone's always surprised when I say I've joined a sorority but Alpha Omega Epsilon isn't a normal sorority and I guarantee, I would never be part of a typical sorority."
-Amanda Kauder, Gamma

"Thanks to my wonderful friend Holly Fitz who helped me out freshman year and introduced me to everyone :-D"
-Ginny Koontz, Gamma

"I joined Alpha Omega Epsilon to meet more girls in engineering. I also wanted to participate in service and social events throughout Virginia Tech's campus and meet new people. "
-Alyssa Tetkoski, Gamma

"I lived in Hypatia as a freshman and really enjoyed being able to spend time with other women in engineering. Becca was my RA, and she introduced me to AΩE. I came out and fell in love with the sorority and the girls. "
-Patricia Adkins, Epsilon

"I joined AΩE because I wanted to meet more women who were in engineering."
-Tiasha Khan, Epsilon

"When I was in high school I worked at a retail shop with a girl named Maxine Turner. She was a bit older than I was and attended Virginia Tech and was hoping to graduate with a Chemical Engineering degree. She came back each summer with progressive stories about how she and a few girls were hoping to create a community of female engineers. The concept of having a female engineering sorority was born, and she and her classmates (and now my fellow sisters) established the Rho colony and (now) chapter. When I arrived at Tech it was she who expressed the importance of having female companionship in the same field. I hadn't realized the ratio of female engineers to male engineers was so low. Through her, I learned the ideals of sisterhood."
-Julia Malapit, Epsilon

"I joined partly from being invited by several people, but also because I was looking for a group of girls in engineering I could relate to and hang out with. I'm very glad I did, an I'm eternally grateful to all of those who asked me to join. "
-Heather Selbe, Epsilon

"To meet girls in engineering, especially in my major."
-Mychelle Anspach, Zeta

"I joined AΩE because I really wanted to get to know more women in engineering,find study buddies, make friends, and network for a career."
-Caitlin Grotke, Zeta

"To get to know some really fun girls and have those connections for life"
-Shauna Berkner, Eta

"I joined AΩE for the life long friendships, giving back to the community, and the sisterhood."
-Tavia Cawley, Eta

"I joined to meet other motivated girls with career goals in engineering. "
-Michelle Desiderio, Eta

"To meet more girls in engineering and feel apart of something here at school"
-Sabina Fedrowitz, Eta

"I joined AΩE because I get to meet many amazing women engineers and I get to make many friends."
-Yamilette Hernandez, Eta

"To meet other girls in Engineering and create a bond with new people."
-Ashley Orellana, Eta

"I joined to meet new girls and gain more connections to the working world."
-Molly Provost, Eta

"I joined AΩE because I wanted to meet more women in engineering."
-Ana Rainey, Eta

"I joined Alpha Omega Epsilon to meet female engineers. I wanted to meet a group of girls that share similar acedemic and profesional goals."
-Lauren Robbins, Eta

"I am in Air Force ROTC so I wanted to meet more girls and make some sisterly bonds. I have met some really great people in Alpha Omega Epsilon and I am so glad I joined. I love how the sorority is so diverse and full of kind hearted girls. I felt so welcomed from the very beginning during recruitment, and to this day I still feel like I fit in. Thank you, sisters =]"
-Amanda Valori, Eta

"To meet more girls in Engineering and make lasting friendships."
-Lauren Grimes, Theta

"I joined to meet more girls that understand the workload and stress of engineering."
-Emily Hussey, Theta

"Make new friends and become more involved on campus. "
-Melissa Mealy, Theta

"To meet more girls in engineering and to have fun!"
-Cynthia Wu, Theta

"To meet other women that have the same interests as me and hopefully create long lasting friendships. "
-Nicole Castellon, Iota

"I joined to create friendships within the Engineering college, to get to know girls who have knowledge on the classes that I am taking, and to create connections within the work force by getting to know the amlunae and candidates who have done co-ops and/or internships."
-Lindsey King, Iota

"I joined AOE becuase I was looking for a group of people who were dealing with the same challenges I was facing and could help me with my academics. AOE offered a valuable resource for me as a female engineer and a chance to increase my friends and peers in the engineering world."
-Megan Langerman, Iota

"It is a great opportunity to make contacts in the field of engineering, but more importantly it is an opportunity to become friends with other motivated female engineers. "
-Lauren Nance, Iota

"I joined because of all the great people in it."
-Alexa Tenga, Iota

"I thought that would be nice to hang out with more girls in engineering and everyone I already knew in AΩE loved and enjoyed it so much."
-Jessica Gravatt, Kappa

"I wanted to be involved in something at Virginia Tech for my senior year. I was friends with some of the girls already and they made it sound great. "
-Stacy Martin, Kappa

"To build bonds with other female engineering students"
-Jessica Piness, Kappa

"I attended my first event (casual night) without really knowing anyone. I immediately felt welcomed, I had a lot of fun, made some friends, and by the end of the night, knew that I wanted to be a part of A&OmegaE. "
-Melissa Ruth, Kappa