Leadership Highlight: Lawrence Awosogba the President of Phi Beta Sigma at Delaware State University

In an effort to highlight the young leaders who are leading undergraduate chapters across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to the brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.’s Gamma Upsilon Chapter at Delaware State University and did an interview with Lawrence Awosogba the president of the chapter.

The position of president of an undergraduate chapter of a Black fraternity is a highly respected role and there is a special pride that one takes. 21-year-old Awosogba has used the position to gain new leadership experience, improve the lives of other students on campus and help the community around him.

We interviewed the Kinesiolgy major and talked about his position, goals, future and what it means to hold a leadership on campus in the digital age.

Read the full interview below.

What does it mean to be a chapter president to you?

Being the president means that you have to continuously keep working hard and making sure wherever everyone else falls short on, you as the head have to pick up slack and make sure the work is done no matter the issue.

What made you decide to attend the Delaware State University for undergrad?

What made me attend Delaware State University was because I started seeing those who went to my high school and started seeing how the university and the environment changed them, my heart started drawing towards that attention and change.

What specific initiatives is your chapter heading up this year and how do you think they will improve the campus/surrounding community?

One of our biggest initiatives is to educate and elevate not only our campus but its community as well. We want to thrive to have programs that will better prepare students for their future as well as the world. Also, we want to create mentorship through these programs so the students and the community will be able to reach out to us not only on business but as well as their lives  and we can elevate them no matter the issue or circumstance they are in.

What made you want to pledge Phi Beta Sigma?

Many reasons made me become apart of the greatest fraternity alive, one was god after praying and not knowing much about the fraternity and orgs, he placed the light on Sigma.

One of the reasons was the brotherhood it came with. Growing up, I was always told to be loyal to what is making you grow as a person. The brothers of Gamma Upsilon pushed me to my limit always making sure I was good and making sure I was growing into the man I was destined to be. The year I decided to devote myself to this life long relationship a lot of adversity was faced but with the help of certain brothers and the love they evolved me around made me see clearly that this is one of the best decision I’ve made thus far.

What is it about your specific chapter that makes it so unique?

My chapter is very unique in so many ways, from the talent that is within the chapter to the great minds.  The energy and love we bring to everything we do makes us so different. The work ethic that comes with the brothers of this chapter makes us so unique in so many ways.

We now live in a digital world, what do you think undergraduate chapters across all orgs need to do to represent themselves online in 2019?

All orgs need to just keep working and carrying out purpose on what there orgs was founded on as well and as they do that they should have fun giving back because that’s what it’s all about — to pour into others they pour into us.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership means everything to me. When people feel like they have nobody to pul them up, the leaders will. When things things are going rocky, the leader will take the right approach to make things better. When we all feel tired, the leader step up and keep working and never quit nor take no for an answer. Leadership means finding a way when there is no way, no matter the issue.

Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black greekdom?

it is important because since our society is huge on social media, this is a great way educate us all as greeks to know what it is to give back what it is to do what can make your greek org grow internally and externally as well.

What does brotherhood mean to you?

Brotherhood means loyalty.  When there is nobody there to uplift you, your brother should be your go-to. When things are rocky and  not working properly, your brother should be able to guide you to the light no matter the issue. Brotherhood is not about physically fighting or showing how loyal you are, it is about mentally fighting and always uplifting the brother to your right or left and making sure he or she succeed in all they do.

What do you plan on doing after graduation?

After Graduation, I plan to go back to school to get my doctorate in physical therapist and also get my athletic training certification, then pursue my dreams of working for the NBA as a head physical therapist and athletic trainer.

We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Awosogba for his work as the president of Gamma Upsilon Chapter which has a long legacy that spans back to 1962.

(This interview was edited for clarity)

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