THIRD DISTRICT MEETING OF
Presents the
Friday, April 11, 2025 Four o’clock in the afternoon
DoubleTree by Hilton
BROTHER OWEN NIXON
Third District Talent Hunt Committee Chairman
OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC.
THE TALENT HUNT IDEA
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Talent Hunt idea was created in the Fraternity’s Sixth District (North and South Carolina) in 1945 and the first District Talent Hunt Program was held in Charlotte, North Carolina on April 19, 1946. The need for such a program was born out of the unequal opportunity afforded to some American youths to develop and give full expression to their talents.
The original statement of the Talent Hunt idea included this expression: “Creative and outstanding capacities in any honorable activity should be eligible for consideration.” In presenting the first public program, the displays of talent were limited to the field of music.
The Talent Hunt idea has become one of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s international projects, with all graduate chapters mandated to conduct an Annual Talent Hunt Program. On the local and district levels, the project is competitive. At the international level, the program is a demonstration. The international program showcases district winners, who by their talent, diligence, ability, and potential appear as guests of the fraternity. At this stage of our growth, the Talent Hunt is proceeding on the international level along three lines:
1) At each session of the Grand Conclave, a Talent Hunt demonstration is presented to the public.
2) In addition, Omega is also interested in what it calls a “Fundamental Search for Talent.”
Here the Fraternity hopes to develop the process and resources through which it can help discover and provide assistance, as may be needed, to young people who have shown and possess talents of outstanding and exceptional quality. The field of interest will not be limited to music but all areas of the performing arts.
3) In our projected planning, we hope to further encourage the contestants on our Talent Hunt programs by recommending them to our chapters and other organizations through-out the United States for presentations in their respective communities.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Talent Hunt contestants have appeared on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour, at the Apollo Theater, Radio City Music Hall, Philadelphia Academy of Music, Philadelphia Civic Center, New York City, Washington, DC Centers for the Performing Arts, the Eastman Theater, etc.
The Talent Hunt program has been very rewarding to the brotherhood of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and many talented youth. We will continue to search for and support our gifted youth!
OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC. THIRD DISTRICT OFFICERS
Brother Shawn R. Lacey
31st Third District Representative
First Vice District Representative
Second Vice District Representative
District Keeper of Records and Seal
District Keeper of Finance
District Counselor
Director of Public Relations
District Chaplain
2025 District Marshal
2026 District Marshal
Immediate Past District Representative
Brother Owen Nixon
Brother Craig M. Spraggins
Brother Zion I. A. Strickland
Brother Craig L. Branch
Brother Orlando (Jay) Allen
Brother J. Kevin McIntyre, Esq
Brother Calvin C. Beidleman, III
Brother Rev. Courtenay L. Miller
Brother S. Franklin Dunn
Brother John Jessup
Brother Conrado B. Morgan
Third District Talent Hunt Committee Chairman
Brother Victor Herbin, III
Third District Talent Hunt Committee Co-Chairman
CORE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Brother Crispin A. Abad, Sr.
Brother Kenneth Williams
Brother Ronnie Palmer
Brother Owen Nixon
Brother Victor Herbin, III
Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter
Phi Phi Chapter
Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter
Gamma Xi Chapter
Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter
THIRD DISTRICT LOCAL TALENT HUNT CHAIRMEN
Brother Art Bailey
Brother Ron Bell
Brother Shawn Brown
Brother Jerome Bynum
Brother Alvin Coleman
Brother Raoul Daggett
Brother James Daniel
Brother Justin Eley
Brother Xavier Fain
Brother Raynard Gibbs
Brother Edward Scottie Hamiel
Brother David Hamlette
Brother Victor Herbin, III
Brother James Holden
Brother Raymond Jarmon
Brother Eric Johnson
Brother Darien Kearney
Brother Malcom Murray
Brother Ivan Orr
Brother Ronnie Palmer
Brother Randal Pearson
Brother Kevin Roach
Brother Freddie Rodgers
Brother Brian Smith
Brother Zedric Teague
Brother James Thornton
Brother DaJuan Walters
Brother Jeff Williams
Brother Kirk Williams
Zeta Omicron Chapter
Upsilon Nu Chapter
Psi Nu Chapter
Lambda Omega Chapter
Zeta Iota Chapter
Alpha Omega Chapter
Omicron Kappa Kappa Chapter
Sigma Kappa Kappa Chapter
Lambda Nu Chapter
Zeta Omicron Chapter
Zeta Mu Mu Chapter
Kappa Iota Iota Chapter
Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter
Delta Omega Chapter
Zeta Mu Mu Chapter
Psi Alpha Alpha Chapter
Delta Omega Chapter
Psi Alpha Alpha Chapter
Xi Iota Chapter
Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter
Gamma Xi Chapter
Tau Rho Chapter
Tau Rho Chapter
Kappa Psi Chapter
Sigma Mu Mu Chapter
Omicron Omega Chapter
Alpha Alpha Chapter
Gamma Alpha Chapter
Alpha Iota Chapter
The Third District of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is made up of 2,000 members with forty-two chapters in the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Panther Creek High School
Kiarah Wilson
Vocalist
Delta Omega
Nu Psi
Omicron Omega
Thomas Dale High School
Alpha
Alpha Omega
Delta Theta
Omicron Gamma
Kappa Psi
Duke Ellington School of the Arts
William Warnick
Pianist
Tau Rho
The Summit Academy
Vocalist
Alpha Alpha
Zeta Omicron
Kappa Iota Iota
Zeta Mu Mu
Gamma Epsilon
Kings Fork High School
Pi Lambda Lambda
Charles Colgan High School
Eva Gonzalez Pianist
Phi Phi
Upsilon Nu
Zeta
Phi Delta
Appomattox Regional Governor’s School
Gamma Xi
Sigma Kappa Kappa
Zeta Iota
Lambda Iota
Lambda Omega
Princess Anne High School
Mathieu V. Mercer
Pianist
Psi Nu
Psi Alpha Alpha
Omicron Kappa Kappa
Yorktown High School
Ariel Infante Drama Interpretation
Sigma Mu Mu
John Champe High School
Congratulations 2025
Talent Hunt Contestants On Your Solid Gold Performances!
