The Alpha Theta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. at Grambling State University celebrated its 60th Anniversary on April 7. The chapter was founded on 1951.The chapter commemorated its celebration by having tea, passing out candy wrapped in pink and green cellophane and releasing 60 pink and green balloons.
Diamond Walker, a psychology major from Jonesboro and new initiate said, “Everybody was happy for us. The students in Grambling really embraced us.”
Recently 60 members of Alpha Theta attended their 79th South Central Regional Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Several members received medals for academic achievement and the step team won the competition during the Educational Advancement Foundation (EAF) AKApollo talent show. Member Jouelle Young won Best Talent after delivering a soul-stirring rendition of “Summertime.”
Another member, Jasmine Crane, said she went to the conference to get a better understanding and feel for the sorority. “I was able to get more information from a different perspective and meet our regional director Gwendolyn Brinkley,” she said. “Attending such conferences will help me to grow in AKA.”
Crane was very proud when the chapter received academic awards and won AKApollo and received compliments for the way they conducted themselves.
She said she has always wanted to be a member of the sorority, and it was a privilege to be able to celebrate their 60th anniversary on campus.]Charter members of the chapter include Ruby Weekly Billups, Cloteal Hunter Reed, Thelma Davis Bethune, Lee Ivory Bonner McDaniel, Gussie Winters Boykins, Maggie Starks, Leslie Mae Alexander Jones, Lula Mae Cole, Rose Marie Broussard, Paralee Wafer Byrd, Winnie Bell Gilliard, Verna Lowe and Winona Williams.
Walker said, “As a chapter we are striving hard to be seen through community service. We have a lot to do, goals to meet. We are excited to work with community because it has been helpful to us. We appreciate all of the hard work and dedication of our graduate advisor, Soror Esther Robinson. We cannot thank her enough for allowing us to continue Alpha Theta’s legacy.”
Robinson, who was initiated on April 4, 1993, said Alpha Theta is still the premier organization that it was in her day. She says she is both elated and honored to be able to advise her undergraduate chapter. It is something she has always wanted to do.
She said not much has changed since she was initiated. “The goals of being supreme in service to all mankind and having members who excel academically are unchanging,” she said.