TRI - ALPHA CHAPTER CELEBRATES 90 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE AT VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY |
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President Rey speaks with VSU President, Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D. |
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The Alpha Alpha Alpha Chapter celebrated their 90th Anniversary in Richmond, VA, during the Virginia State University (VSU) Homecoming Weekend in October. The celebration was coupled with the chapter hosting the International President, Hon. Chris V. Rey, J.D., for the weekend.
The goal of the weekend of events, which included a step show, a school forum and a gala, was to raise $25,000 or more in scholarship money for underprivileged kids pursuing an education at VSU. Ninety-five percent of minorities show up to HBCU’s without any financial backing to pursue higher level education.
Article by: Bro. William P. Bass Spring 2001 Tri-Alpha Alumni, Alpha Kappa Sigma Chapter, Phi Beta Sigma Alumni Association President and Bro. Michael Ferby & Bro. Michael T. Williams. All photos by Bro. Craig Elam.
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The Sigma Alumni Association set up a community service project at The United Hope Center, a food bank that provides prepackaged food, dairy and fresh produce to low-income residents at no charge. Brothers received truck shipments, prepared boxes and helped clean the facility.
The Leadership Roundtable Discussion brought local leaders to together to discuss issues impacting our community, Voter Suppression and the Critical Race Theory. Delegate Lamont Bagby, Peterburg School Board Chairman, Bro. Hal Miles and a multitude of brothers attended the event held at the Lily Black Event Center and catered by Make It Personal LLC. and Chef Ahmad Woodson - both Black-owned businesses. In true Sigma nature, more than $20,000 was spent and given in support of Black-owned businesses.
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Bro. William P. Bass, pictured in both photos above, (left) with Jevata Herman, the owner of Richmond, VA's Lily Black Event Center; and right - presenting President Rey with a custom plaque in appreciation for being the keynote speaker at Tri-Alpha’s Celebration.
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Tri-Alpha took 1st Place in the Homecoming Step Show for the 4th consecutive year.
During the meeting with VSU leadership, the entire staff spoke highly of the brothers who are not only model students, but leaders on campus. The chapter has brothers who’ve been elected to the Student Government Association for 4 consecutive years. Bro. Kobe Cheseman, who carries a 3.6 GPA in Business Management leads the group. He was one of 3 students to receive scholarships from the alumni brothers.
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Bro. Spinner received the longevity award for 60-years of service to the fraternity. |
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The Sigma Alumni Association poses with the $25,000 check presented to VSU. |
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Sigmas receive professional awards
Brothers Jefferson and Hylton serve on the Sigma Professional Advisors Council
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PENN STATE'S CHRISTOPHER JEFFERSON, NAMED RECIPIENT OF AFA AWARD
Bro. Christopher Jefferson, (right) Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life at Penn State University has been named an AFA 2021 individual award recipient. Each year, The Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors recognizes outstanding contributions by members and colleagues.
Bro. Jefferson has contributed to the association’s success through several programs and works to elevate the experience of culturally-based fraternal organizations, specifically those associated with the NPHC. He currently serves as the NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education) Fraternity/Sorority Knowledge Community co-chair elect.
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KENT STATE’S LAMAR R. HYLTON NAMED RECIPIENT OF FOUR PRESTIGIOUS LOCAL AND NATIONAL AWARDS
Bro. Lamar R. Hylton, Ph.D., (left) Kent State University’s Senior Vice President for Student Affairs has received 4 awards in the span of one month!
He was named the recipient of the NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education) Region IV-East Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Senior Student Affairs Officer for 2021; he was named to Crain’s Cleveland Business Forty Under 40; he was selected as a recipient of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Diamond Honoree award and is a member of the 2022 class of the NASPA Pillars of the Profession award.
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How a Raleigh Man became an Educational Trailblazer during desegregation |
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By Bro. Rod Carter
Director of Publicity
Raleigh, N.C. - Honorable Brother Dr. Dudley Flood isn't a household name, but a lot of North Carolina households are impacted by his lifelong work. Dr. Flood, 90, is an educational pioneer in the state. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was tasked with helping school districts across the state integrate. "I'm most proud of my work with the desegregation of the schools of North Carolina," Dr. Flood said.
A Gold Life Member of the Eta Sigma Chapter, Bro. Dr. Flood graduated from North Carolina Central University in 1954. He earned his master's degree in Education Administration from East Carolina University in 1970 and his Doctorate in Education from Duke University in 1980. From 1955 to 1967 he taught English, Math and Science and was a principal at a Pitt County School from 1968-1970.
