ALPHA ATHLETES - The Sphinx Magazine

Brother Pawley was presented with the Alpha Award of Merit
at the organization’s 90th Anniversary Convention in New Orleans
in 1996. For the Centennial Convention, held July 2006 in
Washington, D.C., Dr. Pawley wrote the words for “Hymn to the
Founders,” which encapsulated the founding of Alpha Phi Alpha
as part of the legacy of the African American struggle for freedom.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s corporate partner organizations
were represented by Big Brothers Big Sisters President
and CEO Judy Vredenburgh and March of Dimes COO Jane
90
102ND ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION
THE ALPHA AWARDS OF MERIT AND HONOR
The Alpha Award of Merit is the Fraternity’s highest award bestowed upon a member and the Alpha Award of Honor is
the highest award given to a non-member of the organization
Dr. Joseph E. Heyward
Alpha Award of Merit Recipient
On the Fraternity’s national level, Brother Joseph Heyward
served as part of the Constitution Committee during the
administration of 25th General President James R.
Williams; chaired the Publications Committee during the administration
of 26th General President Ozell Sutton; and was appointed
as Administrative Assistant to the General President by 27th
General President Charles C. Teamer, Sr. He has held that position
for 28th General President Henry Ponder, 29th General President
Milton C. Davis, 30th General President Adrian Wallace, 31st
General President Harry E. Johnson, Sr. and 32nd General
President Darryl R. Matthews, Sr. Brother Heyward has served in
Fall • Winter 2008 The Sphinx: www.APA1906.net
various other chapter, district and regional capacities and was
instrumental in chartering Kappa Chi Chapter at Francis Marion
University. He was initiated into the Fraternity through Gamma Iota
Chapter while a student at Hampton University and later joined
Delta Kappa Lambda Chapter in Florence, SC where he has been
an active member since 1967. Professionally, Brother Heyward
has taught mathematics and physics and served as assistant principal,
principal and assistant superintendent for the Florence, SC
School District. He retired from Francis Marion University as
Senior Vice President for Student Affairs in June 2006 after having
served there in several positions, including Interim Provost and
Director of the University Center.
Sylvester Lorenzo Shannon, Ph.D.
Alpha Award of Merit Recipient
For over 55 years, Brother Shannon has served Alpha Phi
Alpha Fraternity at the chapter, district, regional and national
levels. He was initiated into the Fraternity through Beta Nu
Chapter at Florida A&M University in 1952 and became involved
on the Fraternity’s national level during the administration of
General President A. Maceo Smith. In 1979, Eastern Region Vice
President Gray Gilliam and General President James R. Williams
invited Brother Shannon to serve as Fraternity Chaplain. He has lifted
our spirits through prayers and inspirational meditations ever
since. When Brother Shannon graduated from Divinity School in
1966, he was equipped and ready to serve. He entered the U.S.
Massey who brought comments at the Public Program.
Project Alpha
Project Alpha was held at 8 a.m. Monday, July 21 at a local
school. Nearly 50 children from the Afrikan Centered Education
Collegiums Campus attended the Project Alpha service initiative. A
collaborative effort between the March of Dimes Foundation and
the Fraternity, the youth-oriented initiative was designed to increase
knowledge about teenage sex and pregnancy among young males.