Alpha Beta Alpha (ABA), a lesser-known student organization at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, is a co-ed library science fraternity that hinges on volunteer work and promotes literacy for all ages.
Kaitlyn Williams, a junior English major who served as president of ABA for the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters, shared the goal of the fraternity.
“ABA’s motto is ‘Books. People. Service. Life.’ In every event we host or partake in, we try to promote literacy and issues surrounding that topic to the community, whether that be just on campus or to Natchitoches as a whole,” Williams said. “I would say that we do what we do because all of us in some form love reading and literature and want to spread these things to others.”
The fraternity offers students, especially ones who would not otherwise have the opportunity, the ability to be involved in a group that surrounds literacy.
Georgia Martinez-Stehr, a freshman biology major and newly elected secretary of ABA, spoke about why she joined ABA.
“I’m loving being a part of ABA and having such a strong community built around a common love of reading and literature that I wouldn’t normally get as a biology major,” Martinez-Stehr said. “My favorite part is probably the service aspect and its focus on preserving written works and educating the youth, which is so important now more than ever.”
ABA’s service aspect is its defining factor. This semester, they hosted a book drive for Read Free Louisiana and volunteered at the Reading on the River event in Natchitoches.
They also bring many literacy promotion events to the NSU campus, such as their annual Shivers and Thrills in October, the Banned Book Week event and the Women’s History Month reading.
Keegan Martinez, a freshman English major, was elected the newest ABA president and spoke about how important the community is to the fraternity.
“Through our service, our community is always growing, and connections are being formed,” Martinez said. “Through our events we put on, we share time with our fellow students and colleagues.”
For those interested in getting involved with ABA, its leaders recommend attending one of their interest meetings held at the beginning of the semester.
“But if you join us at any one of our regular meetings,” Williams said. “You will be welcomed with open arms!”
