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IOTA CHAPTER 2023 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Pictured: (Front row, l. to r.) Bro. Eric Wiley, Bro. Jerrold DeRon, Bro. Melvin M. Slater, Sr. (Scholarship Comm. Chairman), Melvin Slater, Jr. (Lindblom HS), Immanuel Ogundipe (Lindblom HS), Lunaire Ford II (Intrisic HS), Aquil Hayes (Lindblom HS), and Bro. Rick Williams; (Back row, l. to r.) Bros. Jamaal Applewhite, Andre Garner, Socrates Mabry (Basileus), Rev. Dr. Leverette Bryant, Michael Meeks, John Bradley, Bruce Montgomery, and Dr. Melvin Hargrett, Ed.D.

On Thursday, June 15, 2023, Iota Chapter recognized and honored five outstanding young black men as their 2023 scholarship recipients during their annual scholarship awards dinner. The chapter has provided scholarships to deserving black students annually ($10,000 in each of the last six years) since being re-chartered as a graduate chapter in 1995. “We realize the impact we have with our scholarships and mentoring to help develop men, black men who will develop the future for the world of finance, neuroscience, pharmacy, computer engineering, and civil engineering!” stated the Basileus Bro. Socrates Mabry. Due to prior impacts of COVID-19, Iota Chapter hasn’t been able to hold this auspicious occasion indoors since 2019. This year’s awards dinner was extra special to Bro. Melvin M. Slater, Sr. (Lindblom Class of 1980) to find out that his son Melvin Slater, Jr. (Lindblom Class of 2023) was one of the scholarship recipients as well as the fact that the brotherhood, recipients, and parents were able to fellowship and it took place at the black owned/operated Bronzeville Soul Restaurant located in the famed Bronzeville neighborhood on Chicago’s southside.

 

The Iota Chapter Scholarship Committee (Brothers Melvin M. Slater, Sr. - Chairman, Byron Legardy, Joe Lewis, Jr., and Rick Williams) selected the following five black young men who graduated from Chicago high schools to receive $2,000 each in scholarships based on their academic achievements and aspirations for higher education:

 

Nicholaus Asiyanbi: Kenwood HS; attending Tulane University in the Fall of 2023 to major in Finance;

Lunaire Ford II: Intrisic HS; attending DePauw University in the Fall of 2023 to major in Neuroscience;

Aquil Hayes: Lindblom HS; attending Florida A&M University in the Fall of 2023 to major in Pharmacy;

Immanuel Ogundipe: Lindblom HS; attending University of Illinois Chicago in the Fall of 2023 to major in Computer Engineering;

Melvin Slater, Jr.: Lindblom HS; attending Howard University in the Fall of 2023 to major in Civil Engineering.

 

The scholarship awards program included the soul-stirring prayer and blessing by Bro. Rev. Dr. Leverette Bryant, introductions, Fraternity and Chapter history, words of wisdom and support, presentation of scholarships, dinner, photos and remarks. Bro. Slater declared as part of his remarks that “the foundation of the black population depends on the solidification of a good education”. Brothers provided their college(s), degree(s), career(s), and contact information in order to mentor and better position and support our recipients for success. Each recipient was asked to contact the chapter at the beginning of their semester and periodically follow up with their progress as well as if they find themselves in need to reach out to us because Omega’s reach is worldwide. The chapter will also follow up with each recipient. This year Iota’s scholarships were sponsored by the I. O. T. A. (Inspiring Others To Achieve) Foundation. “We’re looking forward to continuing our sponsorship and fundraising to send more young black men to college!” stated I.O.T.A. Foundation representative Bro. Ricardo Williams.

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IOTA CHAPTER SAVING LIVES ONE PINT AT A TIME

Pictured: Bro. Melvin M. Slater, Sr. donating blood

On June 25, 2023, members of Iota Chapter honored the legacy of Dr. Charles Richard Drew by donating blood via the American Red Cross. Dr. Drew was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and is known as the "Father of the Blood Bank". Bro. Dr. Drew was a Washington, D. C. native and surgeon who pioneered methods of storing blood plasma for transfusions which saved the lives of many soldiers injured in World War II and organized the first large scale blood bank in the United States. Bro. Dr. Drew's work with blood plasma is still saving lives today with every pint of blood we donate.

