Growing up in Morgantown, West Virginia, it was almost a given that Virginia Theta Ashley Faulkner would attend the local university. But during her senior year of high school, she decided to expand her college search. Stepping on the Washington and Lee University (W&L) campus, it clicked with Ashley – this is what a college campus should look like.
Once Ashley joined Pi Beta Phi Fraternity she began to notice friends from high school were also members of Pi Phi. She was excited to see their connections in another way.
She also started to see that friends from other states were Pi Phis. From seventh grade through high school, Ashley was a member of Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), a co-curricular society for leadership development focused on family and consumer sciences in West Virginia. Her involvement in the organization allowed her many leadership opportunities and the chance to travel all over the country for conferences and events. It was during those trips that Ashley met other young people from across the country.
As a junior in high school, Ashley served as National Vice President of Finance for FCCLA. During her service, Ashley met other young men and women who had held the same role. The girl that held the position four years prior reached out to Ashley when she realized Ashley was going to join Pi Phi; this girl was Virginia Zeta Samantha Jenkins. Samantha lives in the Washington D.C. metro area three hours from W&L, so she asked if she could attend Ashley’s initiation. The answer was easy: Yes! A Virginia Zeta tradition was shared at Virginia Theta when Samantha gifted Ashley with a Pi Phi blanket, similar to what she received at her own initiation.
Being part of national and international organizations, Ashley witnesses how valuable it is to connect with people everywhere, not just those immediately around you. She is very thankful to have the type of support system these organizations provide because it is comforting to seek friendship and advice from her friends who share the same values.