A LOOK BACK: KAPPA HISTORY
Carl Darnell, Regina Scott, Grand Historian Kevin Scott, Dean Morrone, Julius Hanks
successful.
A century after Diggs’ graduation, the SOE established an award in his honor through the Balfour Scholar’s Program that embodies Diggs’ spirit and dedi- cation to nearly 50-years of his life to education. The program helps nurture the academic development of minority high school juniors by reducing barriers that would otherwise prevent them from attending college. The recognition was named the Elder Watson Diggs ‘Dream- er’ Award, and on July 15, 2016, it was bestowed upon three former Balfour Scholars who seek to pursue a career in the noble field of education. The award concept was devised by Dr. Stephanie Power-Carter (former Indiana University associate professor and former direc- tor of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center). It was co-developed by Dr. Christina Wright Fields, then director of the SOE’s Balfour Scholars Program. Dr. Power-Carter and Dr. Wright Fields
were inspired by Diggs’ story and contri- butions to education. Upon learning of his achievements, in spite of the chal- lenges he faced, they wanted to create a formal recognition to ensure Diggs’ legacy is preserved. Grand Historian Kevin Scott visited Indiana University’s SOE on September 9, 2016. Dr. Power-Carter hosted a tour of the SOE, the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, and lunch with Balfour counselor Brandon Washington (Alpha 2012) and current Alpha Chapter un- dergraduate brothers. Afterward, Grand Historian Scott discussed various op- tions with Dr. Power-Carter to perpetu- ally recognize Diggs at the SOE. Some of those options included a commis- sioned portrait or bust of Diggs’ likeness. From this conversation, Dr. Power- Carter presented the idea of establishing a scholarship at the SOE. The logistics of the scholarship endowment were not
Diggs was the prime mover who lent his time, money, and sweat equity to create the foundational properties of the Fraternity. He accomplished this while attending school, working to support himself, and leading as the fraternity’s first Grand Polemarch, a position he held for the first six years of its exis- tence. Diggs epitomized the fraternity’s principal goal of achievement. On one occasion, he learned that a student had been told by his history professor that no Black could earn an “A” in his course. He promptly enrolled and accomplished what had been said to be impossible. Diggs continued his scholastic work and became the first Black to graduate from Indiana University’s School of Edu- cation (SOE) in 1916. He subsequently earned his Master’s degree in education from Howard University (1944).
THE JOURNAL ♦ SPRING 2022
PUBLISHING ACHIEVEMENT IN EVERY FIELD OF HUMAN ENDEAVOR
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