Upholding Excellence: Brother Christopher Smith Leads The Southeastern Province’s Awards and Achievement Committee.
In Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., recognition is not given lightly—it is earned through dedication, impact, and a commitment to the high standards that define our noble clan. Within the Southeastern Province, the responsibility of identifying and honoring the best among us lies with the Awards and Achievement Committee, a group of trusted brothers led with distinction by Brother Christopher Smith. Appointed by the Province Polemarch, Brother Smith and his committee were charged with an essential mission: to vet, refine, and oversee the selection process for the province’s most prestigious honors, ensuring that those recognized truly exemplify the ideals of Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor.
Stewardship of the Joseph R. Jenkins Award
At the core of the committee’s work was the responsibility of safeguarding the integrity of the Joseph R. Jenkins Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Southeastern Province, equivalent in prestige to the fraternity’s Laurel Wreath Award. Brother Smith’s team worked closely to develop and finalize a detailed scoring rubric, aligning it with the spirit of the award’s namesake while establishing clear, measurable standards to guide the evaluation process. His team included 17 Province Polemarch, Mel Solomon; 23 Province Polemarch, James E. Freeman; and 24 Province Polemarch, Solomon S. Bradley. th rd th
The result was a comprehensive rubric that balanced quantitative impact with qualitative excellence, establishing a new benchmark for administering top-tier awards.
Judging Chapter Excellence
Each year, the committee also carries out one of the most anticipated responsibilities of the Province Council: determining the Undergraduate and Alumni Chapters of the Year across the small, medium, and large categories. These awards recognize chapters that demonstrate sustained achievement, innovative programming, reclamation success, and overall impact in their respective communities. With impartiality and consistency, Brother Smith’s committee reviewed chapter petitions, assessed chapter metrics, and delivered decisions that were both data-driven and reflective of Kappa’s values. Proposal of a New Province Honor: The Deaver P. Young Award In a notable display of initiative and respect for the province’s legacy, the committee—acting in an ad hoc capacity—crafted the language and framework for a new high-level provincial award: the Deaver P. Young Award, named after the Southeastern Province’s first Province Polemarch. Designed as a complement to the Joseph R. Jenkins Award, the Deaver P. Young Award mirrors the significance of the fraternity’s Elder Watson Diggs Award, further enriching the province’s award structure. The proposal was presented and formally voted on ahead of the 99th Province Council, receiving overwhelming support and marking a historic expansion in how the province celebrates leadership, service, and impact. Awards & Achievement 32
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