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RECOMMEND FLIP-BOOKS
®
The Kappa Alpha Psi ®
An Ocial Publication of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Leadership Amidst a Once-in-a Lifetime Pandemic: Myles C. Miller, Junior Grand Vice Polemarch
KappaAlphaPsi1911.com
WINTER 2021 - SPRING 2022
VOLUME CVII, ISSUE 4
VOLUME CVII, ISSUE 4
WINTER 2021 - SPRING 2022
46
12
6
Journal Notes
8
Grand Polemarch's Message
10 JGVP's Message
12 Cover Story: Myles C. Miller
20 Undergraduate Investments
40
74 To the Chapter Invisible
86 The Directory
30
74
Sigma Chapter Centennial
TABLE OF CONTENTS
70 44
The Kappa Alpha Psi ®
An Ocial Publication of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Established 1914 First Editor
Frank M. Summers, Esq. Past Permanent Editors Lionel F. Artis 1921–1937 G. James Fleming 1938–1950 William L. Crump 1950–1975 Earl S. Clanton 1975–1985 Jonathan P. Hicks 1985–1989 Van Jordan 1989–1990 Mel L. Davis 1990–1999 Keflyn X. Reed 1999–2010 Jonathan P. Hicks 2011–2014 Thomas L. Cunningham IV 2014–2015 Cleveland Ferguson III, Esq. 2016— Editor Cleveland Ferguson III, Esq. Jacksonville (FL) Alumni Chapter [email protected] Assistant Editor Clarence Tucker Norfolk (VA) Alumni Chapter [email protected] Feature Writers Nicholas Cole Dr. Charles H.F. Davis III Earl T. Tildon Dr. Samuel Odom
16
Chapter Invisible Section Manager Aaron Williams Chicago (IL) Alumni Chapter
[email protected] National Photographer Michael L. Hume
66
63
Belleville-O'Fallon (IL) Alumni Chapter [email protected] Feature Photographers Kevin Sellers Gregory L. Williams Graphic Artist Keith C. King Grand Historian Kevin P. Scott Chicago (IL) Alumni Chapter [email protected] Advertising Sales Director Clifford D. Franklin St. Louis (MO) Alumni Chapter [email protected] Cell: (314) 406-3472 International Headquarters 2322-24 North Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19132-4590 Phone: (215) 228-7184 www.KappaAlphaPsi1911.com
Province Reporters
Northern Brandon Jackson [email protected]
South Central Jarvaun Lindsay [email protected]
Eastern Dr. DeAndre Howard [email protected] Southern Julius L. Collins [email protected] Western Jeffrey Brown [email protected]
Southwestern Aljay Foreman [email protected] Southeastern Dr. C. Douglas Johnson [email protected] Middle Eastern Quentin Mitchell [email protected] Northeastern Dermal McCrear [email protected] Middle Western Frank Smith [email protected]
North Central Anthony L. Graham [email protected] East Central Brandon Fenty [email protected]
Published quarterly by Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., 2322-24 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19132-4590. Periodic postage paid at Philadelphia, PA and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: $10 per year. USPS 291-300. No responsibility may be assumed by the Journal for receipt or return of material, news stories, photographs or creative pieces. Postmaster: Send address changes to: 2322-24 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19132-4590.
Submit all chapter-related material to your respective Province Reporter for consideration for publication in The Journal.
VOLUME CVII, ISSUE 4
WINTER 2021 - SPRING 2022
JOURNAL NOTES
Fraternalism Implicity Requires us to Pay it Forward: Reflecting on the Lessons of Dr. Ralph J. Bryson
Several of the Province Polemarchs of the Southern Province with Grand Polemarch Reuben A. Shelton III, Esq. at the Celebration of Life Services for Dr. Ralph J. Bryson in Montgomery, Alabama.
Cleveland Ferguson III, Esq., Editor O ne of the first lessons a younger person should always take to heart is to take the opportunity to sit at the feet of an elder. Proverbs 22:6 says "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not de- part from it." This certainly applies to me as it relates to the Polemarchs of the Southern Province that I have received mentor- ship from: the 4 th Southern Province Polemarch and 26 th Grand Polemarch, Dr. Ullysses McBride; the 5 th Southern Province Polemarch Robert T. Hughes, the 6 th Southern Province Polemarch and 33 rd Grand Polemarch Thomas L. Battles, Jr., the 7 th Southern Province Polemarch and 91 st Elder Watson Diggs Awardee Dr. Frank S. Emanuel, the 8 th Southern Province Polemarch and 117 th Elder Watson Diggs Awardee Ronald E. Range, the 9 th Southern Province Polemarch and immediate past Senior Grand Vice Polemarch Linnes Finney, Jr., Esq., the 10 th Southern Province Polemarch Bertram K. Orum and Southern Province Polemarch Chauncy E. Haynes...decades of Kappa wisdom poured into me! During their mentor- ship, I had the great honor to interview multiple times, be counseled by, and
to serve with Dr. Ralph J. Bryson, the 56 th Elder Watson Diggs Awardee, 64 th Laurel Wreath Laureate and Grand Historian Emeritus. I had the op- portunity to succeed him as the 14 th Grand Historian, an honor I shall cherish. His generously shared stories of Founder Guy L. Grant were particu- larly poignant. Founder Grant seemed to always have his eye on Dr. Bryson. I felt privileged as a fellow member of the Southern Province Board of Directors, I knew that Dr. Bryson had his eyes on me. Since this issue has been dedicated to our undergraduate leadership, the best memorial The Journal could provide upon Dr. Bryson's transition to the Chapter Invisible is to share what these seasoned brothers have shared about Dr. Bryson's commitment to the Bond. And so, as the Grand Polemarch is pictured doing here with him, the back half of The Journal provides a collective memorial opportunity to do what he has done, survey the life of a Good Kappa Man, one who exemplifies achievement in the human endeavor of academics, one who tirelessly toiled and strove and one who always had time to share a word of advice. As the 14 th Grand Historian, I ensured
that we would be privileged to have many of Dr. Bryson's thoughts in writing and recorded form in Kappa's archives for generations of Kappas yet unborn to enjoy. As Journal Editor, I am privileged to share this issue with you, that chronicles the thoughts of others on the life of a Kappa well lived: Dr. Ralph J. Bryson.
