September 2, 2025 — The doors at East Linden Elementary School swung open to greet our future leaders by fellow community leaders themselves. On the first day of school, young scholars surged forward with big smiles to the rhythmic applause of sharply dressed men in purple and gold.
These weren’t ordinary greeters. They were members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Eta Nu Nu Chapter.
The gentlemen stood shoulder-to-shoulder in a line of support, encouragement, and unshakeable presence. As students poured into school for the first day of the school year, they were met not just with claps, but with smiles, affirmations, and a reminder that a village was cheering them on. For many, it was the first time they had ever walked into school greeted like champions.
That moment set the tone for this school year. The students would quickly learn that these weren’t guests passing through, but mentors, guides, and consistent presences who returned again and again to encourage them, challenge them, and celebrate their growth.
CCS Students at the Center
Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, this fraternity chapter, affectionately known throughout the Linden community as “the Ques,” did far more than clap. The Chapter’s impact can be seen throughout the district in classrooms, cafeterias, coat closets, community centers, and beyond.
“It really comes back down to our cardinal principles: manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift,” said Gregory Riggins, chair of Eta Nu Nu’s social action committee. “Everything we do in the schools and community is driven by that.”
It comes as no surprise that the Eta Nu Nu Chapter was recently honored by the Columbus Board of Education with a nomination as well as a formal resolution of recognition for the prestigious Friend of Public Education Award. The Ohio School Board Association (OSBA) selected Columbus City School’s (CCS) partner organization to receive the award as a result of the Chapter’s commitment to educational advancement and community service throughout Franklin County.
From mentoring young boys over monthly breakfasts to handing out thousands of STEM books across CCS, Eta Nu Nu’s outreach was nothing short of extraordinary.
A Year of Service by the Numbers
In the 2024-2025 academic year, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Eta Nu Nu Chapter:
- Donated 2,500 STEM books to 24 CCS elementary schools
- Gave 1,500 more STEAM books to 15 additional schools
- Purchased and distributed over $20,000 worth of STEM equipment
- Funded multiple field trips for East Linden Elementary School students to COSI, Franklin Park Conservatory, and Circle S Farms
- Launched two Chess for Success programs, teaching strategic thinking to 4th–6th graders at East Linden and Linden STEM Academy
- Co-hosted a Game for Grades reward trip to a Dallas Mavericks game in Cleveland for Linden-McKinley STEM High School students
- Distributed Black History Month books to pre-K and kindergarteners in seven CCS schools
- Donated coats, hats, and gloves in partnership with Kingdom Knowledge Foundation
- Provided monthly fifth-grade boys’ mentoring breakfasts, culminating in awards and heartfelt recognition in front of proud parents
This isn’t a group that shows up once and disappears. They return, they remember names, and students remember them.
“I’ve gone to different schools, and I have some of the boys from previous years come up to me like, ‘Mr. Riggins! Mr. R!’” Riggins said. “That just warms my heart.”
Mentoring Over Muffins
One of the most beloved and enduring initiatives is the fifth-grade boys’ mentoring breakfast at East Linden Elementary.
Once a month, the gym transforms into a sacred space: equal parts classroom and community hub. Over breakfast and brotherly conversation, students learn about self-respect, accountability, and courage. Guest speakers from various professions, including engineers, professors, and lawyers, share life experiences and practical wisdom.
“We talk about what it takes to be a man, how to be polite, how to treat each other,” Riggins explained. “Sometimes I use pieces from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s book about manhood. Never do anything on a dare. Be your own person. Help others.”
At the end of each session, the boys run relay races or shoot hoops, encompassing a perfect blend of mind, body, and spirit.
Clapping In, Setting Goals
This past year, fraternity members also participated in “clap-ins” at several CCS schools, including Walnut Ridge High School, Champion Middle School, and Windsor STEM Academy, on the first day of school. These simple but powerful moments of recognition spark pride and set a tone of belonging.
Eta Nu Nu doesn’t stop at first impressions. At Walnut Ridge, the fraternity joined report card conferences every quarter, reviewing student progress one-on-one and setting academic goals for the future.
“It’s really about positive reinforcement,” said Riggins. “We sit with the students, go over their grades, and talk about what’s next. It’s that consistent encouragement that makes a difference.”
STEAM and the Power of Exposure
With Riggins himself an engineer, it's no surprise that STEAM learning is a central focus. The fraternity has championed Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics STEM/STEAM education with enthusiasm, putting thousands of books in the hands of CCS students and purchasing equipment for hands-on learning opportunities.
“Growing up, I didn’t know what engineering was,” Riggins said. “Students should know what professions are out there. We want to open their eyes early while they’re still dreaming.”
That’s where programs like Chess for Success come in: to foster focus, logic, and perseverance. Chess for Success gives students tools to think critically, solve problems, and build patience. One move at a time, they learned that persistence pays off.
“By teaching chess, students learn to do more critical thinking and how to resolve problems,” Riggins said. “It gives them another path.”
Spreading Holiday Cheer
Students felt the fraternity’s support in moments of need and celebration. When the temperatures dropped, children at East Linden received coats, hats, and gloves. During the holidays, they left community events with gift cards in hand and stories in their imaginations.
Eta Nu Nu partnered with the Kingdom Knowledge Foundation to hand out coats, gloves, and hats to East Linden students.
When the holidays rolled around, they joined the annual Carols on Cleveland event, giving away gift cards to teens and reading to children.
“I read ‘The Life of Jesse Owens’ that day,” Riggins recalled. “It’s a reminder that greatness can come from right here in Ohio.”
Uplift in Action
The fraternity’s mantra, “lifting as we climb,” is more than a slogan.
It’s visible in every book handed out, every high-five on a clap-in morning, and every student who walks a little taller after breakfast with the Ques.
Their work aligns closely with the Columbus City Schools Portrait of a Graduate, fostering traits like critical thinking, leadership, empathy, adaptability, and self-awareness.
For the members of Eta Nu Nu, it’s not about checklists; it’s about impact.
“One of the surveys from our fifth grade boys said, ‘Don’t do anything on a dare. Respect others.’ And I thought, wow, they’re really listening,” Riggins said. “That’s what gets me. That’s what matters.”
Looking Ahead
With a successful year behind them and new ideas already bubbling, the Eta Nu Nu Chapter is planning to grow its reach, deepen relationships with CCS schools, and expand its signature programs.
“We’re always evolving,” said Riggins. “Every year, we try to come up with something new to make it better.”
Founded in 1911, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is one of the oldest historically Black fraternities in the United States. The Eta Nu Nu Chapter, based in Columbus, lives out that legacy through its laser focus on education and equity, particularly in the Linden neighborhood.
“We’ve kind of adopted the Linden community,” said Riggins. “It’s where many of our brothers grew up. There’s a need there, and we’re committed to showing up consistently.”
That commitment has taken shape in both grand gestures and small, meaningful moments. Each initiative is thoughtfully crafted to support the holistic development of CCS students and done with joy, intention, and heart.
The Eta Nu Nu Chapter is helping students discover who they are and imagine who they might become. That consistency is what students remember most: the same smiling faces at clap-ins, the same encouraging words at report card time, the same laughter over muffins and orange juice.
If the laughter echoing from a gym full of fifth graders is any indication, the Eta Nu Nu Chapter isn’t just serving the community. The Chapter is inspiring the next generation to lead it.
WATCH: Eta Nu Nu Community Service Award from the Columbus City School Board on August 5, 2025
LEARN MORE: For more information about the Eta Nu Nu Chapter and its ongoing service initiatives, visit www.614ques.org.