Kenya Brown Vocalist “At Last” by Etta James and Harry Warren
Mathieu V. Mercer Pianist “Summer Soft” by Stevie Wonder
Kiarah Wilson Vocalist “Listen” by Beyoncé
William Warnick Pianist “Polonaise in A Major,” by Frédéric Francois ‘Military Polonaise’ Chopin Opus 40 No. 1”
Addison Adams Dancer “Viola!” by Barbara Pravi
Steven Spencer Vocalist “Falling Behind” by Laufey Jonsdottir
Musical Tribute to Brother William “BB” Prentiss …………………………….Brother Owen Nixon Chairman, Third District Talent Hunt
Presentation of Certificates and Awards ………………………………………Brother Owen Nixon Chairman, Third District Talent Hunt
Remarks …………………………………………………………………...Brother Duke Haggins President, Third District Foundation
Closing Remarks …………………………………………………………Brother Shawn R. Lacey Third District Representative
Benediction ………………………………………………..Brother Reverend Courtenay L. Miller Third District Chaplain 9
THIRD DISTRICT TALENT HUNT JUDGES
ANNAMARIE BOLLINO
Dr. Annamarie Bollino brings a wealth of experience and a passion for arts education with over two decades of dedicated service. In her role as Supervisor of the Arts for Prince William County Schools, Annamarie’s educational philosophy centers on the transformative power of arts education to cultivate well-rounded individuals and is deeply committed to ensuring every student has access to a high-quality arts education. As Chair of the National Association for Music Education Music Program Leaders Council and Immediate Past President of the Virginia Music Educators Association, Dr. Bollino is at the forefront of shaping policies and initiatives that advance arts education on a national and state level. Her upcoming role as President-Elect of the Southern Division of NAfME underscores her influence and dedication to the field. Annamarie has experience working with pre-k through the graduate level students and has presented and performed at state, national, and international conferences. Annamarie holds degrees from West Virginia University, George Mason University, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
LOLA VANN MCDOWELL
Lola Vann McDowell is a Retired Richmond Public School teacher who is currently on the Adjunct faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University as a Supervisor of Elementary interns. She is Past President of the Richmond Education Association and is now President of the Virginia Education Association – Retired and a recipient of the VEA-Retired Martha Wood Distinguished Service Award in 2023. Lola studied dance for 10 years as a student at Troy’s School of Dance taking ballet and tap. She owned and operated the Lola V Dancers Dance School for 10 years where she taught ballet, tap, aerobics, jazz and modern dance to students 3 to 13 years of age. She also taught tap and modern dance to students in kindergarten through fifth grade for 6 years in an afterschool program at Woodville Elementary School. Lola holds degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University and Morgan State University.
Mistress of Ceremonies
STEPHANIE MORALES
Commonwealth’s Attorney
Stephanie Morales was the first woman to be elected Commonwealth's Attorney in her city in 2015. A month after taking office, she created sustainable programming aimed at transforming the criminal justice system. She has engaged over 200 youth who she calls "Junior Commonwealth's Attorneys" under her "Future Leaders Initiative."
Under her "CtrI+Alt+Del Program" she has taught effective re-entry strategies in seminars held in the community and inside state prisons to. Three months into Morales' first term an officer in her city killed an unarmed teen. Morales secured an indictment and led the prosecution at jury trial, leading to a voluntary manslaughter conviction of the officer, and resulting in police accountability in her city.
Education: Stephanie Morales is a 2001 I.C. Norcom Honor Graduate, where she was an I.C. Norcom Varsity Cheerleader and a member of the Magnet Program. She is also a 2004 Magna Cum Laude Norfolk State University Graduate, where she was Miss Norfolk State 2002-2003 and where she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in the Spring of 2004. Stephanie Morales was also a member of the Hot Ice Section of the Spartan Legion Marching Band and was a Thurgood Marshall Scholar. Stephanie Morales is also a 2009 graduate of William & Mary Law School where she was a member of the Moot Court Team and served as Research and Development Justice.
Beyond being Commonwealth's Attorney, Stephanie Morales is an author, with a children's book called "The Day I Became A Lawyer." In October 2021, Stephanie Morales was named a "Rising Star" and listed on Forbes' inaugural "For(bes) The Culture 50 Champions List." She has also been honored by many local organizations. Two awards which she is very proud of are the Citizen of the Year Award - Zeta lota Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. - 2017 and the Phenomenal Woman Award- Law, Zeta lota Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.2019.
Commonwealth's Attorney Morales is a founding member of Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime and Incarceration, an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Links, Inc., a Legal Aid Society of South Eastern Virginia Board Member, a William & Mary Law School Alumni Association Board Member, a Spartan Legion Foundation Board Member and is a national board member of the Local Progress Organization.
Most importantly Mrs. Morales is a fierce advocate for justice and a wife and mother of four children. She is proud to work for the community where she was born and raised as a true public servant.