Yours in the Bond, Cleveland Ferguson III, Esq. Editor
Above: Grand Polemarch Reuben A. Shelton III, Esq., and Dr. Ralph J. Bryson share an experience as old as Kappa Alpha Psi itself. The Grand Polemarch's example of taking time to hear from a more seasoned Brother is something we should all emulate regularly.
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PUBLISHING ACHIEVEMENT FOR MORE THAN 110 YEARS
We Live Diversity
Volkswagen Group of America is a proud sponsor of Kappa Alpha Psi ® Fraternity, Inc.
Here at Volkswagen Group of America, we are multicolored; we are different, unique and part of the greater whole. We are open to other ways of thinking, to new experiences and solutions. We approach one another with respect, as equals. Our goals are to expand cultural acumen, inspire inclusive actions, and execute business integration, and we are facilitating that through critical partnerships with organizations such as Kappa Alpha Psi®.
GRAND POLEMARCH’S MESSAGE
Our Undergraduates: The Lifeblood of the Bond
social, academic and professional pillars for students that had few, if any, other resources on which to rely. The guiding principle of all organizations for people of color was the notion that achieving students would become successful and reach back to provide the lifeblood for younger members to excel as they did. That process has continued for more than one hundred years in Kappa Alpha Psi and has worked very well. Where other organizations were formed to capture achieving individuals after their collegiate experiences, our Bond was formed as an undergraduate fraternity and has maintained that corporate per- sonality until today. It is noteworthy that Founders Elder Watson Diggs and Byron K. Armstrong debated the wisdom of being an under- graduate only fraternity and settled on establishing alumni chapters, with start- ing the Chicago (IL) Alumni Chapter. But that agreement never detracted from the fundamental nature of the Bond as a strong and viable national organization of undergraduate chapters as we are today. We have had an illustrious history of development and achievement of our undergraduate members. Recently, we concluded the Kappa Klass of our Undergraduate Leadership Institute ULI). But few brothers are aware the Fraternity initiated our formal collegiate training with the first Undergraduate Leadership Conference (ULC) in 1961 at the Golden Anniversary Grand Chap- ter Meeting. The ULC was chaired by Brother Dr. Cleo W. Blackburn and the program curriculum almost mirrored the course schedule at the ULI. The emphasis the Fraternity has place on undergraduate training and develop- ment is unparalleled and unrivaled in this fraternal space. We have invested an enormous number of resources to
train our collegiate brothers but also to assist them when in need. During the height of the pandemic, the Fraternity teamed with the Kappa Foundation, the National Silhouettes, The Senior Kappa Endowment Fund and individual contributing members to create the Undergraduate COVID Relief Fund and gave grants to our young brothers to get them through some harsh financial times. That’s how much they mean to our Bond. As you peruse this edition of the Kappa Journal , you will get just a glimpse of the undergraduates’ experience, who they are and all the magnificent endeavors they are pursuing. You will also get a clear understanding of how your Fraternity is assisting by walking in lock step with our collegiate brothers, helping them maximize their God-given potential and realize their chosen life goals. Working with our undergraduate broth- ers is an incredible journey that none of us should take lightly. We should all serve as confidants and mentors to them as they navigate life and their Kappa experience. We are all dependent on their maturation and professional devel- opment. They are our future businessmen, politi- cians, teachers, doctors, lawyers, and Fraternity leaders. As much as we can- not live without the plasma that flows through our veins, we likewise cannot exist without the Phi Nu Pi blood cells our collegiate brothers provide for our Fraternity to exist. Kappa appreciates and thanks all broth- ers for your service and commitment.
Reuben A. Shelton III, Esq. Grand Polemarch S ince its inception on the cam- pus of Indiana University (IU), the Fraternity’s laser focus has been on achievement in every field of human endeavor, starting with leadership training and development of our undergraduates. Beginning in 1882 when IU enrolled its first Black student, Madison McCoy, the need for Black students to have a support network was self-evident but the vehicle for such group assistance was not so apparent. As more Black students matriculated to IU after McCoy the vestiges of dis- crimination continuously became more visible and served as roadblocks to Black students as they sought to achieve in sports, academics and university student government. In the environment of the Ku Klux Klan and racist cinematography of “Birth of a Nation,” Black organizations were born to serve as unifying groups that lent
God bless you all! Yours in the Bond, Reuben A. Shelton III, Esq. Grand Polemarch
@ DOCNUPE
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THE GALLERY
Whether at the White House, the State House, the United Center in Chicago, the Rainbow Room in New York, the mountains in Heidelberg, Germany or whether he is with the children under the care of physicians at St. Jude or with his children at home Grand Polemarch Reuben A. Shelton III, Esq. is building bridges, breaking barriers, and leading the Fraternity by example through transparency and access. Here's to Grand Polemarch Shelton!
