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Kappa Alpha Psi honors local student at benefit ball
By Cynthia Yeung
February 16, 2004
A significant percentage of the proceeds from Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.'s annual "Crimson and Cream Scholarship Ball" Friday evening went toward a $1,000 scholarship for a Philadelphia-area high school senior.
The ball was the finishing touch on Kappa Week's program of events, which was geared toward enlightening the community. Besides the ball, one of the most popular events was a forum on the effects of slavery.
"Every event was well attended, and we can't ask for much more," Kappa Alpha Psi secretary and College senior Jabari Evans said.
Kappa Alpha Psi's citywide Delta Eta chapter encompasses universities such as Penn, Drexel, Villanova, La Salle and Arcadia.
Attracting over 240 attendees from various states, the philanthropic spirit of the event was a major draw for participants.
"The Kappas do a lot for the community," Rutgers alumna and event attendee Kandace Diedrick said. "I wanted to support the event, support the kids."
The benefit ball, named after the fraternity's colors, was organized by the chapter's 10 active members.
"We actually sat down and began to organize this in the summer, as we do with most of our events," Kappa Alpha Psi Vice Polemarch and Drexel junior Abdur-Rashid Beyah said. "It was pretty well thought out."
"All but two of them serve on the executive board of other organizations," said Kappa Alpha Psi Polemarch and Drexel junior Samuel Laurencin, emphasizing the leadership capabilities of the fraternity's members.
The John N. Williams Scholarship for Achievement was named after one of the fraternity's 10 founding chapter members.
"Our motto is achievement in every field of endeavor," Laurencin said. "We try to inspire that motto in others."
This year's recipient of the scholarship, Jermaine Pinckney -- who plans to attend Penn next fall -- was selected after a rigorous application process that considered various factors, including academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, extracurricular activities and community service.
"What most intrigued us about [Pinckney] was that he was always going to a school like Penn, which is very outstanding, and that's a big leap going from a Philadelphia-area school that's not really a prep school or a feeder school," Evans said. "He amazed us -- he was a natural choice."
The George Washington Carver High School for Engineering and Science graduating senior was enthusiastic and honored to receive the award from the chapter.
Celebrating the founding of its chapter on Feb. 11, 1952, the fraternity honored Bicultural InterGreek Council adviser Larry Moses; Brian Schaffer, the vice president of the Philadelphia alumni chapter -- "the second largest alumni organization in our fraternity," according to Laurencin -- and past chapter Polemaster and Drexel alumnus Jermel McWilliams.
"Larry Moses eased us back into campus life at Penn," Evans said, noting Kappa Alpha Psi's three-year hiatus from campus. "Even before we came back to campus, he was always looking out for us."
Last year, former Penn Executive Vice President and Kappa alumnus Clifford Stanley was among those honored.
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