Another Successful Project ENRICH Year Closes With Annual Scholarship Banquet

The Memorial Day weekend is generally considered the unofficial start of the summer vacation season. But when it comes to our young people's education, Gamma Pi never takes a vacation. That is why the Brothers who work with Project ENRICH and the Charles Drew Memorial Scholarship Fund were all  "on duty" Saturday at the National Wildlife Visitors Center in Laurel along with a full contingent of parents and students for the Third Annual Scholarship Banquet.

The purpose of the scholarship banquet was to recognize seniors who received more than $5 million in scholarship funds this year, including 10 students from Prince George's County schools of which three were from Project ENRICH who received $3,000 each from the Charles Drew Memorial Scholarship Fund. In addition, the program honored essay contest winners who competed at all four grade levels (9-12) in April, as well as the Parent of the Year and the School of the Year for the just-completed 2024-25 academic calendar. 

This year's class was comprised of 35 seniors, 32 juniors, 22 sophomores and 14 freshmen, according to program chairman Bro. Dr. George Montgomery, Jr. These students come from 25 local schools.

American Urban Radio Network White House beat reporter Ebony McMorris brought forth a strong and interesting keynote speech that connected with students and parents. Her message centered on students -- and their parents -- seeing themselves through the lens of success, talent, and prosperity. " Speaking metaphorically about the power of the lens, she challenged the students, especially the seniors, to capture their stories, shape their images and keep the "focus" on their stories. "Each of you were born at the right time and chosen for a time such as this. What will you do with the lens that you have been given?"

Students also heard from Charles Drew chairman Bro. Brett Blake, along with vice chair Bro. Willie Hines, Bro. Dr. John Howard, Bro. Brian K. Long, former program director Bro. James Riley, Jr. and Gamma Pi Basileus Bro. Eric Fields, who reminded students that getting a scholarship was about more than just the money but also about the responsibility to use it to achieve success.

This year Project ENRICH will celebrate 40 years. It began with a plan to close the education gap between Black and White students. In the program's existence, a total of 922 students have completed Project ENRICH with a 100% college placement rate. Also during this time the Charles Drew Memorial Scholarship Fund has awarded $1.5 million to deserving Prince George's County seniors and Project ENRICH scholars.

At the end of the program, students and families enjoyed a hearty catered meal at the venue. You can see more photos here. You can also view, download and save the official program guide at this link.

"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

Gamma Pi Collaborates with Prince George's County TV and the Divine 9 to Produce a County Executive Candidates Forum

A full house watches and listens to the candidates

With just a few days to go before the primary election for the office of Prince George's County Executive, county residents are able to watch and listen to the candidates explain their positions, plans and priorities for the county during a Candidates Forum held and taped on Monday, February 17 and is now available for on-demand viewing on PGCTV.

The forum was taped in front of a live audience -- a full house -- at the Higher Calling Ministries church in in Upper Marlboro. All nine candidates representing both the Democratic and Republican parties participated. Students from two local high schools were also on hand to ask questions of the candidates. 

The Candidates Forum is now airing on the PGCTV Government Channel (Comcast Ch. 70 / Verizon Ch. 42). The remaining air times for this week are 8:30 p.m. through Friday. Future air dates and times are forthcoming and will be updated here. The event will also be posted in Gamma Pi Chapter's YouTube page until the special election on June 3.

Bro. Jason Crump

The Brothers of Gamma Pi had a big hand in this community event from the planning to the execution to the media coverage.

It started with Gamma Pi's Bro. Jason Crump, Esq., who founded the local Divine 9 (D-9) organization, spearheaded the idea to organize the debate through the D-9 group. Jack and Jill of America. Inc. was also involved in sponsoring the program. 

While Bro. Crump led from the stage as the host and as a co-moderator with Tamara Davis Brown, esq., of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., three Gamma Pi Brothers manned all three PGCTV cameras recording the broadcast -- William Lloyd, Jeffrey Edwards and Anthony Boyd.

"The success of the candidates forum just goes to show the amazing synergy that is created when our Black Greek Letter organizations work collaboratively," said Crump. "The whole is greater than the sum of its individual parts."

Gamma Pi's Public Relations Committee, of which Brothers Lloyd, Edwards and Boyd are members, also played a role in the televising of the forum. The committee used its longstanding relationship with PGCTV to arrange with the station for the on-site recording and rebroadcasting of the two-hour 21-minute program for on-demand access. PGCTV has taped and broadcasted Gamma Pi's Community UPLIFT public affairs show since 2016.

Candidates: Rushern Baker III, Aisha Braveboy, Marcellus Crews, Calvin S. Hawkins, Jr., Ron Hunt, George McDermott, Albert Slocum, Tonya Sweat, Alonzo T. Washington, The event was shared with the larger DMV community. The following local TV news channels and newspaper covered the forum:

WUSA Ch. 9

WJLA Ch. 7

Fox 5

The Washington Informer

Photos by Bro. George DuBose

Gamma Pi's William Lloyd mans a camera in a Fox 5 report

Candidates Aisha Braveboy and Rushern Baker onstage

Candidate Calvin Hawkins

A wide view of all the candidates onstage

Co-Moderator Davis Brown

Students got a chance to ask questions