84 TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING: THE PUBLIC MEETING
Above: The Grand Polemarchs of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Grand Polemarch Battles and First Lady Geraldine Battles greet the delegates after the Grand Polemarch's entrance to the "Rocky" theme.
of the Divine 9 organization as well as introduced Ms. Vanetta Cheek Reeder, National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) President. Each leader provided remarks including: Everett B. Ward Ph.D, General President Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Dr. Glenda Glover, International President, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kenneth Barnes, Executive Director, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; Beverly E. Smith, National President, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; Chris V. Rey, National First Vice President, Phi Beta Sigma Fra- ternity, Inc.; Valerie Hollingsworth Baker, International President, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.; Deborah Catchings-Smith, International President, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.; and Jermaine L. Colon, Atlantic Coast Regional Secretary, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. Grand Polemarch Battles noted, "We are here to honor one of our own with the coveted Laurel Wreath, Samuel C. Hamilton, the 30 th Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi. We are here to honor Humanitarian Award honorees.” Grand Polemarch Battles also thanked the Philadelphia for its hospitality and some of the key Conclave activities including
Kappa Alpha Psi’s donation of $75,000 to the School District of Philadelphia. 75 th Laurel Wreath Laureate Samuel C. Hamilton The highlight of the program was the conferral of the Laurel Wreath Award to the 30 th Grand Polemarch Samuel C. Hamilton. Grand Polemarch Hamilton voiced gratefulness to his family for their endless support and to the many brothers who impacted and influenced him. presented to individuals who are not members of the fraternity whose contri- butions to society that improve the qual- ity of life of the disadvantaged. Kappa Alpha Psi presented its 2019 Humani- tarian Awards to 82 nd U.S. Attorney Gen- eral Eric Holder, U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), Ms. Marian Wright Edelman, Ex- ecutive Director, Children’s Defense Fund and the National Museum of African American History & Culture. Mr. Holder could not attend the meeting and sent Humanitarian Awards The Humanitarian Award of Kappa Alpha Psi is the fraternity’s highest award
his appreciation and well wishes to the audience via recorded video. Mr. Jamil Fletcher accepted the award on behalf of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Mr. Fletcher in his remarks thanked “the brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi for its great honor for its generous donation of over $700,000 toward the building of the National Museum of African American History & Culture.” Being unable to attend, Congressman Clyburn and Ms. Wright-Edelman will receive their awards at later date.
40 | FALL 2019 ♦ THE JOURNAL
Publishing achievement for 105 years
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs