On Sunday, May 1, 2022, the Iota Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, hosted its 35th Honours Day Convocation, under the Theme: Don’t Follow the Crowd: Let the Crowd Follow You (Baroness Margaret Thatcher). The Honours Day Convocation honoured 67 of the two top high school graduating male students in The Bahamas from both the public and private school systems for their academic accomplishments and scholastic attainment.
The Speaker was Harry L. Johnson, President and CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Foundation, and 31st General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. In attendance at the convocation were Dr. Roderick L. Smothers, President of Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Arkansas, Dr. Latonia Collins Smith, President of Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Robert Summers, Vice Provost Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. All three institutions awarded scholarships to the Honourees.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York by Seven College Students with scholarship as one of its pillars. The Iota Epsilon Lambda Chapter was chartered in Nassau on May 11, 1977.
The Honours Day Convocation started out in 1987 with a Five Hundred ($500.00) bursary to the Valedictorian. At the Honours Day Convocation the Fraternity awarded $2.8million in scholarships to the Honourees.
During the 35th Honours Day Convocation, honourees wrote General Knowledge, English and Mathematics examinations, and the top students were also interviewed by our panel. The 2022 Timothy Baswell Donaldson Valedictorian Award was captured by Kobe Forbes of St. Augustine’s College. The George H. Sherman Salutatorian Awards were captured by Jee’Von Pratt of St. Augustine’s College and D’Ron Strapp of Aquinas College. The Holland G. Smith Family Island Scholar was awarded to Anthony Taylor of Sunland Baptist Academy, Freeport. The Rev. Dr. O. A. Pratt Emerging Leader Award was awarded by Nathan Hart of C.V. Bethel High School.
The following Honourees received full academic four-year scholarships including tuition room and board totaling $2.8 million to attend the
The Men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Iota Epsilon Lambda Chapter thank the parents and guardians, principals, guidance counsellors, Bahamasair, Commonwealth Bank Limited, Holowesko Partners, Insurance Commission of The Bahamas Odyssey Aviation, Woslee Construction Company Ltd, Dr. Woodley Thompson, Nassau Underwriters Agency, Walk-In Clinic, Paradise Healthcare, Quality Home Center, Royal Fidelity Bank, Royal Fidelity Bank & Trust and CIBC FirstCaribbean for their support and commitment to the Honours Day Convocation.
Special thanks to our network of College and University Presidents including Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President/CEO the United Negro College Fund, Dr. Dwuan Warmack. President, Calflin University, Orangeburg, South Carolina Dr. Roderick L. Smothers, President, Philander Smith College Little Rock Arkansas, Dr. Latonia Collins Smith, President, Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Logan Hampton, Lane College, Jackson, Tennessee, Dr. Lester C. Newman, President, Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, Texas, Dr. Makola Abdullah, President, Virginia State University, Spartanburg, Virginia, Dr. Hakim Lucas, President, Virginia Union University, Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Sidney McPhee, President, Middle Tennessee State University and Dr. Robert Summers, Vice Provost for International Student Affairs, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee for their trust and unwavering support of the Honours Day Convocation.