Scholars' Tea
In 1983, the Alpha Sigma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, saw a need to recognize minority students in middle school (grades 6-8). Under the leadership of Emma Lilly Henderson, it was determined that students with a 3.5 or higher grade point average should receive special recognition from the community for their academic achievements. This recognition would serve as an incentive for even higher achievements as these students made their transition from middle to high school. Since its inception in 1983, the Scholars’ Tea has become an ongoing part of Alpha Sigma Omega’s Chapter Program as part of its “Service to All Mankind.”
From 1983 until the present, over 10,000 minority middle school students have marched across the stage and received recognition for their scholastic achievements. Students and parents take a pledge at the Scholars’ Tea to continue traveling the road of excellence; parents and family promised to continue their support of the scholars in their quest for academic excellence.
School Supply Drive
For the Achieving Standards of Excellence Foundation’s school supply drive, done twice yearly, we identify either elementary schools or social service organizations serving families in high poverty areas. We either partner with the organization (in both collecting and distributing the supplies) or just donate the supplies that we have collected to the organization for their dispersal through their regular procedures. We have found it helpful to buy supplies before school starts to catch the sales but to donate to 2-3 schools after Christmas by which time student supplies need to be replenished.
For the last four years we partnered with Al Edmonson who founded Making a Difference, Inc. and sponsored a “Cover Me Back-To-School Rally which also had community leaders, churches and nonprofit organizations coming together to help prepare young children with back-to-school supplies and families with information on community programs that can help strengthen them and the community. These supplies were distributed in early August at the Mt. Vernon Plaza. Alpha Sigma Omega Chapter members (of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®) assist us in collecting these supplies.