Speaker brings career message

Fraternity awards young men with trophies, scholarships

By St, Clair Murraine
Outlook Staff Writer

After all the oratorical presentations and scholarship were given to the honorees, Andrew Dixon reminded the group of young boys that they were just beginning their journey to success.

Getting there would require managing each move as they navigate primary and eventually higher education, though. 

Dixon, an administrative law judge, spoke directly to the award winners and their families for most of his nearly-20-minute speech last Saturday, before leaving them with an important reminder.

“Now young men,” Dixon said, “it’s your turn. Your path is before you. Only you can and will determine that path. Only you can determine and understand what interest inspires you to have a passion to achieve a goal for which you are prepared to sacrifice for the positive outcome for you and those around you.”

The group of young boys, family and friends were gathered in the lower level of the Enrichment Center for the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Education and Leadership Foundation Awards and Recognition Ceremony. The winners were selected from a group of about 20 that participate in the Alpha Phi Alpha program for seven weeks.

Through the mentorship program they worked on their verbal, written and public communication, oratorical, math and analytical skills. They also learned life skills such as problem solving and responsibility.

Every aspect was observed by those who run the program. At certain points they were judged, leading up to last Saturday’s finale.

“It was the inspiration of the kids that allowed us to keep going,” said Rodney Daniels, a program coordinator. “Yes, there were some rough Saturdays but it was because once we got through those doors and we saw the willingness and the energy to learn, they gave us the energy to keep going every Saturday.”

The experience was intended to help the young boys develop, said Frantzley Moise, another program directors.

 “We are here to see them grow,” he said. “Yes, this is a competition. Some people will win and some people will go home with nothing. But know that at the end of the day we all received something very special; that’s you being here.”

The boys were judged in three categories — Apha Rise Academy, Alpha Leadership Program for Higher Achievement and the Alpha Millennium Academy for boys in grades 9 to 12. The previous two categories were for elementary and middle school boys, respectively.

The honorees were presented trophies and checks. Scholarship and monetary award winners received from a low of $200 to a high of $1,200. Each of the top honorees in the three programs presented the speeches that helped to make them winners.

 Gabriel Dennis, who won the Alpha Rise Academy category, told the Nelson Mandela story; Reginald Johnson III, the Higher Achievement winner, spoke about civil rights attorney Ben Crump, and Alpha Millennium Academy winner Zion Reed Daniel, spoke about leadership in a captivating speech.

Saturday’s presentations marked completion of the first of three phases that participants in the program will go through, said Tashi Williams, president of the fraternity and director of the education program. The next sessions will be held during the summer and fall.

Students are recruited through Leon County Schools. The fraternity asks for least 10 students from each school, Williams said, adding that word-of-mouth and social media are two other means of recruiting.

“Our program overall has been a success,” Williams said. “We are about developing leaders.”

Increasing the number of participation is something that Williams would like to see.

“Our goal is to serve as coaches, mentors, influencers, role models, everything,” he said. “Our goal is to keep them facing forward and to focus on their lives.”

Al Dennis, chairman of the board of the leadership foundation, echoed the same message, as he expressed appreciation to parents for allowing their children to be in the program.

“We certainly appreciate their hard work, commitment, diligence, their dedication as well as their teamwork,” Dennis said. “All throughout the leadership program, they always encouraged each other. That’s the other part of leadership. These young men; they have it.”

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity awards list
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Educational and Leadership Foundation, Inc. winners:
Alpha Rise Academy (Grades 3-5)
Oratorical Contest: Gabriel Dennis, 1; Josiah Onigbanjo, 2; Caleb Dennis, 3.
Alpha Leadership Program for Higher Achievement (Grades 6-8)
Oratorical Contest: Reginald Johnson III, 1; Tylen Russell, 2; Marcus Dennis II, 3.
Alpha Millennium Academy (Grades 9-12)
Oratorical Contest: Zion Reed-Daniels, 1; Elijah Reed-Daniels, 2; Braden Singletary, 3.
Overall Monetary Award Winners
Alpha Rise Academy (Grades 3-5): Gabriel Dennis, 1; Caleb Dennis, 2; Carter Nixon, 3.
Overall Scholarship Award Winners
Alpha Leadership Program for Higher Achievement (Grades 6-8): Reginald Johnson III, 1; Marcus Dennis II, 2; Tylen Russell,
Alpha Millennium Academy (Grades 9-12): Zion Reed-Daniels, 1; Elijah Reed-Daniels, 2; Korey Rosier, 3.
Medallion (Grade 9-12): Braden Singletary Graduating Senior