Gamma Pi Welcomes 12 New Men into Omega Psi Phi

While any organization wants to see itself survive far into the future through the generations, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,Inc. doesn't have to bring in new members. Only when it identifies quality men who fit the stringent standards of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift does the Fraternity add to its rolls,  Gamma Pi chapter did that recently when it welcomed new initiates into the Fraternity. On Friday, May 8, a dozen new initiates entered the fold as part of  "The Transformers XII." The new members attended their first-ever Fraternity meeting on Saturday, May 16 and have joined Gamma Pi at an interesting time, as the chapter was just named Graduate Chapter of the Year (for large chapters) at the recent 67th Second District Conference in Teaneck, N.J. Above, the new members pose for an official photo with their Dean, Bro. Dr. Harrison Foy, DVM, and Assistant Dean Richard Allison II.  The new members from left to right (back row): Mabili Akinyele, Kevin Ford, Jr., Wilbur Lucus, Jason Crump, Esq., Rapheal Terrell, David Jackson, Tyrone Smith, Perryn Stewart, James Riley, Shake Alieu, Kevin Spencer and Terrance Hare. 
                                                                            

Gamma Pi Brother Paves the Way for 3 Chapter Offspring to Get Full Rides to His Alma Mater

Bro. Dr. Foy checks out his surprise gift

The spring can be a stressful time of year for families with high school seniors who are about to graduate. Not only are they burdened with tasks related to graduation, but many are anxious about the upcoming cost of college. Even those who get scholarship funds and financial aid still find themselves short to cover the escalating costs of higher education. For three families in Gamma Pi, the expense of college was significantly lessened recently thanks to the coveted “full ride” scholarships their daughters were awarded to attend Tennessee State University (TSU).

TSU President Dr. Glover

There is a definite Omega Psi Phi connection. The students are all from families of Gamma Pi chapter Brothers. Shayla Danielle Simmons of Grace Brethren Christian School (Bro. Tommie Boone and wife Gayle); Kirsten Beverly of Gwynn Park High (Bro. Rodney Beverly and wife Josette); and Victoria Gourdin of Saint Stephens and Saint Agnes (Bro. Vaughn Gourdin and wife Kelly), will all be attending TSU in the Fall to become members of the Class of 2019. To attend Tennessee State, tuition alone (without room and board) is approximately $11,000 per semester for out-of-state students.  And here is another Omega link: The husband of TSU president Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover is a member of Omega Psi Phi, having pledged the Fraternity at Tennessee State soon after Gamma Pi's Bro. Dr. Harrison Foy, DVM.

The Omega connection came through Bro. Dr. Foy, a Tennessee State alumnus (Rho Psi ’67), who personally pitched the students’ academic and personal qualities and is a friend and fellow TSU alumnus of school president Dr. Glover. As a result they were offered four-year “full ride” scholarships. A fourth student, Brandon Jones, who participates in Gamma Pi’s Project ENRICH college preparatory program, was offered in-state tuition rates. All students will begin classes at the school in the Fall.

The families held a celebratory dinner on Sunday, April 12 at the Fort Washington home of Bro. Gourdin. It was an opportunity to meet each other and also to share their aspirations of leaving home together to attend college far away. The young women revealed their career interests: Victoria is interested in law and computer forensics, Shayla in journalism and Kirsten is interested in pediatric dentistry. Brandon Jones and his family were unable to attend due to a prior scheduling conflict.

Dr. Foy was also joined for the occasion by his wife Dr. SanYvette Foy, DVM (Alabama A&M undergrad) and Bro. Willie Hines, who directs Gamma Pi’s Project ENRICH program. Bro. Dr. Foy and Bro. Hines have been investigating ways to create more scholarship opportunities like TSU through Project ENRICH. The families presented Bro. Dr. Foy with a watch – to be inscribed -- as a token of their appreciation for his tireless work on behalf of their students.

Essays Help Project ENRICH Students Gain Confidence on the Road to College

It is a time to get nervous. Sometimes it is a time to be self conscious. Or even flustered. but one thing for sure, for students participating in Gamma Pi chapter's Project ENRICH essay program, it was a time to get valuable experience addressing an audience. The most recent essay program was held Saturday morning, April 18, at Bowie State University’s Thurgood Marshall Library.

The annual essay program is part of the yearlong curriculum that the chapter executes during monthly Saturday sessions for high school students at Bowie State. Each grade group is given a topic to address. This year, the topics were as follows:

Freshmen: Describe or refute the statement: "Technology is good for modern culture.

Sophomores: What is your life goal and how will you accomplish it

Juniors: Describe your greatest achievement

Seniors: Describe a moment in your life that significantly altered
how you felt about your pursuit of a college education.

