84 TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING PHILADELPHIA, PA
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An Ocial Publication of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
March 31, 2019
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Attn: Thomas L. Battles, Jr., Grand Polemarch
2322-24 North Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19132-4590
Re: Letter of Support for John F. Burrell’s Petition for Consideration of the Elder Watson Diggs Award to be Conferred During the 84 th Grand Chapter Meeting
Brother Grand Polemarch:
Few Kappa men are appointed by Grand Polemarchs to labor on behalf of the fraternity as a committee member or chairman. And of those few who are appointed by successive Grand Polemarchs because of their work ethic, accountability to the administration, and ability to exceed the targets set for them, Brother John F. Burrell, ATC (Kappa Iota 1988) stands out among the most successful. Prior to being initiated into Kappa Alpha Psi ® , Brother Burrell stood out as a leader. In fact, his track record of achievement both in academics and service goes back to his leadership in Vicksburg High School, in Jackson, Mississippi, where he graduated with honors. His academic success continued through Hinds Community College and then at the University of Southern Mississippi. He led the organizations that helped him hone his craft as an athletic trainer. Professionally, he distinguished himself as being in the top 0.5% of candidates by being selected as an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the National Football League’s Jacksonville Jaguars and eventually became the Head Athletic Trainer for the Washington Redskins. In addition, Brother Burrell’s fraternal service is equally distinguished. My first experience interacting with him was as a fellow chapter Polemarch competing for Southern Province Chapter of the Year honors. His leadership in galvanizing the Jacksonville (FL) Alumni Chapter (JAC), organizing its approach to taking its Guide Right students and the Jacksonville Kappa League around the country to experience life on college campuses, was superlative. That year, the JAC not only won Southern Province Chapter of the Year honors but also was the 2003 76 th Conclave Paul W. Caine Chapter of the Year-Large. Later, Brother Burrell and I served as Co-Chairmen of the JAC Public Meeting, an event that hosted Grand Polemarchs’ participation annually for 10 years. Because the event was streamed live, Kappa Alpha Psi and the community were able to see his commitment to ensuring the fraternity was curated in the best light while distributing more than $300,000 in scholarships to area seniors as the local foundation’s Executive Director. It is his service as the fraternity’s National Director of the Membership Orientation Intake Process Committee and later as Chairman of the Membership Training Academy over multiple administrations where the world became most familiar with his boundless energy, attention to detail and unselfish service. As a fellow board member, I supported his prescient recommendation that the Southern Province Board of Directors consent to being the test Province for automating the MTA administrative process through Kappaorg. com. By all accounts, the effort was a complete success. The process is secure, user-friendly and highly efficient. As the current Executive Director of Kappa Alpha Psi, he has transformed International Headquarters into a visually appealing and more efficient operation. Working with Brother Burrell on the logistics of the Kappa Alpha Psi ® Journal, he has removed all the ad- ministrative obstacles that previously hindered the publication’s production.
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It is for these reasons that I unreservedly support Brother John F. Burrell’s petition for consideration of the Elder Watson Diggs Award to be conferred during the 84 th Grand Chapter Meeting.
Yours in the Bond,
Cleveland Ferguson III, Esq. Editor – Kappa Alpha Psi ® Journal Keeper of Records – Southern Province
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