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JUNIOR GRAND POLEMARCH’S MESSAGE
Navigating the Pandemic, Staying True to Our Fraternity's Objectives
A s we continue to navigate through the ongoing CO- VID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that we stay true to our fraternity’s objectives. We must con- tinue to unite young men and serve as allies, seeing that these can be trying times. There have been several tribulations that have impacted the lives of our members, family, and friends. I would like to com- mend all undergraduate and alumni brothers of this Noble Clan, as you are still here, and you are still push- ing through. The 34 th Administration’s core values embody and ex- emplify the true mission of Kappa Alpha Psi. We pride ourselves upon morals such as respect, integrity, and transparency. It is through these values that we will see the continued growth and development of our organization. I am humbly proud to have the opportunity to lead undergraduates and serve on our Undergradu- ate Board of Directors.
uate administration laid a solid foundation to ensure the success of the fraternity at large. Their willingness to take initiative and their efforts to be viewed in a positive light by the com- munity are the characteris- tics of a true Kappa man. This administration will endeavor to build upon this thrust. Programs like the Achievement Academy and Room-to-Read are well grounded, but there is always room for improve- ment. We have centered our focus on the engagement of undergraduates and continuing to strengthen the relationship between undergraduate and alumni brothers. The cohesiveness of all members will guarantee persistent success. I am ecstatic to work with a team of such like-minded individuals. With the as- sistance and involvement of members at every level, I am certain we WILL con- tinue to Achieve in Every Field of Human Endeavor. Yours in the Bond, Myles C. Miller Junior Grand Vice Polemarch
We have centered our focus on the engagement of undergraduates and continuing to strengthen the relationship between undergraduate and alumni brothers" "
The previous undergrad-
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JUNIOR GRAND VICE POLEMARCH GALLERY
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JUNIOR GRAND POLEMARCH’S SPOTLIGHT
Getting to Know The Man For This Season: Junior Grand Vice Polemarch Myles C. Miller M yles Chandler Miller is from Ypsilanti, Michigan and Q: What was your up- bringing like? are my biggest role mod- els. I also started It takes a village to raise a child, and I would say that my nessman, and philan- thropist. Q: Do you have any hob- bies?
JGVP: I’m the youngest of three boys. My eldest brother is 29, my middle brother is 27, and I am 21. My mother is the youngest of eleven, so family reunions were highly anticipated and full of excitement in my youth. I was also able to gain a lot of knowledge through the wisdom of grandparents, aunts, and uncles on my mother and father’s sides of the family. I come from a family of high achievers and well-rounded ath- letes. I would credit my success in life to being the youngest child be- cause I have been able to observe and learn from those who came before me. I would also say my brothers are doing some great things in life and are inspiring change in our family for gen- erations to come. Aside from my parents, they
village has truly raised me. A lot of resources have been poured into me to ensure my success, so I naturally want to do the same for others. I’ve seen how its benefit myself, as well as like- minded individuals. Q: What's the last book you read? JGVP: The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo. Q: What are your future professional plans? JGVP: I was accepted into Truist Financial Corporation’s Leadership Development Program on the Commercial Com- munity Bank Track. I will be working at their headquarters in Uptown Charlotte. My long-term goal is to be an actor, producer, investor, busi-
is the last son of Darnell and Ever Miller of Flint, Michigan. His two older brothers are Kalen and Landon Miller. He is a Second- Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do, a Korean form of martial- arts he studied for nine years. He graduated from Ann Arbor Skyline High School in 2018 where he holds the 60m and 200m dash records. He was recently awarded 2021 Greek Man of the Year at the University of Toledo(UT) for his contri- butions to Kappa Alpha Psi and the UT commu- nity. He is a recent gradu- ate of the University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Business Administra- tion in Finance where he earned Summa Cum Laude honors. He cur- rently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.
JGVP: I do Photography as a side hustle. Q: How did you find Kappa?
JGVP: I found Kappa through Kappa League. I was a part of the Ann Arbor Ypsi- lanti Inkster Kappa League Chapter. That was where
I met 25 th Northern Province
Polemarch Michael L. Kinloch. He has served as a mentor to me since then and has always had my best
Myles C. Miller (Beta Xi 2019). Images taken at the University of Toledo.
