Feb. 11—For 37 years, the Aiken Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity — Aiken Alphas — has been making a difference in the lives of young men and the community.
“Being able to see people who look like me and doing positive things in the community are providing services in the forefront in the community,” Dr. Jamel Hodges said.
Hodges is one of many members of the local chapter Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., which serves through acts of philanthropy and various programs.
The Black Greek organization was founded by seven Black men in 1906 at Cornell University as a way to recognize the need for a strong bond of brotherhood for African descendants in the United States, according to a fraternity website.
The fraternity is part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, which includes nine historical Black fraternities and sororities, and many more.
Its mission is to develop leaders, promote brotherhood and academic excellence, provide service and advocate.
The Aiken Alphas started in 1981 but didn’t become a chapter until 1986 and was granted its charter in 1987. James W. Moton served as on the chapter’s first presidents and was one of the founding members. Other founding member include Robert Brooks, Wilar Hightower, Curtis Moody, John Osby, Thomas Payton, Charles Ray, Arthur Smith, Augustus Stephens, Raul Thomas and David Walker.
The chapter held its first initiation ceremony Jan. 27, 1990 and established the Sigma Tau chapter at USC Aiken in 1991.
Hodges, who works on diversity and initiatives at USC Aiken, joined Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity when he was a student at the college in the fall of 2007. Hodges said he was inactive after graduation, but he became more involved in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic to connect with the graduate chapter.
