The Kent State chapter of Alpha Eta Rho is centered around the ideas of community and mentorship. Many of our activities are designed to encourage our members to build relationships, whether it be with other members, or with industry professionals. Within our organization, we uphold these ideals through mentorship opportunities, networking and guest speaker events, and social outings with not just our chapter, but other clubs on campus or different chapters of Alpha Eta Rho. Below is a more detailed list of just some of our events and programs that occur throughout the semester.
New Member Rush
Each semester, we host a fraternity style rush. This rush period includes social and networking events such as bowling, cookouts, tailgates, and more! These events allow potential new members to see what membership looks like, and to talk to current members about their experiences with the fraternity.
Bigs and Littles
We match each new member to a current member, and encourage the pair to form a mentor-mentee relationship. These matches can be based on common interests, majors, or ideas, and provide each new member with both a friend and resource in the industry. Since we implemented this program in our chapter, we have seen members create strong bonds that have supported them throughout their education, and into their careers.
Guest Speakers/Networking Events
As a chapter, we have several reoccurring opportunities for members to meet with industry professionals and other students of aviation. We frequently host guest speakers that can provide information on a large span of aviation related topics, which helps students learn more about potential career paths. We also encourage members to attend the Alpha Eta Rho National Conference, which occurs every spring, and allows our students to make connections with fellow members from across the country.
Tours
Our chapter's advantageous location within Northeast Ohio provides us with many opportunities for facility and museum tours. In the past, we have visited local airports, dispatch facilities, and even the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum. These visits allow our members to see an average day in the industry for themselves, and gain insight into their future careers.
Social Events
Each semesters' schedule is not complete without social events hosted by the chapter. We have a mix of scheduled social events during rush, and pop up events for anyone who wishes to attend. Our chapter takes advantage of the opportunities around Kent Campus, such as ice skating, bowling, and restaurants. These events help us to build a network of friendships between members that will support members throughout their careers.
Fundraising
We host fundraising events throughout the semester, for either general funds, or to support a specific endeavor. These fundraisers are held with the goal of minimizing the financial participation for members; For example, we often host fundraisers specifically to raise money for members to attend our national conference(s), allowing more people to attend and benefit from the event.
Community Service
It is our duty as members of Alpha Eta Rho to inspire confidence in aviation to the public, and one of the ways we do so as a chapter is through community service. Many of our members have chosen to donate their time to support local air shows, volunteer at campus soup kitchens, or spend time making holiday cards for local care facilities. We as a chapter are grateful for the support we receive from the on and off campus community, and are thankful for the opportunity to support our communities in return.