Omega Psi Phi fraternity celebrates brotherhood, excellence during Achievement Week

ALBANY – The men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity are preparing once again to celebrate their annual Achievement Week, a weeklong series of events dedicated to recognizing excellence, service, and fellowship. 

Achievement Week is a mandated program for Omega Psi Phi fraternities across the country to recognize member achievements. 

“We just want to take the time to recognize all that the brothers do throughout the course of the year,” Elijah Macon said. “It promotes a level of pride in the organization.”

The week will take place from Nov. 9-17, coinciding with the fraternity’s founding date, Nov. 17, 1911. Locally, the celebration will be hosted by the area’s active chapter of 137 members. Macon said he expects many of those active members to take part in the celebration and multiple events are open to the broader community as well. 

Macon said Achievement Weeks are designed to promote the study of Negro life and history.

Throughout the week, members and guests will participate in a variety of activities, from worship and community service to awards and fellowship gatherings. The highlight of the celebration will be the Achievement Week Banquet, during which the fraternity recognizes outstanding individuals with honors such as Omega Man of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Superior Service Award, and Leadership Awards. 

Beyond celebrating personal and chapter accomplishments, the event encourages reflection on African American heritage and contributions. It also serves as an opportunity for reclamation and re-dedication — encouraging inactive members to reconnect with the fraternity’s mission and continue their service in the community.

The schedule for this year’s celebration is full of meaningful moments. The opening service will take place Nov. 9 at Shiloh Baptist Church, featuring guest speaker Bishop Staccato Powell. The following Sunday, on Nov. 16, the culminating banquet will feature Reginald Harris, former Omega Psi Phi Seventh District pepresentative, as keynote speaker.

Other major events include a luncheon honoring the fraternity’s elder members at the Bridge Builders Luncheon.

“We just want to take the time to celebrate them because they paved the way for a lot of us who are younger in the organization,” Macon said. “We take them out to lunch, we pay for the meal. We just sit down and just enjoy a great type of fellowship and learn from them on those days.”

In the spirit of service, this year’s community outreach project will focus on feeding local workers on the Oglethorpe Bridge.

“We’re planning to feed the gentlemen who are working on the bridge here in Dougherty County,” Macon said. “We know that those guys are probably forgotten about … so we’re going to go out this year and make sure that we feed those gentlemen.”

Achievement Week also features a high school essay contest, a national initiative that encourages local students to reflect on important social topics. Macon said winners receive a cash scholarship, and those essayists can go on to win at the district level as well as international.

This year’s observance also will spotlight the Chi Epsilon Chapter at Albany State University, which recently earned the title of International Undergraduate Chapter of the Year — a first-time honor for the university’s chapter. 

“Out of all the chapters in the entire fraternity that are undergraduates, our chapter was recognized as the top chapter internationally,” Macon said. “We definitely want to highlight those young brothers over on campus at Albany State University for that great work.”

Reflecting on his own experiences, Macon, who has been awarded Omega Man of the Year twice, said it’s a great honor. 

“It’s a great feeling to see the brothers rally around you and tell you how much they appreciate the hard work and energy you put into the work that we do,” he said.