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2024 High School Essay Contest
Winners

1st Place - Cameron Sanders, Lindblom HS
2nd Place - Nakya Scott, Lindblom HS
3rd Place - Nasya Ingram, Lindblom HS

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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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VOTING IS NOT ONLY A TRADITION, IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR

                                     

Pictured: Bro. Melvin M. Slater, Sr. with his                                Pictured: Bro. Andre Garner, Sr. with his wife Adrienne,
                       son Melvin, Jr. who voted for the first time                                    son Andre, Jr., and daughter Ari after voting                                           

Pictured: Bro. Eddie Morrow with his wife Tammie
and son Evan after voting

Members of Iota Chapter and their families support Omega's voter registration, education, and mobilization mandated program by "putting their ballot where their mouth is" as well as participating in activities that uplift black communities through the power of the vote. After voting for the first time, Bro. Slater's son stated, "Dad, you said I was somebody when I registered to vote last year, but now I matter because I voted!"

 

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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 2024 SCHOOL SUPPLY DONATIONS

 

On August 22^nd and 23^rd, Iota Chapter went over and above the call of duty by donating school supplies, mentoring, and tutoring black student athletes in Chicago’s Washington Park (Washington Park Redskins Pee Wee and Varsity Football Teams) neighborhood. Washington Park is a community area on the South Side of Chicago which is home to the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center.

 

Bro. Slater stated, “Our hopes and dreams depend on making sure that you boys have options, the options of having an academic and athletic scholarship!”

 

Bro. Williams expressed, “Our Cardinal Principles are Manhood (we’ll show what it takes to be men), Scholarship (learn something new every day), Perseverance (life’s not easy, but you never give up), and Uplift (we’re here to give you a hand up when you fall)!”

 

Bro. Basileus Bryant added, “All things are possible as long as we keep God in the picture, let’s pray.”

 

Coach Charles (Washington Park Football Coach) voiced his appreciation, “All of you are the good black men I want my 8-10 year old players to grow up to be!”

 

The following Omega men not only were on hand to deliver the school supplies but took time to mentor and share advice with the student athletes: Bros. Rick Williams, Melvin M. Slater, Sr. (Scholarship Chairman), Socrates Mabry, Leverette Bryant (Basileus), Cameron Jasper, Bruce Montgomery, and Greg Jackson.

 

  

WASHINGTON PARK REDSKINS PEE WEE FOOTBALL TEAM

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

WASHINGTON PARK REDSKINS VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM

Pictured: Bros. Socrates Mabry, Greg Jackson, Bruce Montgomery, the Washington Park Redskins Varsity Football Team and Coach Charles, Bros. Cameron Jasper, Leverette Bryant (Basileus), and Melvin M. Slater, Sr. (Scholarship Chairman).

 

 

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