Member Spotlight: Ava Valesi

We are so excited to spotlight one of our members, Ava Valesi. Ava is a Junior here at UCF majoring in Integrated business with a minor in Event Management. She has been in the Zeta Omega chapter for three years now, and loves it more every day.

Originally from New Jersey, Ava didn’t have her heart set on any specific school. “I toured more than 20 schools my senior year, and UCF wasn’t even on my radar at first.” she says. “The moment I stepped on campus, I just knew. It sounds cheesy, but I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.”

In Fall of 2023, Ava went through formal recruitment here at UCF. “From the very first day of recruitment, every girl I talked to in ADPi felt like someone I’d known forever… It felt familiar in the best way, like home.” she says fondly. Ava ran home to our chapter and hasn’t looked back since.

These past three years have held some of Ava’s favorite moments. She loves the big events, but the little things have really shaped her experience. “It’s the small sisterhood moments; the crafts, the meal plan dinners, the nights spent together; those mean everything to me.”

In November, Ava stepped into her first executive board position as Vice President of Recruitment with so much excitement and anticipation. “I never thought I would actually have a position.” Encouraged by friends, she decided to go for it, committing to a decision that has changed her perspective entirely. “It’s honestly changing who I am as a person.” Her position has given her an increasing amount of confidence in her capabilities. “I’ve learned that I have a much better work ethic than I thought,” she shared. “We underestimate what we’re capable of, but once someone believes in you, it makes the world of a difference.”

Ava finds inspiration in so many people in her life, but gives a special omen to Milan and Camille. “It's just like, even the way they carry themselves, like Milan and Camille being president and VP of Operations right now… they've worked their way up the executive board this the past two, three years… knowing how much they've accomplished, and that I can do the same is really inspiring to me. And them also being my close friends makes it that much better.”

In her personal life, Ava is very passionate about pop culture, entertainment, and events. “My role as VPR has honestly started to prepare me for something like that in the future,” she said. She’s currently applying for internships and embracing this season of growth in her life.

For those going through recruitment, Ava offers heartfelt advice: “Go in with an open mind. It’s easy to get caught up in social media and marketing. But when I went through recruitment, I didn't even really look at that stuff at all, and I went in with a really open mind. Rejection is always redirection. You’ll end up exactly where you’re meant to be.” She goes on, “it's going to be your home for a reason, and those are the people that are going to change your life over the next four years”. To Ava, being an Alpha Delta Pi means being “well-rounded, loyal, driven, and committed. Someone who thrives off human connection.”

She continues, “We love to have fun, but we also love to grow and push each other. We make each other better.”