THE SOCIAL SCENE
Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, Inc. Comes to Rollins Excerpt from Rollins News, December 14, 2023, Jessica Firpi ’11
Latonya Stark, Immediate Past President of Psi Theta Omega Chapter (left) and Tiffany Hughes, Chartering Graduate Advisor to the Upsilon Pi Chapter at Rollins College (right). Photos by Scott Cook.
for DEIB Strategic Implementation at Rollins. “Both faculty and staff are highly invested in seeing the students thrive socially and academically. Socially, the sorority will allow the students to have an increased sense of belonging and positive identification. Within the sorority, there are opportunities for undergrads to serve as
R ollins College welcomes the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA), the oldest established Greek-letter organization for Black women, to its campus. On Sunday, November 19, 2023, Rollins made history when the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated joined Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated as the second National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)—Divine Nine—organization on campus. Twelve students became charter members of the Upsilon Pi chapter. With more than one hundred AKAs in attendance, the chartering ceremony was conducted by AKA South Atlantic Regional Director and Orange County Clerk of the Courts, Tiffany Moore Russell. The sorority embodies a commitment to “Service to All Mankind,” contributing positively to society through selfless service and outreach initiatives. The Rollins chapter already has plans to kick off the spring 2024 semester with a drive for school supplies for underfunded elementary and middle schools. “Belonging and mattering are essential to student success and well-being,” says AKA member and Crummer marketing professor Tracy Kizer, who also serves as Special Assistant
chapter, regional, and national officers, supported by extensive training and mentorship. It is truly a proud moment for Rollins as we mark this monumental progress of bringing the chapter to campus.” The twelve charter members of the Upsilon Pi chapter are: Megan Anderson, Jordyn Burnett, Ani Henry-Walker, Shalisa Knowles, Bupe Kunda, Ophelia Lukamba, Bree Martinborough, Olivia McCoy, Savannah Nurse, Kalen Roberts, Chanel Thompson, and Chanice Thompson. After attending the University of Rochester, he found employment with Action for a Better Community in Rochester, a nonprofit Community Action Agency that promoted and provided opportunities for low-income individuals and families to become self-sufficient. In 1985, Ivan and his family moved to Orlando. In 2015, he retired, and he started to “mess around” with his artistic talent. We were invited to view his work by Boris Garbe, Gallerist for the Mills Gallery in Winter Park, and we were in awe of what Ivan had created. Under the tutelage of Boris, Ivan has recently launched a serious career as an artist. He has completely reinvigorated his love for creating art pieces that are realistic and that show the strength, integrity, reliance, and pride of Black people. While his exhibit ended at the Mills Gallery on January 5, he has a new exhibit with artist Patrick Noze, entitled Reflections of Time, that will run from January 11 to February 28 at the Winter Garden City Hall. He created a charcoal drawing that was adapted for a billboard display for The Corridor Project. His philosophy: “I believe that the ability to create art is humanity’s most significant defining feature. Art builds, it does not destroy.”
Spotlight on Visual Artist, Ivan Smith
For many years, Ivan Smith just “sat” on his artistic talent. Born and raised in Rochester, NY, Ivan was in grade school when it was determined that he had a talent for the visual arts. In the sixth grade, he won a drawing contest where the grand prize was to receive specialized arts training at the Eastman School of Rochester
for the Fine Arts. Instead of being trained he was completely ignored. In the seventh grade, his instructor threw away the class assignment that Ivan submitted because he did not believe Ivan had actually done it himself. In both instances, the individuals were Caucasian, with perhaps a limited appreciation for art renderings that did not include color. Most of his work is done with charcoal.
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RADIANTLY BLACK
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