Chapter News
SOUTHERN Omicron Kappa Lambda Sumter, SC Saturday, July 29, 1995, was an exciting and fun-filled day for many Sumter area children and the Brothers of O m i c r o n Kappa Lambda. This was the first annual Summer Picnic for KIDDIES sponsored by Omicron Kappa Lambda. More than 60 children, 6 to 12 years old, were on hand for the recreational and educational outing at Sumter Swan Lake Garden. This was the first time many of the children had visited Swan Lake. Brother T J. Wilson called the outing "a new beginning for our Alphas and little friends at annual picnic Brothers pictured from left, to Fraternity in the Greater Sumter right: Ivory Canty, James Blassingame, and Irvan Wright, Jr. area." Referring to the young people the outing targeted, Brother Wilson added: "If we can get them at an early age, we can redirect their aggressive, negative behavior by establishing an after school mentoring program and workshops during the summer." The Swan Lake outing had the special support of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and Emmanuel United Methodist Church, both of Sumter, South Carolina.
Iota N u University of Alabama at Birmingham Five of the nine awards presented during the 1994 - 95 Greek Banquet and Awards Ceremony went to members of Iota Nu Chapter. The awards included: The Student Life Excellence Award; the Presidential Award for Excellence; highest overall fraternity gradepoint average; highest individual gradepoint average; and the Outstanding Philanthropic Achievement Award. The highest individual gradepoint average award went to Brother Christopher Ellis. Iota Nu Brothers are also playing major roles in
the student government at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. One Brother was president for the 199494 school year, a Brother is the current president, and nine Brothers are in various other positions with the SGA. Service remains a priority for the Brothers of Iota Nu. They are participants in Red Cross/Donor Drives, the March of Dimes Walk-a-thon, and they hold clothing drives to benefit the homeless. Iota Nu also continues to volunteer at the Firehouse Homeless Shelter, tutor elementary school students in conjunction with the Caring Helps Another Make Progress program, and sponsor Project Alpha and Go to High School Go to College programs at several local schools.
Sigma Delta Elon College, North Carolina The 1994-95 "Stomp" hosted by Elon College Black Cultural Society was declared a big success likely because Sigma Delta won first place. But that was not the highlight of the Chapter's program year. T h e highlight was instead the Fourth Annual Alpha Week program—"Vision for our Black Men." In addition to public presentations on the t h e m e , the week included a m o v i e , "Sugar Hill," support of
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the Special Olympics at Elon College, and a special focus on the plight of the homeless. In addition to food, clothing and other items collected, the Brothers of Sigma Delta organized a "sleep out" to show their concern for the problems of the homeless. The Rev. Dr. Bernard Curry was the keynote speaker for the Alpha Week activities.