The Tribune

BY DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

WITH a focus on education, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc has launched its HBCU For Life initiative to raise $1m for historically black colleges and universities in the US that have provided scholarships to many Bahamian students.

Felisha Seymour, president of Pi Upsilon Omega Chapter of AKA Sorority Inc, announced that this is the fourth year that the chapter has joined with AKA sororities to contribute to such an important initiative.

She encouraged the wider community of Grand Bahama to also join in the initiative by donating $35 or more to help reach the sorority’s target. The local chapter is hoping to raise $2,000 to go towards the sorority’s $1m goal.

“Today, we are celebrating our target one – HBCU for Life. It is our million dollar drive, and all the AKA sororities around the world are teaming up with our corporate office to raise $1m in a day and the funds distributed to the various HBCUs in the US,” she said.

“We are very excited about this initiative because education is the key and when you look back on our history, education for people of colour was not always accessible. And even though we can’t use the funds for our school here, it is always good to allow others to go abroad,” she said.

Ms Seymour said the Freeport chapter’s target goal is to raise $2,000. Persons can donate a minimum of $35.

“Every year, the sorority has achieved the million-dollar target, and so every little bit helps,” she said.

Shelley Stewart-Rolle, HBCU For Life committee chairperson, said several virtual activities are planned to celebrate HBCU week.

Mrs Rolle said that all funds raised on HBCU for Life Impact Day go to the sorority’s educational advancement fund (EAF). She noted that many Bahamians have benefitted by receiving scholarships to attend an HBCU.

“The money raised today by our international sorority will be donated to different HBCU schools, of which many of our members and community members are graduates. We are asking the public to please support this initiative because for $35, these students are getting full four-year scholarships with stipends, which never happened in my time,” she said.

Mrs Rolle said the PUO Chapter kicked off HBCU Week on Sunday with worship online at the First Baptist Church with Rev Keith Russell, who is a graduate of an HBCU (Tennessee State University).

Today, PUO will recognise HBCU scholarship recipients here in Grand Bahama. Mrs Rolle said that a virtual HBCU college fair was held in April, with the Eta Psi Omega Chapter in Nassau, and the Eta Upsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Some 1,500 Bahamian students throughout the country participated. Mrs Stewart-Rolle said Grand Bahamian Therea Roberts, of Tabernacle Baptist Academy, was the first recipient awarded a scholarship at that event. She stated that Ms Roberts and the other recipients will be featured on the PUO Facebook page.

On Wednesday, community leaders on Grand Bahama that went to an HBCU will be highlighted. Among them are Malcolm Smith, the founder of the ASGARD Junkanoo Group, and Troy Clarke, who is with the LEAD Institution.

On Thursday, there is an HBCU Dollar Day, and on Friday, an HBCU virtual trivia event will be held, where people will be able to win prizes.

On Saturday, the group will spotlight HBCU entrepreneurs on PUO Instagram and Facebook pages.

The sorority is asking people in Grand Bahama and Nassau to support these HBCU entrepreneurs, especially during these difficult economic times.

For more information, visit the sorority on Facebook at facebook.com/ piupsilonomegaAKA.