It was not just about the speeches. It was also about each student's story. One young man wanted to become a veterinarian. Another one waned to enter the Information Technology field. Another student expressed interest in pursuing anesthesiology and one particularly eloquent young man gave a powerful personal testimony of how he recently converted his interest from international relations (after hearing Bro. Teddy Taylor’s presentation to Project ENRICH over a year ago) to a career as a religious foreign missionary.

More than a dozen students representing all four classes (freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors) gave their presentations Saturday to parents, fellow students and Brothers of Gamma Pi who were gathered in the auditorium. Each student received constructive feedback from a panel of Gamma Pi judges including Director Bro. Willie Hines, and Brothers Lucian Cox, Marc Ellington and Reginald Thomas.

The essay program has long been one of the biggest priorities of Project ENRICH director Bro. Hines, who views public speaking as a major ingredient in students’ confidence and overall communications ability.

Project ENRICH will hold its closing program on May 30.

Alisha Jennings, Class of 2016, makes her presentation: 

Talent Hunt 2015 A "Showstopper" All the Way Around: Sights and Sounds

Winner Kayla McDonald with Basileus Brian K. Long
and Talent Hunt Chair Leroy Barton, Jr.

If you were inside the auditorium of Brother Charles H. Flowers High School in Springdale on Saturday afternoon, March 14, you would have thought for a while you were sitting front and center inside the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem. The only thing missing was the infamous Apollo "Sandman," who wasn't needed here because there were no "duds" on stage at Gamma Pi's Annual Talent Hunt . It was all good.

The melodic voices, the sharp sounds of finely tuned instruments, the awe-inspiring dance moves and the captivating emotion of dramatic readings made you feel like you were watching tomorrow's stars today. In many respects you were, as Gamma Pi showcased the dynamic talents of area high school students, delighting the audience of about 400 who turned out to take in the entertainment and fine arts.

Participants lined up across the stage

A total of 33 students participated, including 11 who displayed artwork. As in previous years, trying to pick a winner from such an outstanding field was next to impossible. To help ease the pain of having to choose from so many talented contestants, Gamma Pi, as always, employed a panel of professional music and fine arts educators to serve as judges, including the manager for legendary R&B act Earth, Wind &Fire.

The performance categories were instrumental classical, instrumental contemporary, vocal contemporary, drama and art. Students represented public and private high schools from Prince George's County and surrounding communities.

Audience enjoying the competition

Flowers High School senior Kayla McDonald was the overall winner and also took first place in drama. She performed vocals on the selection "My Funny Valentine" by Richard Rodgers, and was accompanied by her father, Charles McDonald. She also performed a drama routine from the Tyler Perry movie, "For Colored Girls Only." Graceson Moore (Suitland High) won in the instrumental classical category, Aston Woolery (Suitland) won the instrumental classical piano category, Nylah Drummond (Flowers High) was selected winner in the vocal contemporary category and she also won the dance category, and Oluferanmi Quadrias won in the dance division. A full list of winners is below,.

"The display of talent is awesome. It gets more stunning every year ," said Bro. Dr. Leroy Barton, Jr., the chapter's longtime Talent Hunt chairman."It's real encouraging to know we have so many youth with so much talent They all have such a bright future."

Juwan Blocker performs a drama piece

Like the classic "Amateur Night at the Apollo" and the more recent "American Idol," the Gamma Pi Talent Hunt excited and engaged the audience. From well-timed applause to cheers to standing ovations and oohs and aaahs, members of the audience found numerous ways to demonstrate their love for the contestants.

What really makes Talent Hunt special is the diversity of the performances in styles of vocal and instrumental music, dance and drama. In other words, there was something for everybody at Talent Hunt 2015. It was definitely an afternoon and evening to remember. Watch a special video presentation below:

VIDEO FEATURE

Dramatic Interpretation/Drama

First Place – Kayla McDonald*

Second Place – Mauriana Calhoun

Third Place – Juwan Blocker

Instrumental Classical

First Place – Graceson Moore

Second Place – Renee Banks

Third Place – Zakiyyah Thompson

Instrumental – Classical Piano

First Place – Aston Woolery

Second Place – MaKenzie Sherman

Third Place – Jesse H. Springfield

Vocal Contemporary

First Place – Nyah Drummond

Second Place – Kayla McDonald

Third Place – Diangelo K. Scott

                                                                                               

Dance

First Place – Nyah Drummond

Visual Art

First Place – Oluferanmi Quadri

Second Place – Melissa Gessner

Third Place – Terris Johnson

* overall winner