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Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Celebrates Founders' Day and
Honors Community Leaders to the Theme “Black Girls Rock and
Exemplify Excellence”
Special to The Truth
On Saturday, February 29, 2020, the Zeta Alpha Omega, Alpha
Lambda, and Iota Iota chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority, Incorporated® gathered at the Heather
Downs Country Club in Toledo to celebrate the sorority’s 112th
Founders’ Day.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the oldest
Greek-lettered organization established by African-American
college-educated women, was founded by 16 visionary women on
the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. on
January 15, 1908. Currently Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is
comprised of nearly 300,000 members in 1,012 graduate and
undergraduate chapters internationally.
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The area’s first chapter, Alpha Lambda, was chartered on
December 10, 1928 at the University of Toledo. The graduate
chapter, Zeta Alpha Omega, was chartered on April 25, 1952
in Toledo and undergraduate chapter, Iota Iota, was
chartered on March 15, 1975 at Bowling Green State
University.
This year’s Founders’ Day
theme was "Black Girls Rock and Exemplify Excellence." The
program opened with the procession of dais sorority guests
to the song “Black Girl Magic.” Treva Jeffries,
EdD, chapter vice-president and Founders’ Day co-chairman,
served as mistress of ceremonies for this year’s program and
Andrea Price, president of Zeta Alpha Omega,
spoke to the occasion.
Tulani Black, president of the Alpha Lambda Chapter and Lisa
E. Dubose, EdD, Northern Ohio/Western Pennsylvania Cluster
Coordinator offered greetings. Felicia Roberts-Dunston,
Founders’ Day Committee
chairman, honored sorority
members with 50 plus years of service by reading an
excerpt from 'We Speak Your Names' by Pearl Cleage.
The sorority recognized
African-American women in our community who rock and
exemplify excellence and promote the sorority’s national
programs: HBCU for Life, Women's Healthcare and Wellness,
Building your Economic Legacy, the Arts, Global Impact and
(CAP) College Admissions Process. The 2020 Black Girls Rock
and Exemplify Excellence recipients were Maumee Bay Club,
NANBPWC Inc. - Legacy of
Excellence Award, Celeste Smith - Social
Humanitarian Award, Ambrea Mikolajczyk - Shot Caller
Award, Natalie Grey - Young, Gifted & Black Award,
Sonia Flunder-McNair - Community Change Agent Award,
Paula Hicks Hudson- Icon Award, and Julia Holt –
AKA Pearl Award. Their acceptance speeches were
uplifting, powerful, and expressed their black girl magic.
The audience was entertained with an original selection
written and performed by Sheila Brown.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s membership includes
distinguished women who boast excellent academic records,
proven leadership skills and are involved in the global
community through advocacy and service.
The Founders’ Day
Committee who planned this year’s event are: Chairman
Felicia Roberts-Dunston; Co-chairmen Treva Jeffries and
Katrina Barry; President Andrea Price; President Tulani
Black; and members Lisa Dubose, London Weathers, Marcia
Brown, Rosie Payne, Connie Okoye-Nantwi, Desiree McGee,
Carolyn Lane Lewis, Lenora Barry, Patrice McClellan, PhD,
Cheryl Wallace, Richelle Watkins, Donnetta Carter, Mary
Dawson, Fionne Wright and Cheryl Slack.
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