"Day of Remembrance" Recalls Departed Members of the Gamma Pi Family

Gamma Pi Brothers pose with families

Every year, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. honors its departed members with areawide Memorial Services. This year, the Gamma Pi Chapter took it a step further by organizing a chapter Memorial Service that paid tribute to Brothers who have entered Omega Chapter as well as family members of chapter Brothers who have gone on. The service was held on Saturday, March 22, at Mount Nebo AME Zion Church in Bowie, where Bro. Dr. Gerald Folsom serves as pastor.

More than 100 Brothers and family members turned out for the occasion. It was anything but solemn. It was uplifting, inspirational and celebratory of the lives that had been lived. The tone was set by Bro. Lt. Gen. (ret.) Rev. R. Scott Dingle, who brought a message of hope and help to the families and Brothers who are all left behind as survivors. Tears were replaced with laughter and fond memories. The focus was on recent passings from the past few years. 

Bro. Rev. Dingle delivers the Word 

With the subject "Pick Up Your Harp," Bro. Dingle encouraged the gathered to continue singing their song despite the grief from their losses, acknowledging that while grief is never-ending, it can be buttressed with the praise of "singing your song" with your harp. Bro. Rev Dingle received a Gamma Pi Scroll of Honor from the Basileus, Bro. Eric Fields.

Bro. Dingle's message obviously resonated. Many of the family members who got up to speak about their loved during the end of the program referenced his remarks and the hope and peace he gave them with The Word. The symbol of the harp was powerful.

The program included musical selections, a poem, a marking of the occasion as well as remarks from Basileus Fields and religious leaders in the chapter. Also, the families were moved when the names on the Scroll of Remembrance slowly flashed up on the screen.

Congrats to Brothers Reginald Thomas and Ronald Swann, co-chairs of the chapter's Protocol Committee, for organizing the event which was the vision of Gamma Pi Basileus Fields. 

Photos courtesy of Brothers John Robinson, Kevin Briscoe and Don Cook

MORE PHOTOS HERE

These are all members of the program team

Bro. Basileus addresses the crowd 

Bro. Rev. Dingle shows off
 Scroll of Honor

Family member  recalls memories

  

Gamma Pi Talent Hunt Strikes A Chord With the Local Community

Every year, Gamma Pi’s Omega Talent Hunt comes around at about the same time, like a birthday. And just like a birthday, the Super Chapter and its patrons look forward to some type of surprise which they got again this year on Saturday, March 8 during the 2025 program featuring high school students from Prince George’s County performing music, dance and visual arts.

From the melodious tickling of the piano keys to the whine of violin strings rubbing against the bows; to brilliant dance moves to stunning artworks, all produced by young people not yet 20 years old, Gamma Pi’s Talent Hunt had it all.

Overall winner Nikole Chavis

About 100 parents and family members of participating students witnessed the surprising new talent at this year’s Gamma Pi Talent Hunt program from the comfortable confines of the auditorium at Charles Flowers High School in Springdale, Md. A total of 19 student contestants were on the program. The competition categories were dance, vocal music, instrumental music, piano and art.

The overall winner was Nikole Chavis of Crossland High School who performed a dance routine to the selection, “I’m in Here,” by Sia, a songwriter and recording artist. She will travel to Buffalo in April to represent Gamma Pi at the Omega Psi Phi Second District Conference Talent Hunt competition. The ultimate competition will be held at the national level when all of Omega Psi Phi meets this summer at its Leadership Conference in Detroit.

Nikole was overcome with emotion when she found out not only that she won the dance category but she was declared the overall winner. It was a happy moment for her and her family.

Schools represented were Charles Flowers and Crossland high schools along with St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School, Georgetown Day School and Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

Bro. Richard Allison, Gamma Pi’s Immediate Past Basileus, served as emcee for the occasion.

A distinguished panel of judges with music and arts backgrounds scored the performances to determine the winners. While on one hand the Talent Hunt is a competition, it is also an opportunity for talented students to showcase their talents, learn how to pursue a dream and persevere until they achieve it, and stretch their mental capacity by identifying and mastering a particular skill or talent. Honing a special talent improves academic skills and encourages growth. Studies have associated participation in music and arts with academic success. Great job by Talent Hut co-chairs Bros. Marcus Davis and Don Myles!

More photos in Dropbox

 

Overall winner Nikole Chavis shows off her creative dance moves below

 

Inspiring art work

These sketches are awesome

Quinton Sothern sings a solo