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JUNIOR GRAND VICE POLEMARCH'S SPOTLIGHT
interest. Once I arrived at the University of To- ledo, I noticed that the Beta Xi Chapter was well received by students and administration. I formed a
enough to have been initiated as a freshman in Spring 2019. Q: What advice he’d give to undergraduates about seeking to serve in a na- tional leadership role JGVP: I would take advantage of as many leadership opportunities as well as the scholar- ships that are offered within various realms of the fraternity. Start by serving at the chapter or provincial level prior to seeking to serve in a na- tional office. When con- ducting chapter and province business you will get an idea for how our
of the idea and why you may be passionate about it. If you are genuinely trying to do work for the advancement of the fraternity brothers will take notice and put you in the right positions to inspire change. Alumni brothers also skilled at identifying young lead- ers prior to them becom- ing self-aware. If you give your best effort in all aspects of life people will take heed and want to help you achieve suc- cess. The Achievement Academy and Kappa Al- pha Psi Foundation also have several scholarships opportunities available for brothers ranging across multiple fields of study. Q: In addition to the work with the Achieve- ment Academy, what would you like to accom- plish, given the pandem- ic’s implications? JGVP: I believe it would be great to have the Undergrad Alumni Pipe- line Committee to work with the Achievement Academy Committee to create a portal for un- dergraduate and alumni brothers with similar
careers. I believe this will help with undergradu- ate retention because the younger brothers will still be connected by having already fostered a relationship with an alumni brother who can help guide them. Q: Reflect on the value of the Grand Board’s hiring to improve the undergraduate affairs experience. JGVP: I would say con- tinue to give younger brother’s a chance. Although they may not be as seasoned in the fraternity, I would advo- cate that each genera- tion eventually becomes more intelligent than the last. It is simply because as time goes on black people have been able to create more opportu- nities for the community. The younger employee the more they are con- nected with the under- graduate experience. I believe the fraternity has the resources to invest into the advancement and development of this experience for the ben- efit of the undergradu- ates and the employee.
relationship with several of broth- ers in the chapter my fall
semester of fresh- man year. I was for- tunate
organization is structured and what we would like to accom- plish moving forward. It is imperative to network with brothers in the bond whether they are un- dergraduate or alumni. Broth- ers are much more support- ive of initiatives when they under- stand the benefit
“
Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship.”
– Denzel Washington Miller's favorite quote
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UNDERGRADUATE GRAND CHAPTER OFFICERS
I begin by thanking broth- ers who have supported me in my progression to this position. I appreciate the bond that we share as brothers in this Noble Fraternity. I also want to highlight all brothers who are still working towards scholastic achievement or have earned degrees during this time of a Global Pandemic. Among those hardships, adver- sity still shows little to no dis- traction in the pursuance of the
T hroughout this pandemic, we have been challenged in ways we have never seen. I pray that we can continue to be diligent and safe as we were when this began. My hope is that we can learn from the adversity and utilize that knowledge to propel us forward. As we continue to be challenged, we must remember that hard- ships come and go and we must stay the course to our goal.
goals set towards higher learning. We have willingly made it our mission to complete those tasks to the best of our ability. I wish to motivate you to endure to the end in your journey. In the past two years, I have witnessed the toll that CO- VID-19 has taken on different communities and brothers all. I extend my thoughts and prayers to those who have been affected during this period. Although times may seem unfamiliar and uncertain, it is key that we continue to prac- tice the ideologies that were taught during our initiation in this Bond. As Kappa Men we must remain steadfast to the principles and concepts of brotherhood. We must support one another as we continually strive for greatness. As our undergraduate chapters initiate new members, let us stay diligent and committed this fraternal year. Your hard work will keep us functioning toward our greater purpose, and the undergraduate Grand Board of Directors members appreciate your support and cooperation. Please be aware that this time is important in the men- torship, education, and development that new members receive. Let it be your job to provide the best example of what it means to be a ‘Kappa Man’ in the promotion of the spiritual, social, intellectual, and moral welfare of new initi- ates. Please feel free to contact me as we connect and network for the greater good of our brotherhood. I trust that you will stay healthy and safe.
As we join the 34 th administration, we want to continue con- necting brothers with opportunities through the Achievement Academy as they transition into the professional world. As our school days come to a closure, I hope every brother understand the importance of graduation which is an achieve- ment. As undergraduates, we will carry the torch of our fraternity whether our impact be felt in our profession, community, or world state. We must continue to be effective brothers who display leadership qualities. I encourage you to immediately join an alumni chapter and be of great service to our noble clan.
Yours in the Bond, Khalis E. Hicks Grand Board of Directors
Yours in the Bond, Bryce T. Dickerson Grand Board of Directors
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UNDERGRADUATE GRAND CHAPTER OFFICERS
I want to first recognize the amazing work Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has done throughout this pandemic. Our Fraternity hosted virtual career fairs, town hall meetings on vari- ous topics, Kappa League college virtual tours, and joined the fight against COVID-19. These are some highlights of how we empower our membership, and shows that the fraternity also pro- motes civic engagement. Former President Barack Obama says: “Change will not come if we wait
I hope this letter finds you and your families in good health as we continue to fight this current health crisis. As broth- ers, we should support and uplift each other and our families during these turbulent times. I have taken on the personal re- sponsibility to make a conscious effort to not only reach out to my immediate family but also my mentors, mentee, prophytes, and neophytes. Furthermore, I do want to commend and applaud brothers on the current prog-
for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” Our fraternity continues to provide the leadership to impact positive changes in the community. As a newly-elected undergraduate member of the Grand Board of Directors, I will strive to be impactful. I want to help expand on the Fraternity’s partnerships with employers to create more career opportunities for undergraduate mem- bers. I want to bridge any gaps between undergraduates and alumni brothers. Another goal is to increase undergraduate involvement within Kappa League. Lastly, I want to work on increasing mental health awareness among the undergradu- ate brothers through workshops, panelist events, and open discussion seminars. I am blessed and honored to be a part of this noble Frater- nity. I am proud to see brothers continuing to achieve in all aspects of life despite living in a pandemic. I challenge broth- ers all around the world to stay connected and engaged with the bond. Throughout our journey in life, let us remember to continue to pray and put God first. I end by referencing Psalm 145:18-19 which says, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.”
