East Lansing, MI -- The Delta Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA) held their 26th Annual Senior Salute and Scholarship Luncheon in the Big Ten Room at the MSU Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on May 21. The theme: “Achieving Greatness Through Education.”

The sorority greeted guests and each other in an astonishing array of airy white suits and dresses, accented by AKA’s signature pink and green Kente cloth.

Dorothy Wilson, a 50 year Soror says, every year she looks forward to the Senior Salute. The ladies enjoyed the festivities trading recipes, passing on travel tips, and commending the students of color who are active members in the community and committed to academic excellence.

Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded January 15, 1908 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. from the inspiration of Ethel Hedgeman Lyle. The sorority was incorporated in 1913. The AKA’s were the first Greek lettered organization established by Black college women. AKA goals are to improve health, education, economics and the condition of the Black family. The AKA’s have given more than one million dollars to the UNCF . Charlan Washington, Senior Salute Chairperson and Mistress of Ceremonies introduced the Dais and Special Guests Dr. Gloria Smith, Dr. Eva Evans, Dr. Rene’ Reves Shingles, Vivian Tansel, Lisa Cromwell Monroe, Dr. Lillian McFadden, and Kristina Marshall followed by Vivian Tansil, President, Delta Tau Omega Chapter with an enthusiastic, “Good Morning, Wake-up! Graduating class of 2005, we salute you!”

Dr. Eva L. Evans, 24th International President, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (1994-98) called for shout outs from the graduates of each school present, and telling them, “Each of you is important! You young people going through the pipeline give us hope for the future.”

She further noted a brief history of the AKA’s, “There are 180,000 AKA’s across the globe, the organization is 97 years old.” “The founding members were “one generation out of slavery” when they requested permission to start a Greek letter organization at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Because they were graced with the ability and opportunity to learn “Latin, Greek, Mathematics, and more.” They wanted to found a service organization “to bring somebody along with them!” “We are Teachers, Social Workers, Nurses, Physicians, Lawyers, Architects, and there are five African American AKA’s in Congress.” Dr. Evans closed with, “You do the best you can with what you have and give something back!”

Attendees sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” by James Weldon Johnson.

Dr. Lillian McFadden saluted the graduates with a poem saying, “…please seniors dare to dream and be the best you can be …” wishing the graduates, “Good luck and God’s many blessings.”

Four young men (Ryan Taylor, Rodney Singleton, DeMarcus Hadley and Stanley Johnson) beautifully sang “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday,” by Boyz II Men, snapping to an acapella beat, as everyone marveled at this talented group.

Lisa Monroe gave the lunch invocation. After lunch was served another talented musical group performed, composed of Ryan Taylor, Maunce Buford Jones, and Adrienne Reeves. They sang Mariah Carey’s “One Sweet Day.”

Charlan Washington introduced the Keynote Speaker, Dr. Rene’ Revis Shingles of Central Michigan University (1976 Centennial Olympic Games) is a certified Athletic Trainer, and Sports Sociologist. Dr. Shingles greeted the audience with, “It is a pleasure and honor to be with you my Sorors to represent and to congratulate the graduates! I’m sure it was not always easy to maintain such high standards.” She asked, “At what point did we stop quoting Langston Hughes, and start quoting 50 (Cent)? “

Then Dr. Shingles shared the nine point essence of Dr. Dennis Kimbro’s book, “What Makes The Great Great,” adding an extra dash of wisdom to each point in a well seasoned lecture. 1. “Have a deep seated spiritual belief (Ghandi Quote noted from the book),” 2. “Develop a can-do credo (and take that same attitude toward life that you’ve used in school), 3. Have a vision (so the unreachable becomes a reality, step by step) 4. Have Passion (love what you do vs acting out the music on the radio) 5. Have Courage (don’t worry about failure – fight for what you want), 6. Have Character (reputation and character goes a long way toward success), 7. Have Competence (sometimes good is not good enough, No one wants to hire someone who can almost do it) 8. Have self confidence (first things first, put your game face on), 9. Have Discipline (others can never master the person who masters him, or herself).

Dr. Shingles closed by saying, “My question to you, is, what makes the great, great?

The MSU’s Senior AKA Soror’s celebrated over one hundred seventy five graduating seniors, along with school administrators, special guests, and graduate families. The students filled out applications at their high schools that were submitted for scholarship consideration through their administrators. The AKA’s considered numerous criteria for selecting the graduates to honor, like GPA, and personal expression in their letters.

Dr. Sharon Banks, Superintendent of Lansing School District, Dr. David Chapin, Superintendent of East Lansing Schools, principals and other administrators distributed certificates to graduates from East Lansing HS, Grand Ledge HS, Holt HS, Lansing Catholic Central HS, Eastern HS, Everett HS, JW Sexton HS, and Waverly HS.

The graduates proudly collected their certificates as their names and GPA’s were announced, the audience clapped in sincere appreciation at the scholastic achievers!

Special certificates were given to graduates with 3.5 GPA’s and above. Six graduates received scholarships to further their educational goals. Brittany Daley, Chad Guerrant, Jessica Holmes, Justin Motley. The last two scholarship recipients received awards for AKA members who’ve passed on. Danielle Roberson (Clara Betty Scholarship) and Sophia Evans (Marguerite Gooden Scholarship).

Thomas Gooden spoke of his appreciation of the AKA’s for honoring his mother, Marguerite Gooden, through education. He said, “She was a good person, a teacher that inspired, and I appreciate all of you, for remembering her this way.”