2025 AWARDEES 87TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING
#KLAVE2025
Elder Watson Diggs Award Seventy-one years ago, during the closing minutes of the 43rd Grand Chapter Meeting, December 27-30, 1953, the Chicago Conclave delegates ratified a motion to estab- lish a “Diggs Achievement Award,” second only to the coveted Laurel Wreath. Since the mechanisms and criteria for bestowing the honor were not yet determined, the Achievement Commission decided this award would not be granted until the specifics were resolved. Five years later, the Grand Board of Directors conferred the first Elder W. Diggs Awards at the 47th Grand Chapter Meeting. Then, as today, the primary standard of eligibility for evaluation to receive the award is based on a member’s exceptional meritorious contributions to the ideals, purposes, and programs of the Fraternity or its members. Initially, only three of these prestigious awards were offered for each Conclave year and had to be recommended by their Province Polemarch. In 1958, Grand Polemarch C. Rodger Wilson proclaimed to the first three recipients, Ulysses G. Plummer, E. Thomas Scales, and John N. Williams, “For sacrifices and services to Kappa Alpha Psi over and beyond the call of duty, we are delighted to recognize your contri- butions and present this Elder Watson Diggs Award as an expression of our appreci- ation.” These initial recipients were given a key and a certificate, accompanied by a citation similar and equal to that provided in conjunction with the Laurel Wreath. Today, the Achievement Commission can recommend up to five candidate petitions to the Grand Board of Directors for consideration to receive the honor. They receive a medallion bearing the likeness of Elder W. Diggs and a framed certificate of merit.
the Fraternity for meritorious achieve- ment. The award consists of a gold medallion bearing a likeness of Founder Guy Levis Grant and a framed certificate of merit. A duplicate framed certificate of merit is also presented to the chapter of affiliation of the recipient. The following brothers were recommended by the Achievement Commission and approved by the Grand Board of Directors to be conferred during the Awards Program on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, during the 87th Grand Chapter Meeting. • 107th, Absalom R. Bolling University of Memphis Chapter, Kappa Beta (SC) • 108th, Alex D. Newsome Fayetteville State University Chapter, Epsilon Beta (ME) • 109th, Chai T. Savage Wichita State University, Delta Upsilon (MW) • 110th, Brent C. White III North Carolina A&T State University, Alpha Nu (ME) • 111th, Chad A. White, Jr. Ohio University Chapter, Epsilon Lambda (EC) • 112th, Perry L. Williams University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Chapter, Gamma Sigma (SW) BYRON KENNETH ARMSTRONG AWARDEES The Byron Kenneth Armstrong Award of Kappa Alpha Psi® is the highest award available exclusively to a non- alumni member of the Fraternity for achieving the highest-grade point aver- age among the candidates. The award includes a scholarship determined by the Grand Board of Directors.
Zachary J. Berry
Dr. John Cade
Henry W. Flowers
Detroit (MI) Alumni Chapter (N) • 124th, Dr. John Cade Nashville (TN) Alumni Chapter (SC) • 125th, Henry W. Flowers Jackson (MS) Alumni Chapter (SW)
James E. Freeman
Kevin P. Scott
GUY LEVIS GRANT AWARDEES
• 126th, James E. Freeman Atlanta (GA) Alumni Chapter • 127th, Kevin P. Scott Chicago (IL) Alumni Chapter
The Guy Levis Grant Award of Kappa Alpha Psi® is the highest award available exclusively to a non-alumni member of
SPRING 2025 ♦ THE JOURNAL 27
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