ress and strides we have made so far to fight COVID-19. It is bigger than one man, chapter, or province, and for that I cannot say thank you enough! However, the work is not over as must continue the efforts while we prepare, specifically undergraduate brothers, for the transition into a new normal. Expectations within our communities, cam- puses, and workspace have been redefined, so it our duty to ensure each member is provided with opportunities to Achieve at the highest level. During my tenure as a Grand Chapter Officer, I look for- ward to expanding on the aforementioned statement. My goal is to empower, motivate and sustain each undergradu- ate brother to succeed at the highest level as we increase our passion for Kappa! The undergraduate Grand Board has been working hard to retain and develop diverse channels for brothers to reach this goal. From personal development to community service, the Undergraduate Grand Board has worked meticulously to address the diverse needs as best as we can. However, we are only but so many head, and that is why I want to encourage you to be active on all level, voicing your opinions and needs. This is the best way that we as a Grand Board can best serve each member of this noble clan. I am most excited to work with the Achievement Academy Committee as we have cultivated great opportunities to provide a space for brothers to grow their professional and interpersonal skills. In the near future, more information will be provided on a variety of new programs that will be implemented. I continue to pray good health and wealth for each member and implore you to stay safe and blessed.
Yours in the Bond, Austyn D. Lee Grand Board of Directors
“We must support one another as we continually strive for greatness.” —Bryce T. Dickerson Grand Board of Directors
Yours in the Bond, Enyinda O. Boms Grand Strategus
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COUNCIL OF JUNIOR PROVINCE POLEMARCHS
Ξ Myles Ellis Bostic Xi 2022 Howard University Computer Science
ΑΒ Cameron N. Bolton Alpha Beta 2020 Wayne State University Computer Science
ΓΓ ΓΘ Ashton Scott Hall Gamma Gamma 2022 Talladega College Elementary Education
Rodney Allmond II Gamma Theta 2022 Bethune Cookman University Business Management
∆Ε Zenas Crawley Delta Epsilon San Diego State Univ. Business Administration
ΒΟ Emmanuel Akpan Beta Omicron 2020 U. of Wisconsin-Madison Industrial Engineering
ΑΩ Nathan Alexander Burns Alpha Omega 2020 Cleveland State University Bus. Admin/Pre Law
ΗΒ Bryson Brooks Eta Beta 2020 Murray State University Health/Physical Education
ΒΤ Korie DeSean Northern Beta Tau 2022 Philander Smith College Mechanical Engineering
Λ∆ Justin Raphael Harris Lambda Delta 2022 GA Institute of Technology Mechanical Engineering
ΗΨ Joshua Williams Eta Psi 2022 East Carolina University Dentistry
Ε Traquel Artis Epsilon 2020 Lincoln University (PA) Finance
ΟΠ Michael Anthony Brown Omicron Pi 2020 U of Colorado at Colorado Springs Social Work
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COUNCIL OF JUNIOR PROVINCE VICE POLEMARCHS
Junior Grand Vice Polemarch Myles C. Miller is Chairman of the Council of Junior Province Vice Polemarchs.
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34 th Administration Undergraduate Engagement 2019-2023
Leadership — $482,000
Academic Achievement — $38,000
Corporate Partnerships — $91,000
Health and Wellness — $415,000
~ $1,026,000
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34 TH ADMINISTRATION UNDERGRADUATE ENGAGEMENT
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34 TH ADMINISTRATION UNDERGRADUATE ENGAGEMENT
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34 TH ADMINISTRATION UNDERGRADUATE ENGAGEMENT
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34 TH ADMINISTRATION UNDERGRADUATE ENGAGEMENT
Academic Achievement
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34 TH 34 ADMINISTRATION UNDERGRADUATE ENGAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION UNDERGRADUATE ENGAGEMENT
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34 TH ADMINISTRATION UNDERGRADUATE ENGAGEMENT
Corporate Partnerships
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34 TH ADMINISTRATION UNDERGRADUATE ENGAGEMENT
Health and Wellness
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34 TH ADMINISTRATION UNDERGRADUATE ENGAGEMENT
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34 TH ADMINISTRATION UNDERGRADUATE ENGAGEMENT
Social Engagement
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34 TH 34 ADMINISTRATION UNDERGRADUATE ENGAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION UNDERGRADUATE ENGAGEMENT
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THE SIGMA CHAPTER CENTENNIAL
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Acknowledges the Centennial of the University of Michigan Chapter, the Sigma of Kappa Alpha Psi
By Aaron Williams and Alan S. White
Arbor. The new chapter, the University of Michigan Chapter, the Sigma of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., was the Fraternity's 28 th chapter and its 18 th undergraduate chapter. The charter members of the Sigma Chapter were Joseph Hurlong Scott, Rudolph Thaddeus Ash, and George Ray Dorsey. The three men arrived on the U-M campus between 1920 and 1921. A World War I veteran, Scott was initiated into the Fraternity via the Epsilon Chapter. He served as the chapter's inaugural Polemarch and earned an M.D. degree from U-M in 1923. Ash, an Alpha Chapter initiate, transferred from Indiana University- Bloomington to Michigan, played varsity baseball, and was the first Vice Polemarch. Dorsey, an initiate from the Zeta Chapter, transferred from Ohio State University to Michigan. Wade Langford, a 1917 Alpha initiate, was the chapter's inaugural Keeper of Exchequer. Charter Line At the time, most African American U-M students lived in the Old Fourth ward due to segregation, as did Scott and Ash. Dorsey lived some distance away in the
F or the past few years, the the chapter's chartering on the Univer- sity of Michigan campus. As with other centennial and anniversary celebrations within Kappa Alpha Psi since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, plans were modified to ensure the health and safety of attendees. The centennial celebration has multiple events occurring through- out 2022, both in Ann Arbor, MI, and Detroit, MI. members of the Sigma Chapter and its alumni have planned the centennial anniversary of University of Michigan Established in 1817, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI, is one of the country's most prestigious and re- nowned public research universities and is the oldest university in Michigan. Its student enrollment in the Fall of 2021 topped a record 50,000 students and its endowment is valued at over $17 billion. The University of Michigan (U-M) is also a member of the Big Ten, a Divi- sion 1 athletic conference comprised of major research universities with large financial endowments and strong aca- demic reputations. In 1853, Michigan admitted its first
Negro student, Samuel Codes Watson, as a medical student, but it was not until the 1870s that more minority students entered U-M. In the succeeding de- cades, Negro student enrollment slightly increased. As with other northern pre- dominantly white colleges and universi- ties of that period that accepted Negro students, U-M provided no on-campus housing for Negro students, and campus facilities such as the student union and school swimming pool were off-limits to Negro students. During the early 1900s, U-M had "house clubs" that provided students housing, similar to fraternities. One of the first house clubs for African American students was the Monon Club
located at 144 Hill St. The U-M early NPHC Greek- letter fraternities had Monon Club members, including Sigma Chapter charter initiate Leander C. Parker.
