ALPHA ATHLETES - The Sphinx Magazine

television news anchor Brother Vic Carter served as the forum’s
moderator. Congressional candidate Brother Kevin Powell,
Brother Michael A. Blake and Mr. David Hardwick served as panelists.
The A Voteless People is a Hopeless People campaign originated
as a Fraternity national initiative in the 1930s when
African Americans had the right to vote but many were prevented
from doing so.
Education Foundation Luncheon
Also on Friday, July 18 the Education Foundation hosted its
luncheon where the Fraternity’s 2008 scholarship recipients and
Distinguished Collegians were recognized and initiatives, which the
Foundation plans to launch, were announced. The attendance of
College Brothers was especially encouraged at the luncheon and
Alumni Brothers were asked to attend and/or donate tickets to the
younger Brothers. A portion of the $60 tickets were tax deductible
and proceeds from the event benefited the Education Foundation
and its scholarship program.
Ladies Fashion Show/Step Competition
The Ladies Fashion Show and Luncheon was held at noon
Friday, July 18 in the Imperial Ballroom of the Kansas City Marriott
Muehlebach Tower. Other ladies activities included Ladies
Seminars—with a special Line-Dancing demonstration; Ladies
Wine Tasting; Ladies shopping; and Ladies City Tour and Lunch. A
variety of children’s activities also were available.
College Brothers displayed the latest steps at the Step Show
and After Party, held Friday evening, July 18 in the Grand Ballroom
at the Kansas City Convention Center. Alpha Phi Chapter at Clark
Atlanta University in the Southern Region took first place honors in
86
102ND ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION
Life Membership Luncheon speaker Congressman Emanuel Cleaver
(left) receives Centennial Book of Essays and Letters from Brother
Matthews.
Fall • Winter 2008 The Sphinx: www.APA1906.net
this year’s competition. Second place went to Epsilon Chi Chapter
at the University of Kentucky in the Midwestern Region.
Oratorical Contest/Scholars Bowl/Pageant
The College Brothers Luncheon & Belford V. Lawson
Oratorical Contest was held midday Saturday, July 19. On the heels
of the Fraternity’s announced stance on use of the N-word, participants
in the competition addressed the controversial topic during
the annual Belford V. Lawson National Oratorical Contest, which is
named in honor of the organization’s 16th General President.
College Brothers representing each of the Fraternity’s five regions
tackled the important question: “Is the N-word really buried?” Osai
Robinson of Theta Tau Chapter, Kettering University in Flint,
Michigan, Midwestern Region, won the competition with his
insightful and electrifying address.
On Saturday evening, July 19 the finalists from schools in
the Fraternity’s five regions competed in the Collegiate Scholars
Bowl Finals. As usual, all of the college Brothers displayed
remarkable intellect but in the end the team from Clark Atlanta
University in the Southern Region prevailed as the winner of the
2008 competition.
Later that evening, Ms. Rivonne Collins, representing Zeta
Delta Chapter at Michigan State University in Lansing, Midwestern
Region, was crowned the 2008-09 National Miss Black & Gold after
competing with ladies from schools in the Fraternity’s four other
regions. Ms. Collins, a music education/voice major at Michigan
State showed off her beautiful soprano voice while competing for
the title. Ms. Courtney McCellan, who represented Gamma Iota
Chapter at Hampton University in the Eastern Region was named as
the 1st Runner-up in the pageant.
Ecumenical Worship Service Preacher Brother Wallace S. Hartsfield.