ABOUT US
OUR MISSION AND STORY
OUR PILLARS
The KOA brotherhood is founded on four pillars: Networking, Enthusiasm, Service and Transformation. Together, they form the basis of our NEST, the community and family we're building on campus.
SERVICE
SCHOLARSHIP
Kappa Omega Alpha (KOA) is the premier public policy professional fraternity at the University of Maryland. Our mission is to create a brotherhood of leaders who work together.
The University of Maryland KOA chapter was established in 2018 by then sophomore Jacqueline Ford, working with UMD faculty advisor Jennifer Littlefield and the University of Michigan KOA (first chapter established in 2009). In the spring of 2018, the UMD Professional Greek Council (PGC) recognized KOA as an observer member, and that summer KOA became an official student organization recognized by Orgsync.
OUR VALUES
We expect our members to uphold three values: Respect, Integrity and Grit. The acronym created by these values reminds us to RIG ourselves for success on these ideals that we practice daily as Terps, friends, interns and everything we are.
TRANSFORMATION
SCHOLARSHIP
The KOA Service Scholarship will provide funding for KOA members who are eager to continue their educational and professional development in graduate or professional school. With the KOA Service Scholarship, KOA members will be able to actively develop into public policy professionals committed to serving their respective communities.
The KOA Transformation Scholarship will provide financial assistance to KOA members who have secured an unpaid internship. The KOA Transformation Scholarship will facilitate the advancement of KOA members into public policy professionals through meaningful work-based learning opportunities.