Old West Side neighborhood of Ann Arbor. They all lived at separate ad- dresses. More importantly, to the chap- ter's history, three charter initiates of the Sigma Chap- ter lived in the
February 22, 1922 On February 22, 1922,
the Grand Board of Direc- tors, led by the Third Grand Polemarch George F. David II, approved a petition to establish an undergraduate
Members of Sigma Chapter
chapter of the Fraternity on the cam- pus of the University of Michigan-Ann
same house as Ash. Immediately after chapter charter- ing, Sigma Chapter had its inaugural
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charter line. Members of the March 1922 charter line for the Sigma Chapter included St. Louis, MO, natives William Parker, Leander Parker, John William Corneal, and Richard A. Jackson. Char- ter line members Garrett A.H. Price and Merle L. Ross were students at Michi- gan State Normal. In 1925, African American and white students organized the "Negro-Cauca- sian Club" to challenge the University's policies regarding segregated dances and the swimming pool in the Michi- gan Union. The club was one of the first interracial college organizations in the country. The spirit of activism in the chapter started early as Sigma Chapter initiate John William Corneal, and Clarence W. Norris (Sigma 1924) were among the twenty-six students that signed the "Petition of Recogni- tion." The petition's aim was "to work for a better understanding between the races and the abolition of discrimina- tion against Negroes." One Black U-M student wrote, "(the club) helped relieve the Negro student's sense of isolation." Province History Sigma Chapter is the first single letter undergraduate chapter in the Northern Province and the second chapter established in the province after the Detroit (MI) Alumni Chapter. In 1923, the Fraternity assigned Sigma
Chapter to Region 6 with Detroit (MI) Alumni and Cleveland (OH) Alumni chapters. In 1924, Sigma, Detroit (MI) Alumni, Cleveland (OH) Alumni, and Phi chapters were members of Region 2. In 1926, these chapters were mem- bers of the newly created Great Lakes Central Province, later named the Great Lakes Province. In 1935, the Fraternity renamed the Great Lakes Province as the Northern Province. Big Ten Conference and Single Letter Chapters When Sigma Chapter was chartered, the chapter joined fellow Kappa Alpha Psi single-letter chapters Alpha (Univer- sity of Indiana-Bloomington), Beta (Uni- versity of Illinois-Champaign), Gamma (University of Iowa), Zeta (the Ohio State University), Theta (Northwestern University), Iota (University of Chicago) and followed in 1924 by Psi Chapter (University of Minnesota) whose host schools were members of the Big Ten Conference. The University of Chicago withdrew from the Big Ten in 1946. Nu Chapter joined this affiliation when the chapter moved from Indiana Central College to Purdue University in the late 1960s, fol- lowed by Eta Chapter when the Univer- sity of Nebraska moved to the Big Ten in 2011.
Captain J. Hurlong Scott. Kappa Alpha Psi Journal: May 1920.
