Convention 2026 was one to remember! From July 9–12, 100 members from across the country gathered in Richmond, Virginia, representing 26 active chapters along with our Prospective New Chapter at the University of Louisville. Over four days, members came together to learn, lead, serve, celebrate, and experience the friendship and sisterhood that make Omega Phi Alpha so special.
Convention offered something for everyone, from leadership development and meaningful service to celebrating the accomplishments of our members and chapters. Just as importantly, it gave sisters the opportunity to reconnect with longtime friends, meet members from chapters across the country, and form new friendships that extend far beyond the weekend. Whether attending Convention for the first time or returning once again, Richmond reminded us of the power of bringing our sisterhood together in one place.
Welcome to Richmond!
Most attendees arrived in Richmond throughout the day on Thursday, with Convention check-in officially opening at 3:30 p.m. At 4 p.m., we kicked off our first official event, Convention Roadmap, where our alumni gave active members an enthusiastic OPhiA welcome before everyone settled in for the weekend ahead. Attendees found their assigned seats for business sessions and received their Convention swag bags, complete with their Convention packet, T-shirt, name tag, swag, and other goodies. We also covered what to expect throughout the weekend, from the Convention schedule and hotel logistics to dining options and how to access the active and alumni hospitality suites.
From there, it was time to start making new friends! Collecting Miles and Smiles, our Convention icebreaker, sent attendees around the room following clues that encouraged them to meet and learn about sisters from other chapters—and it was a hit! A few lucky participants even walked away with prizes. With official programming finished for the day, attendees were free to enjoy Richmond and each other’s company. Many alumni headed to the Omega Phi Alpha Foundation’s Alumni Rest Stop, gathering at a local pub for food, drinks, and fellowship, while others grabbed dinner around the city—often with new OPhiA friends they’d just met. Back at the hotel, the hospitality suites stayed busy well into the evening as members talked, played games, caught up with one another, and, of course, made sure no one fell behind on Love Island. It was the perfect start to a weekend of friendship, service, and sisterhood.
Members kick off Convention 2026 with new friends, plenty of laughs, and an evening of OPhiA fellowship.
Business, Connection & a Scenic Route Social
Friday morning began with the business of the sorority. Delegates reviewed and approved the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, heard the State of the Sorority, and considered and voted on proposed legislation. These business sessions give our collegiate chapters and alumni an important voice in the governance and future of Omega Phi Alpha while ensuring members understand where we are as an organization and where we are headed next.
Members can find the approved budget and the newly updated Constitution and Bylaws in OPAportal under Files → Shared by National Office → National Operations.
Convention delegates participate in the business of Omega Phi Alpha.
Celebrating Lifelong Membership
Following business, we took time to celebrate one of the things that makes Omega Phi Alpha so special: membership that lasts far beyond our collegiate years. During our Alumni Society Induction Ceremony, alumni were recognized for milestone anniversaries of membership and welcomed into the Topaz, Sapphire, and Diamond Alumni Societies.
One of OPhiA’s most meaningful traditions, the ceremony is always a heartfelt reminder that our sisterhood doesn’t end at graduation. As each inductee reflected on their Omega Phi Alpha journey, they shared stories of friendships that have lasted for decades, experiences that shaped who they became, and the ways OPhiA continued to hold a special place in their lives long after their collegiate years ended. There were plenty of laughs, even more tears, and—as always—more than a few tissues passed around the room.
For our active members, hearing those reflections offers a glimpse of what their own OPhiA journey can become. The chapters, service projects, leadership experiences, and friendships that fill their collegiate years are only the beginning. Someday, they too may stand at Convention or a District Summit reflecting on 10, 25, or even 40 years of membership and just how much Omega Phi Alpha has meant throughout their lives.
Following the ceremony, alumni gathered for the annual Alumni Luncheon, hosted by the Omega Phi Alpha Foundation, continuing an afternoon dedicated to celebrating lifelong friendship and connection.
Alumni celebrate milestone years of membership during the Alumni Society Induction Ceremony before gathering for the Omega Phi Alpha Foundation Alumni Luncheon.
Friday afternoon shifted from business to friendship and fun with our Scenic Route Social! Attendees explored vendor and National Team tables, shopped with vendors including Kendra Scott—where a portion of proceeds benefited the Omega Phi Alpha Foundation—and visited with our national partners, including Gift of Life Marrow Registry and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Both partners even brought along some fun shirts for attendees to pick up!
