MADISON (WKOW) — As high school seniors are gearing up to enter the next phase in their academic journey, Black organizations in the community came together on Saturday to help ensure this group of students had what they needed to be successful.
The Divine Nine is a group of nine historically Black Greek letter organizations, each holding a specific mission to uphold African American culture and to be agents of service within the Black community.
Black Greek letter organizations have been around since the 1900s, serving as a source of family and community for black students navigating higher education.
“The first year of college is very important, a lot of people drop out, they can’t finish. So we’re trying to give them tips and tools that they can utilize when they get to college,” said Alex Rickett, Former D9 Committee Chair and member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Members of the Divine Nine partnered with the Madison Police Department to host the inaugural D9 College Sendoff to celebrate Black graduating seniors across Dane County. Students were given opportunities for mentorship and resources on how to survive their first year in college.
Ameria Scott, one of seven students receiving scholarships during the event, said she’d been accepted to over 16 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and financial aid will play a critical role in her decision.
“It meant a lot to me to get the recognition that I feel like I’ve worked so hard for,” Scott said. “I really wanted to go there to just gain that experience be around people who look like me, are going through the same things as me, and are trying to do the same things.”