First Quarter Century After its chartering, Sigma Chapter experienced peaks and valleys with its membership, including years of inac- tivity. The highlights for the chapter during its first 25 years was serving as the undergraduate host chapter with the primary host chapter, the Detroit (MI) Alumni Chapter, for the 17 th Grand Chapter Meeting in December 1927 and the 28 th Grand Chapter Meeting in December 1938. Also, during this time, future frater- nity dignitaries become members of the chapter: • The 20 th Grand Polemarch Dr. William Thomas Carter (Epsilon 1929), the 26 th Laurel Wreath Laureate, transferred from Lincoln (PA) University to the University of Michigan, where he earned a B.A. degree in 1933, earned an M.A. degree in 1934, and Ph.D. in 1941. While at Michigan, he led Sigma Chapter as its Polemarch and served as Grand Strategus [1933] under the eighth Grand Polemarch Dr. Jesse Jerome Peters. • The 38 th Laurel Wreath Laure- ate, the late Honorable George
W. Crockett, Jr. (Pi 1928), former judge and U.S. Con- gressman (D-MI), also served
Kappa Alpha Psi Journal: May 1938
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THE SIGMA CHAPTER CENTENNIAL
as Sigma Chapter Polemarch [1933] while earning a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1934. • The Eighth Northern Province Polemarch [1946-1952] Floyd H. Penick (Sigma 1932). Penick attended Michigan State Normal School, where he ran track. Also, during this time, Founder Byron K. Armstrong, at age 48, earned his Ph.D. in 1940 from the University of Michigan. During its first quarter-century, un- dergraduate and post-graduate students at Michigan and Michigan State Normal comprised Sigma Chapter. Many of the chapter's post-graduate members enrolled at Michigan due to "segregation scholarships." Southern states provided these "segregation scholarships" to Afri- can American post-graduate students to avoid integrating its schools or to provide 'separate but equal' in-state options." "Sigma Chapter…because of its transient members now has only five brothers [in 1945-46], none of whom are undergraduates. It has been dif- ficult over a period of years to maintain a chapter at the University of Michigan because, as heretofore mentioned, the brothers come and go with much frequency," stated the 7 th Northern Prov- ince Polemarch Theodore R. Owens Michigan State Normal School In addition, students from the Michigan State Normal School (later
Kappa Alpha Psi Journal: October 1954
changed in 1959 to Eastern Michigan University) in nearby Ypsilanti, MI, also comprised the Sigma Chapter. Brothers were known to hitchhike the six-mile distance between the two campuses. This arrangement ended in May 1955 when the Grand Board of Directors ap- proved the Northern Province's petition to establish the Michigan State Normal School Chapter, the Delta Nu of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Post-World War II After years of unsuccessful attempts to revitalize the chapter, the Seventh Northern Province Polemarch Theodore R. Owens of Detroit (MI) Alumni, his successor Floyd H. Penick and Detroit (MI) Alumni implemented plans to
restart the Sigma Chapter in the years immediately following the end of World War II. In a 1947 Kappa Alpha Psi Jour- nal article, Penick stated: "The most important business to the Northern Province, after coming home from the New York Conclave [Decem- ber 1946], was reviving Sigma Chapter at the University of Michigan. Brother Owens and I made four different trips to Ann Arbor to confer with Brother Charles Swinger Conley (Beta Zeta 1941) and Brother Claudius Britt (Alpha Pi 1938) and attended a very impres- sive smoker for the pledgees. Brothers Conley and Britt were the driving forces behind the seven pledgees who were finally initiated on April 5 at the Kappa Kastle in Detroit."
Source: Michigan Chronicle 1954
Kappa Alpha Psi Journal: October 1954
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Across the Fraternity, alumni and undergraduate chapter member rosters increased as brothers in the military returned home. After high school, men who entered the military and postponed college for World War II subsequently enrolled in colleges and universities using the United States G.I. Bill. Sigma Chapter revitalization efforts benefited from this surge in college enrollments of African Americans. The school newspaper's July 6, 1947, issue, the Michigan Daily, contained a headline "Kappa Alpha Psi Returns to Activity" announcing the chapter's resumption as an active student orga- nization. The chapter in 1947 began to have intake lines consistently, and by the early 1950s, some Scroller Club lines had nearly a dozen students. During this time, Sigma again was an undergraduate host chapter with the Alpha Beta Chapter for the 38th Grand Chapter Meeting held in Detroit in December 1948. Sigma Chapter House In addition to generating interest in the Fraternity among the U-M gradu- ates, the fraternity leadership at the Grand Chapter, provincial, and local levels strongly believed acquiring an on- campus chapter house would raise the chapter's profile in the U-M community and bolster its long term viability. This initiative was highlighted in remarks by the newly elected 12 t h Grand Polemarch Augustus G. Parker in the February 1946 issue of the Kappa Alpha Psi Journal. "There are a number of colleges and universities where we should have chapter houses, but in your Grand Polemarch's opinion, our greatest need for a chapter house is at the University of Michigan. Kappa Alpha Psi has never attained the position of eminence at the University of Michigan to which it is rightfully entitled, and a chapter house would go far in attaining this desired result." This initiative took several years to raise funds and secure an appropriate property near campus. Led by National
Housing Fund chairman Brother Joseph A. Craigen and his chapter, Detroit (MI) Alumni, the alumni of Sigma Chapter, and the Grand Board of Directors final- ized the required transactions to obtain a chapter house. In 1954, the chapter acquired a seven-bedroom, 2,500 squar foot house located at 1702 E. Hill Street near fraternity row one-half mile south- east of the center of campus. Acquiring the fraternity house was a watershed event for the chapter. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the chapter utilized the property as its head- quarters for all fraternity events, includ- ing chapter meetings and hosting visiting brothers. Chapter members resided at the house as well as non-Kappas. The house was also a popular meeting spot for African American U-M and Eastern Michigan University students. "Sigma Chapter always hosted a lawn party at the Kappa house on the first Saturday after the start of classes in the Fall. This usually followed the first home football game of the year and attracted almost every black student on campus. Later in the Fall, the brothers would host a "Thanksgiving Feast" for all stu- dents. Almost every weekend, there was a party or some gathering at the Kappa house. It was a popular place to be." Kappa Alpha Psi is the only NPHC organization to maintain an official chapter on the Michigan campus. The chapter vacated the property in the early
1970s.
