Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.'s glittering "Pharaoh's Ball" Saturday night successfully concluded Alpha Week's program of activities, which coincided with the week of Martin Luther King Day.
"Celebrating the founding of our chapter on Jan. 21, 1921, this is also the venue for our annual Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant," Alpha Phi Alpha member and Villanova University senior Michael Williams said.
A scholarship worth $1,000 was awarded to this year's Miss Black and Gold, Wharton junior Tiffany Johnson, who performed a poem entitled, "So ... What If I Am a Black Woman?"
Named after the fraternity's colors, scholarships of $500 and $250 were also presented to Miss Gold, College freshman Ashley Johnson, and Miss Black, College sophomore Melissa Providence, respectively.
Funded through the fraternity, tickets to the ball and advertisement sales, the scholarships recognize academic achievement, campus involvement, community commitment and talent in a variety of fields -- including ballet, poetry and music.
Last year's Miss Black and Gold, College senior Jerryanne Heath, described the experience as "amazing. I felt like I impacted the community in a new way. I am a little sad ... passing on the crown, but I know that the relationship I developed with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. will last forever."
More than 300 people from Penn and neighboring universities -- including upwards of 50 alumni and out-of-state members-- attended the event.
"Our [Psi metropolitan] chapter consists of only eight men ... we're very pleased with all the support we received throughout this week. There was a tremendous response to our programming," Psi Chapter President and Wharton sophomore Christopher Amos said.
Amos was also enthusiastic about Alpha Week.
"We feel that people who attended our Alpha Week events benefited a lot. We tried to adopt [King's] vision into our program so you'll find themes of service and community uplift."
Given such a small but tightly knit fraternity, it was not surprising that members highly praised each other's efforts.
"Two brothers deserve special recognition," Alpha Phi Alpha member and Engineering junior Imo Udom said, praising College senior Lionel Anderson-Perez and Drexel senior Morris Martin, who chaired the Pharaoh's Ball committee.
