The Alpha Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at Johnson C. Smith University has a lot to celebrate.
Aside from being the oldest chapter in North Carolina, just reaching 100 years since its establishment, the organization announced the Dr. Rufus P. Perry Endowment named for the former JCSU president. To celebrate the milestone, the chapter is conducting a gala on April 29, where funds received will be used to benefit the scholarship.
The chapter’s goal is to reach $100,000 for the scholarship.
“Reaching 100 years is imperative because considering the fact that where we are in this nation in reference to the dismissal of African American history, the minimizing of our history and the efforts and what we’ve done in this nation for any organization, fraternity, sorority or anything else. And today, in celebration of blackness, reaching 100 years or more is monumental, particularly because of who we serve, our aims, our scholarship and service to all mankind,” said Frederick Engram, a JCSU alumnus and an assistant professor at Michigan State University.
“’Esprit de Fraternité’ is something that we say as members of the organization and what that means is to always ask not what Alpha can do for you, but what you can do for Alpha,” said Engram, who pledged in 2003 and graduated JCSU in 2005. “One of the things that I strive to do ever since the day that I was initiated … was to be of service to this organization. And I’ve done that.”
Perry scholarship was one of the 17 charter members of the Alpha Omicron chapter, which was established May 4, 1923. In addition to being JCSU president, Perry was a businessman and philanthropist who made contributions to education and civil rights. During his presidency at the institution, Perry added $7 million in new buildings, doubled student enrollment and increased faculty members. A campus building used for mostly STEM courses is named after him.
The scholarship was established in 2021 and is available for students interested in majoring in social sciences.
“The scholarship is specifically to assist students who are sophomores and above who are continuing education here at Johnson,” Engram said. “With a university who maintains a GPA of 3.0 or better, the scholarship is to stay here at Johnson C Smith. It is specifically for students who are enrolled at this institution.”
Fraternity members say they are working on naming a recipient next semester.
“Next year we are going to make sure more students know about the scholarship so they can take advantage of it. We will advertise by spreading the word throughout campus and social media,” said Kuri Evans, a senior computer science major and chapter president-elect.
Alpha Phi Alpha, the first Black fraternity established on a college campus, is part of the Divine 9, a council of historically Black fraternities and sororities. Among Alpha’s most notable members are civil rights leader Martin Luther King and musician Duke Ellington.
“After doing a lot of research, I realized it is all about community service in the end,” said spring 2023 initiate Brenton Jeffries, a junior majoring in sports management.
“I appreciate what the fraternity stood for and the history it has of doing some research. Having that legacy is wonderful because I was becoming a basketball player to join the crime since the spring of 1999,” said Todd Johnson II, a senior majoring in sports management and a member of the JCSU men’s basketball team. His brothers are also members.
To celebrate their centennial, the fraternity began with a probate, an event where new members are presented to campus alongside their family and peers. This event was the first of its kind since 2018 due to the pandemic. Greek life is a vital part of a college student’s life.
For the Alpha Omicron chapter, 100 years means a milestone reached with rich history spread throughout the Carolinas that they get to share with the community and now students, with the establishment of the scholarship.
“Reaching 100 years for the chapters is a big deal because I am alive to witness it,” Evans said. “You only turn 100 once.”