Modern Era of Sigma Chapter From the 1950s to the present day, the chapter has maintained a consistent presence on the U-M campus. In the 1950s and 1960s, the chapter spon- sored various social events, including an annual Sweetheart Ball held at the Michigan Union Ballroom. In 1976 the chapter sponsored a sold-out concert at Hill Auditorium starring Richard Pryor with special guest Labelle featuring Patti Labelle. The proceeds from the show and the after-party reportedly under- wrote the chapter's activities for the next few years. The chapter co-sponsored in the 1980s a concert with the popular funk band "Slave." In the mid-1980s, the chapter spon- sored "Kappa Icebreaker" and "Michigan vs. Michigan State Victory Celebra- tion," the single largest event for African American students on campus. In 1988, the chapter created its annual "Night at the Set" Talent Show," which showcases the best talent on campus. Since then, this event has been going strong and is the chapter's longest-running initiative. The chapter also started the Miss Black University of Michigan Pageant in 1989, held at the Power Center, a prime cam- pus event venue. Sigma Chapter held many charitable events such as the Kappa Klaus Christ- mas bucket drive for United Negro Col-
"From Undergraduate Chapters." Kappa Alpha Psi Journal: October 1989
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lege Fund. The chapter raised at least $1,000 for three consecutive years, the minimum amount for an organization to present a check "live" on television dur- ing the annual UNCF Telefund drive. Other noteworthy chapter achieve- ments: In 1989, the chapter helped start the University of Michigan-Dearborn Chap- ter, the Nu Epsilon of Kappa Alpha Psi. • Awarded Northern Province Chapter of the Year; • Placed second in the Kappa Kwiz
candidates. In the early 1970s, the first of three Black Action Movements (BAM) occurred on campus. BAM was a series of protests led by African Ameri- can students against the university poli- cies. Brothers Ronald C. Harris (Sigma 1968) and Ronald L. Thompson (Sigma 1967) were at the forefront of these movements. Thompson also became the school's first president of the Black Student Union on campus. In 1986, chapter members participated in an on- campus rally against the South African government and its apartheid policies. In the late 1980s, a third significant African-American student movement known as BAM III with many of the original issues in play and addressed the issue of Apartheid. Brother Jeffrey Wil- liams (Sigma 1985) served as president of the Black Student Union during this time. In 2014 Arnold Reed II (Sigma 2013), also President of the Black Stu- dent Union led, another student move- ment known as Being Black at Michigan (BBUM). ULI and LEADKappa In recent years, Sigma Chapter had representation at the Fraternity's flag- ship undergraduate leadership programs, the Undergraduate Leadership Institute (ULI) and LEADKappa. Ian R. Grant, II (Sigma 2010) is a member of the Epsilon Klass (2012) of ULI, and Silas K. Shorter (Sigma 2017) is a member of the Theta Klass (2018) of ULI. In 2015, Brandon Grant, Jared K. McNeir, and Charvez Wesley, all Sigma 2013, represented the chapter and the school at the LEADKappa program held at the 82nd Grand Chapter Meeting in New Orleans, LA. Sigma Chapter Foundation In April 2017, the alumni of Sigma Chapter established the Sigma Chapter Foundation to provide support for the undergraduate members of the Sigma Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi and create a scholarship. The foundation focuses on fundraising for events and scholarship, planning its centennial celebration, a Sigma Chapter memorial for the family
Bowl at the 75 th Grand Chapter Meeting held in Cleveland, OH;
• Marvin E. Dunham (Sigma 1985), Roy G. Rogers (Sigma 1997), and Ian R. Grant, II
(Sigma 2010) each served as the Northern Province's Junior Vice Polemarch;
• U-M NPHC named Sigma
Chapter its Chapter of the Year in 2011, 2012, & 2013;
• U-M NAACP named Sigma
Kappa Alpha Psi Journal: October 1959
Chapter its Fraternity of the Year in 2011, 2012, & 2013
The Detroit (MI) Alumni served as the advising alumni chapter for Sigma Chapter for most of its existence, while in more recent decades, the Ann Arbor- Ypsilanti-Inkster (MI) Alumni advised Sigma Chapter. Michigan Athletics and Sigma Chapter Like other undergraduate chapters, Sigma Chapter had numerous chapter members from the 1950s through the 1980s who played varsity sports, espe- cially football, basketball, and track & field. In addition to earning a Michigan degree and competing for the Wolver- ines, multiple chapter members played at the professional level in the NFL, CFL, and NBA. The chapter also fielded competitive teams in intramural sports. Campus Activism In 1968, chapter members, along with other African-American U-M students, held a lock-in protest of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Lu- ther King, Jr. Later in 1968, the chapter removed its candidate for homecoming queen due to charges of bias judging
of members who has joined Chapter Invisible, and connecting members via social media and other methods. Sigma Chapter Centennial - 2022 Chaired by Kevin J. Hood (Sigma 1987), the Centennial Committee consisting of the alumni initiates and the current members of the Sigma Chapter spending the last few years planning the chapter's centennial, which will be celebrated throughout 2022. During the centennial observation week of February 18-20, activities include a Sigma Chap- ter tradition, hosting a campus talent show, a reception, and a brunch. In April 2022, the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti (MI) Alumni and Sigma Chapters host the Northern Province Council Meeting, including a reception observing Sigma's centennial observance of its chartering. In the summer of 2022, Sigma Chapter host a picnic at the Detroit (MI) Alumni Kappa Kastle. Other activities include a golf outing, a centennial gala on the Michigan Union, and a Centennial pic- nic at Lower Huron Metro Park.
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