Chapter's Achievement Week 2008 A Big Success -- Bowie State President Offers Inspiring Message

A lot of people outside Omega Psi Phi Fraternity don't always readily associate the organization with its strong sense of community uplift and involvement. But every year, Omega chapters around the world have paused around the time of founder's week in November to recognize the contributions and achievements of African Americans in the local, state and national communities. Throughout the fraternity, it is called, quite simply, "Achievement Week." For Gamma Pi chapter in Prince George's County, Md., Achievement Week is a much-anticipated event every year in the chapter and in the greater community.

If you attended the Gamma Pi Achievement Week program this weekend, November 15, you witnessed community service in action and you enjoyed a truly uplifting experience. It was a dynamite program that inspired young and old, and, from a historical perspective, this year's program brought special meaning to the events of the past two weeks with the election of America's first African American president.

A crowd of about 200 people filled the auditorium at Drew-Freeman Middle School in Suitland for Gamma Pi's program. They heard a finely woven message about the purpose of friendships, relationships and fraternity from Bowie State President and Gamma Pi chapter Member Dr. Mickey L. Burnim, this year's keynote speaker. Dr. Burnim laid a nice foundation for understanding the fraternitywide Achievement Week theme of "Three Looks, One Focus: Family/Fraternity/Friendship." Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson, also a member of the chapter, participated in the event as a special guest, addressing the audience briefly about the importance of dreaming and dreaming big. He also joined Dr. Burnim in greeting scholarship winners and other awardees. County school board member Pat Fletcher also helped bestow scholarship honors.

Some of the best words of the day were put to music, courtesy of the Gamma Pi chorale, led by Brother Anthony Stewart. The chorus performed several selections that amplified the messages brought from the podium.

During the program, Gamma Pi presented scholarships to local students and awards to community leaders for Citizen of the Year (Rev. Delman Coates), Religious Leader of the Year (Rev. Thomas Byrd), Outstanding Educators (Ms. Earline Richardson and Mr. Stephen A. Stevens) and to two of its own in the chapter for their fraternity achievements: Man of the Year (Basileus, TeddyTaylor) and Superior Service (outgoing Keeper of Records and Seal, Gordon Everett), who very recently relocated to Cincinnati.