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This article is about the national multicultural fraternity. Not to be confused with the defunct local fraternity at Cooper Union or the local sorority at SUNY Potsdam.
Omega Delta Phi
ΩΔΦ
The official crest of Omega Delta Phi
FoundedNovember 25, 1987; 37 years ago (November 25, 1987)
Texas Tech University
TypeSocial
AffiliationNIC
Former affiliationNALFO
StatusActive
EmphasisMulticultural
ScopeNational
MottoCrescit Eundo (It grows as it goes)
PillarsUnity, Honesty, Integrity, Leadership
SloganOne Culture, Any Race
Colors  Scarlet,   Silver, and   Black
SymbolSilver Knight
Flag
FlowerSilver Rose
MascotKnight
PublicationSeven Visions Magazine
PhilanthropyWounded Warrior Project
Chapters70
Colonies4
NicknameODPhi, Omegas
Headquarters8111 Mainland, Suite 104-424
San Antonio, Texas 78240
United States
Websiteomegadeltaphi.com

Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc. (ΩΔΦ), also known as ODPhi is an American multicultural fraternity. It was established in 1987 at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas and has chartered chapters at more than seventy campuses, predominantly centered in Texas and the Southwest. Although founded mainly by Latinos, the fraternity has traditionally been open to men of different backgrounds.

Omega Delta Phi is a member of the North American Interfraternity Conference and was a founding member of National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations.

History

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Founding

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Omega Delta Phi was the brainchild of Joe Cereceres, a student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Cereceres recruited six other students and held weekly organizational meetings. At the time, not everyone was on board with starting a fraternal organization because of the negative stigma surrounding fraternities. However, the group decided that they could change that stigma through positive actions such as a focus on graduation and service.

On November 25, 1987, the group was officially recognized as a fraternity and granted charter status from Texas Tech University.[1] Its founders were Arturo Barraza, Juan Barraza, Elliot Bazan, Joe Cereceres, Eugene Dominguez, Dwight Christopher Forbes, and Tommy Hurtado.[2] In 1988, Omega Delta Phi initiated its first class with twelve members which would later be known as the Charter Class.

Early history

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Omega Delta Phi's early years dealt with finding an identity, including adopting a crest, sacraments, and motifs. One issue that arose was whether or not the organization would identify itself as a social or service organization, In the end, the organization identified itself as a "service/social" organization. The fraternity also adopted a policy forbidding the consumption of alcohol while wearing Omega Delta Phi paraphernalia.

Jaime Mendez started Beta chapter of Omega Delta Phi at the University of Texas at El Paso without the consent of the original Texas Tech chapter.[3] After some minor controversy, the chapters reconciled their differences and set up an expansion strategy that spread across the country.[3]

Expansion

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By the early 1990s, Omega Delta Phi chapters were established in Texas A&M University System, University of Texas System, New Mexico and Arizona systems. Later, the fraternity founded chapters in cities such as the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex area, Houston, and Seattle. It established a short-lived international colony in Mexico City, Mexico.[4][5]

In 1998, Omega Delta Phi was a founding member of National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO). It withdrew its membership in June 2000 to join the Latino Fraternal Council (LFC). When LFC went defunct in June 2001, the fraternity rejoined NALFO. However, it withdrew its membership in December 2008.[6] It is currently a member of the North American Interfraternity Conference.

In 2000, Omega Delta Phi founded an alumni association to provide a support group for its alumni base.[7] The fraternity now has several alumni chapters throughout the United States.[7]

Honors

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The National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations named Omega Delta Phi the Fraternity of the Year for 2003, 2004, and 2005.[8] In the summer of 2002, Texas Tech University honored the fraternity by dedicating a conference room to Omega Delta Phi.[9][10]

Symbols

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Omega Delta Phi's motto is Crescit Eundo or "It grows as it goes".[3] The fraternity's slogan is "One Culture, Any Race".[1] Its sacraments or pillars are Unity, Honesty, Integrity, and Leadership.[1] The fraternity's nickname is ODPhi.[1]

The fraternity's colors are scarlet, silver, and black.[1] Its mascot is the Knight.[3] Its flower is the silver rose.[1] Its publication is Seven Visions Magazine.

Chapters

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Main article: List of Omega Delta Phi chapters

Activities

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Each summer, Omega Delta Phi hosts an annual national conference. Brothers participate in meetings, workshops, networking sessions as well as showcases where teams from entities compete in various competitions. The National Alumni Association and board of directors also host meetings. Each winter, Omega Delta Phi chapters hold a national undergraduate conference, known as NUC. The conference focuses on meetings and workshops to prepare for the upcoming spring semesters.

Philanthropy

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Wounded Warrior Project

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On December 6, 2022, Omega Delta Phi announced a new philanthropic partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project that is set to begin in January 2023.[11] The philanthropy was chosen primarily due to the large number of veterans and servicemen within the fraternity.

Previous philanthropies

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In 2009, Omega Delta Phi became the second Greek letter organization to officially partner with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).[12] Omega Delta Phi provide CASA with manpower at local CASA events and raised funds for CASA.[13][14] Before CASA, Omega Delta Phi has also partnered with Boys and Girls Club and United Way.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Multicultural Greek Council". Texas Tech University. Archived from the original on 2012-02-02. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  2. ^ "History". Omega Delta Phi. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "History". Omega Delta Phi (Beta Chapter). 14 April 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  4. ^ William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive)". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 22 Aug 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  5. ^ "ODPhi Expansion Information Packet 2001" (PDF). uwp.edu. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  6. ^ "NALFO Membership Update" (December 2008). NALFO.
  7. ^ a b "AlumKnights". Omega Delta Phi Fraternity Inc. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  8. ^ "National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations – Est. 1998". nalfo.org. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  9. ^ "Philanthropy - Omega Delta Phi - Alpha Alumni Association". sites.google.com. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  10. ^ "ODPhi Room - Omega Delta Phi - Alpha Alumni Association". sites.google.com. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  11. ^ "New National Collaboration: Wounded Warrior Project". Omega Delta Phi. 2023-06-16. Archived from the original on 2023-06-16. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  12. ^ "Membership Partners: Kappa Alpha Theta and Omega Delta Phi". CASA. Archived from the original on 2012-06-13. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  13. ^ "Eta Chapter Raises $3000 for CASA". Omega Delta Phi. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  14. ^ "Stand-Up Guys Stand Out at UNM". Albuquerque Journal. 2011-04-22. pp. A1, A6. Retrieved 2025-01-26 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Our Service". Omega Delta Phi. 2023-06-16. Archived from the original on 2023-06-16. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
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