After teaching, Dr. Flood went on to work for the State Department of Public Instruction from 1970-1973. That's when he received one of the biggest challenges of his life. Along with colleague Gene Causby, he was asked to help desegregate public schools in the state. "When you reach a point when your vocation and your advocation are the same, it makes life pretty easy for you," he said.
The two crisscrossed the state meeting with elected officials, community members and parents. "I really believed in what I was doing,” he said.
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"I came to the department in 1969 and met very few people who thought you should desegregate schools. Very few of any race!"
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He admits it was a monumental task. But no task was greater than what he faced in rural Hyde County. The whites-only, Hyde County Board of Education had created a desegregation plan, but they didn't involve anyone in the black community. That led to boycotts which became known as the 'Hyde County Movement.’ "The interesting thing is, when we got there, a lot of people didn't know why they were boycotting," Dr. Flood said. "But they were doing it very successfully." Those boycotts lasted for a year. It was his job, along with his colleague, to quell the conflict and find common ground. And it all started with a town hall meeting.
"There were members of the Klu Klux Klan, the 'Rights of White People,' the Black Panther Party, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.” Faced with those challenges, there was still no fear... at least not for himself. "Yes, I was afraid,” he said. “But I didn't have enough sense to be afraid for myself. I was afraid for what they were doing to the others, because there had been contention." And that was expected to continue the night of the town hall meeting, that Dr. Flood was to facilitate. And it would have been, but a random stop by the store for a soft drink, changed the entire course of the meeting.
Inside the store he said, "I saw this little paddle that had a ball on the end of it and I noticed the ridge around it. One side was green, and one side was red. So, when we opened our meeting, I said before we begin our discussion, 'tell me what color this ball is?' They all said red. I said no, it's green. They yelled... red! red!... I said before we get too argumentative, I turned it around. They all said 'ohhhh your side is green.' I said, yeah on my side. But if you come around and see how things look to you from my perspective and I come around and see how it looks to you, we may get a conclusion that's usable to all of us," he told the crowd. That simple tactic…worked. In fact, it worked so well, he continued using it for years. He and Causby traveled across North Carolina and the entire country and beyond.
Many years later, Bro. Dr. Flood co-founded The Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity (Flood Center). It 'serves as a hub to identify and connect organizations, networks, and leaders to address issues of equity, access, and opportunity in education across North Carolina.'
Bro. Dr. Flood was married to the late Barbara Thomas Flood for 54 years. He currently serves on several boards and committees including the Public School Forum of North Carolina Board and the University of North Carolina Board of Governors, as the Executive Director of North Carolina Association of School Administrators. Retired…Yes. Slowing down? Not at all.
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Zeta Beta Sigma Chapter partners with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers for creative fundraiser |
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The Brother's of the Zeta Beta Sigma Chapter of Fayetteville, NC, partnered with Minor League Baseball team, Fayetteville Woodpeckers, to raise funds. Each Brother was assigned and managed their own concession stand for home games during the 2021 season, earning a percentage of all sales. The Chapter chose this event because as a fun way to reach hundreds of thousands of people through community service. The funds raised will go toward supporting the next generation of scholars, and helping the homeless. |
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Sigmas provide Coats for Kids |
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The Brothers of the Epsilon Beta Sigma Alumni Chapter of Louisville KY, donated over 50 coats to the students Lyman T. Johnson Middle School.
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Sigmas participate in Cancer Walk |
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The Alpha Alpha Theta Sigma Chapter of Pensacola, FL, along with sisters from the Gamma Tau Zeta Chapter, participated in a walk to bring awareness to the prevalence of Breast Cancer in our community. Brothers Edriel Jeffrey, Curtis McNeal, Jonathan Stallworth, Aaron Watson, Kenon Beasley, Vonche Jackson and Sean Parker participated.
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DON'T FORGET TO SEND YOUR PHOTOS AND STORIES FROM THE 2021 SIGMA DAY OF SERVICE!
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AWESOME CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AWAIT!
Click the image below to visit the new SIGMALink Job Board. See who's hiring. Upload your resume and search for jobs today.
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GENERAL BOARD MEETING
at Kean University – New Jersey
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NOVEMBER 12-13, 2021
Bro. Dr. Lamont Repolett and the North New Jersey chapters will host the meeting which opens with a community service event. Brothers are encouraged to tune in via Zoom. Register in BluPrint.
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Now you can submit news and articles for the Crescent Newsletter directly from the International website! Click on 'Publications' from the homepage for instructions!
The Crescent is published every 1st and 3rd Sunday; please submit information by Tuesday.
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