The National Team tables gave members a more casual opportunity to meet members of the Board of Directors and National Team, ask questions, learn more about different areas of the sorority, and collect a unique charm from each stop. Later, attendees took their charm collections back to the hospitality suites and turned them into their own OPhiA-themed keychains! With snacks, drinks, vendors, and a DJ who quickly discovered we had some surprisingly talented karaoke singers in the room, the Scenic Route Social was a perfect afternoon of connection and fun!
Members shop, connect with national partners and National Team members, collect charms, and show off their karaoke skills during the Scenic Route Social.
Service, Sisterhood & Looking Ahead
Our final full day of Convention began with what Omega Phi Alpha does best: service. For the All Roads Lead to HOME service project, Lori and Alison, representatives from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, helped attendees take a deeper look at the Foundation’s mission and, more importantly, how their work helps find safe, permanent, loving homes for children waiting in foster care.
Members put their knowledge to the test with a foster care and adoption fact-or-myth activity, learned ways they can support the Foundation and individuals impacted by foster care and adoption, and heard more about the important work of the Foundation’s adoption recruiters. We ended the morning by writing thank-you notes to these dedicated professionals, who work tirelessly to find forever families for children waiting in foster care—including older youth and others who can face greater barriers to adoption.
Members learn, serve, and show their appreciation for those working to find forever families during All Roads Lead to HOME with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.
Saturday afternoon began with the State of the Foundation, giving members an opportunity to learn more about the Omega Phi Alpha Foundation’s growth, progress, and impact over the past two years. From there, collegiate and alumni attendees separated into sessions focused on the future of District Summits.
Collegiate members got a head start on planning by gathering with the other chapters in their districts to identify potential Summit dates and determine which chapter would host during the upcoming academic year. Meanwhile, alumni participated in a discussion about what they want from District Summits, what would make them more valuable and appealing to alumni, and how we can encourage greater alumni participation. Their feedback gave the National Team valuable insight that is already helping shape changes to make future District Summits an even better experience for both collegiate and alumni members!
One Last Stop: The Convention Gala
After an afternoon break to relax and get ready, everyone returned dressed to the nines and ready to celebrate! We started the evening by gathering for our official Convention 2026 group photo before heading into the Gala for dinner, awards, and one final night together.
Throughout dinner, we celebrated the accomplishments of our chapters and members during the National Awards presentation and took a special moment to recognize outgoing National Team members Stormy Tidrick, Brooke Velozo, and Jenna Zielinski, thanking each of them for their dedication and service to Omega Phi Alpha.
At the conclusion of the awards presentation, National President Nanda Jayaseelan announced the 2026–2027 President’s Project, Paving Pathways for Education, challenging members and chapters to use service to help expand access to education and educational opportunities in the year ahead. Read more about the 2026–2027 President’s Project.
Then there was only one thing left to do: celebrate! Members filled the dance floor and closed out Convention 2026 dancing, laughing, taking pictures, and enjoying the last night together before heading home the next morning.
Members dressed to the nines celebrate our chapters, recognize outstanding members and volunteers, and dance the night away at the Convention 2026 Gala.
Until We Meet Again
As Convention 2026 came to a close, members left Richmond with new ideas, new friendships, renewed connections, and plenty of memories from a weekend spent learning, serving, and celebrating together. From welcoming first-time attendees to reconnecting with sisters we may only see every few years, Convention is a special reminder that no matter where our individual OPhiA journeys take us, we remain connected through a shared commitment to friendship, leadership, and service.
Thank you to every member, volunteer, vendor, and presenter who helped make Convention 2026 possible—and especially to the 100 members who traveled to Richmond and made the weekend what it was. We hope everyone returned home energized to bring a little bit of that Convention spirit back to their chapters, communities, and everyday lives.
There is still plenty more to celebrate! Be sure to read about our 2026–2027 President’s Project, Paving Pathways for Education, and stay tuned for the digital release of the 2026 Golden Chevron in next week’s blog, where members can take a deeper look at the accomplishments, service, growth, and stories of our chapters and members over the past two years.
And while the road from Richmond may have taken us in different directions, we know it will eventually bring us together again. We’ll see you at Convention 2028!