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NURTURING THE SEEDS OF GENERATIONAL VOTING

Pictured: Bro. Melvin M. Slater, Sr. registering his son Melvin, Jr. to vote

Iota Chapter is all in when it comes to voter registration, education, and mobilization by participating in activities that uplift black communities through the power of the vote. Bro. Melvin M. Slater, Sr. made voter registration a family affair when he proudly registered his son Melvin, Jr. to vote on his 18th birthday. Bro. Slater stated, "Son, you're somebody now that you're registered to vote, but you must vote to matter!"

 

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2023 TALENT HUNT DEMONSTRATION PERFORMANCE

CLICK IMAGE ABOVE TO VIEW PERFORMANCE !

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SOCIAL ACTION OPPORTUNITY

CLICK IMAGE ABOVE FOR INFORMATION ON PROPOSALS FOR SOCIAL ACTION OPPORTUNITIES!

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IOTA CHAPTER 2023 SCHOOL SUPPLY GIVEAWAY

 

On Wednesday, August 16, 2023, and Thursday, August 17, 2023, Iota Chapter outdid themselves by supporting black students in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham (Oglesby Elementary), Washington Park (Washington Park Redskins Pee Wee Football Team), and Roseland (Cullen Elementary) neighborhoods respectively by providing students with school bags stuffed with school supplies, personalized words of encouragement, a commemorative $2 bill to remind them of their unique capabilities of being scholars, and a much needed assortment of school necessities. Richard J. Oglesby Elementary is a dual program neighborhood school which means they have traditional and Montessori learning paths. Oglesby is located in the black community of Auburn Gresham on Chicago’s southside. Washington Park is a community area on the South Side of Chicago which is home to the DuSable Museum of African American History. It and surrounding neighborhoods have gone through notable and often turbulent racial transitions. Cullen Elementary is a neighborhood school with a strong emphasis on language arts, math, and technology. Cullen is located in the far southside Roseland community in Chicago.

 

Mrs. Covington (Oglesby Elementary teacher) stated, “We can always depend on the Ques to come through with school supplies for our students at Oglesby!” Rachel Lampley (Cullen Elementary Counselor) expressed, “The Omega men not only brought smiles to the students and parents, but to the Cullen staff as well with the school supplies!” Coach Charles (Washington Park Football Coach) voiced his appreciation, “You just don’t know the impact you good black men are having on my 8-10 year old players by giving them school supplies and talking to them!”

 

The following Omega men not only were on hand to deliver the school supplies but took time to intentionally meet and share advice with the students and parents: Bros. Rick Williams, Jeff McKamey, Melvin M. Slater (Scholarship Chairman), Sr., Socrates Mabry (Basileus), Charles Rowan, Kent Bumpers, and Jesse Boyce. 

  

OGLESBY ELEMENTARY

Pictured: Bros. Melvin M. Slater, Sr. (Scholarship Chairman),Rick Williams, and Jesse Boyce.

WASHINGTON PARK REDSKINS PEE WEE FOOTBALL TEAM

Pictured: Bro. Melvin M. Slater, Sr. (Scholarship Chairman) and the Washington Park Redskins Pee Wee Football Team.

CULLEN ELEMENTARY

Pictured: Bros. Socrates Mabry (Basileus), Kent Bumpers, Jeff McKamey, Charles Rowan, Rick Williams, Jesse Boyce, Melvin M. Slater, Sr. (Scholarship Chairman), and students from Cullen Elementary School.


Pictured: Bro. Socrates Mabry (Basileus), Principal Bud Bryant, Bro. Rick Williams, Bro. Jesse Boyce, and students from Cullen Elementary School.

 

 

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