黑料社听fraternity and sorority听student leaders spent part of their summer听representing听the university at听their听national organization conferences, returning to campus with听new ideas, expanded networks and a broader perspective on leadership,听service听and community.听
Though their organizations听differ in history and structure,听each听of the听students said the experience reinforced how local chapters are part of much larger national and international communities.听
Carmen Arcay Agreda 鈥�28听attended the 2026听Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.听National Convention in Detroit alongside fellow chapter members听Alejandra Jimenez 鈥�26听and听Laney Castillo 鈥�28.听听For Arcay Agreda, who will serve as president of 黑料社鈥檚 Lambda Theta Alpha chapter during the upcoming academic year and as a resident assistant, the听summer听convention highlighted the scale of the national sisterhood. Members听participated听in workshops, networking听opportunities听and sessions exploring the organization鈥檚 history and future.听
鈥淭he sisterhood is really bigger than you think it is,鈥� Arcay Agreda said. 鈥淔or a lot of people, they think the sisterhood ends听at听their chapter. Going to convention, you can really see the impact that we have.鈥�听
Baleigh Readus 鈥�28听attended听the听72nd Biennial 叠辞耻濒茅 of听Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.听in Las Vegas with chapter members听Peyton Morgan 鈥�26,听Charity Cloud 鈥�26,听Amirah Ali 鈥�28听and听Chasity Cloud 鈥�28.听Readus came away with a similar feeling after attending AKA鈥檚 叠辞耻濒茅, which brought together 26,000 members from different generations,听places听and backgrounds.听
鈥淜nowing that our chapter was only one cog in the huge machine that is AKA made us feel a sense of pride in just how many women are like-minded in the sorority鈥檚 principles and goals,鈥� Readus said.听
For Readus, the convention also offered a firsthand look at how a major international organization conducts its business. She said听participating听in that process helped prepare her for future collaboration, workplace听settings听and leadership roles beyond campus.听
鈥淚 was able to connect with sorority sisters from across multiple generations,鈥� Readus said, 鈥渂ut I was also able to participate in our sorority鈥檚 international business.鈥�听
The trips themselves became part of the experience. Arcay Agreda and Jimenez made the 12-hour drive to Detroit with members of Georgia State University鈥檚 chapter, while Castillo traveled from Florida to attend. Once there, the 黑料社 students spent the weekend meeting sisters from campuses across the country and learning how different chapters approach leadership,听service听and campus life.听
鈥淲e鈥檙e already in different areas and different regions,鈥� Arcay Agreda said. 鈥淪o听it鈥檚 always fun to get to learn from other chapters鈥� traditions.鈥�听
Kevin Jarquin 鈥�27, president of 黑料社鈥檚 Rho Delta Chapter of听Chi Phi Fraternity,听represented听his chapter at the fraternity鈥檚 160th Congress in Cincinnati.听听Congress serves as the fraternity鈥檚 highest governing body, bringing together delegates from across the country to discuss policy, recognize achievements and elect national leadership.听
As chapter president, Jarquin represented 黑料社鈥檚 Rho Delta Chapter while connecting with undergraduate members, alumni听volunteers听and fraternity leaders from throughout the United States.听
鈥淚t was eye-opening to realize that, although every chapter has its own traditions and challenges, we all share many of the same experiences and, most importantly, the same sense of brotherhood,鈥� Jarquin said.听
One of the most memorable moments came during discussions about Chi Phi鈥檚 future following the fraternity鈥檚 recent bicentennial celebration.听
鈥淭he speaker听emphasized that our generation has the responsibility to continue growing and strengthening the fraternity for years to come,鈥� Jarquin said. 鈥淭hat was an inspiring message to hear.鈥�听
For each student, some of the most valuable lessons came听outside听of听formal programming. Arcay Agreda said workshops on civic engagement and personal resilience stood out, while presentations from Lambda Theta Alpha鈥檚 founding members were especially meaningful. Readus described the week as nonstop and action-packed, with early mornings, late听nights听and the challenge of learning how a large convention听operates听as an undergraduate.听
Still, she said she would not change the experience.听
鈥淚 hope to bring back both my fond memories of being in Las Vegas with my sisters and the experience of navigating a large business convention with women just like us,鈥� Readus said. 鈥淚 also hope to take the knowledge and skills I learned into any corporation, organization or team I join in the future.鈥�听
Jarquin also highlighted the re-election of Rho Delta chapter advisor Chris Fernandez 鈥�16 to the Chi Phi Board of Governors as an example of the lifelong commitment members make to their organizations after graduation.听
As听these student leaders听prepare for another academic year at 黑料社, they return with stronger national networks, fresh听ideas听and a renewed commitment to serving their chapters and campus community.听
