Que Kidz Dayz Program Introduces Local Youth to Camping and Outdoors

Photos and Story by Bro. Donald Belle

The Gamma Pi chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. recently partnered with 4-H of Prince George’s County and the Kentland Community Center to host a camping weekend at Watkins Park.  The camping weekend was conducted from May 15^th to May 17^th and the weekend was filled with fun and educational activities.   In true Que fashion, the brothers were first on the scene Friday evening to help setup tents, unload supplies, and welcome more than 30 kids to the campsite. For most all of them it was their first-ever camping experience.

Bro.Orlando McDowell addresses youth

Saturday morning started with a discussion on cardiovascular health.  Brothers stressed the importance of maintaining a healthy heart and taught the students how to take their pulse and calculate heart rate. The students were encouraged to engage in physical activity for at least 60 minutes each day.  After learning about heart rate and exercise the students transitioned into morning warm-ups which consisted of jogging drills, pushups, and stretches. 

Communication and trust was the theme for the next activity as the students completed a blind obstacle course.  While one student provided verbal directions, the other student blindly navigated the obstacles.  The students learned about giving clear and meaningful directions and improved their listening skills while working as a team.  After the obstacle course, students worked on a God’s Eye arts and crafts project and prepared for kickball.  Students put their newly developed communication skills to the test during the kickball game as they traded turns on offense and defense. 

After kickball, the students had a chance to cook-out with the Ques as they dined on burgers/hotdogs with healthy chips and fruit.  The students were even treated to a mini step show by some of the brothers.

The camping weekend was a huge success and a great opportunity for Gamma Pi to partner with other organizations on the most worthy of causes -- our kids. 

Check out more photos below and a YouTube feature video here   

    

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: