BY SHELTON STARK, GUEST WRITER TO THE TIMES
ORLANDO – May 4, 2024, the Orlando Multi-Cultural Center in Pine Hills was the scene of the 30th Scholarship Luncheon hosted by the Chi Tau Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in conjunction with the Friendship Foundation of Greater Orlando. Awarding scholarships to area high school seniors to aid in their secondary education was the purpose of the event which also marked a milestone for Chi Tau as the Chapter surpassed $300,000 in total awards. “Scholarship is one of our Four Cardinal Principals” said Dr. Carl Gilmore Chi Tau Chapter Basileus (President), “and we’re here to celebrate our future leaders and provide some financial assistance along the way during this momentous occasion. We also want to surpass our totals from last year as we set a goal to be the number one (Omega Psi Phi) chapter in Florida for scholarship awards.”
The atmosphere was festive from beginning to end due partly to the musical stylings of saxophonist Naomi Joy, who not only performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” but she also covered several jazz and R&B favorites, much to the delight of the audience.
Highlighting the afternoon was keynote speaker and County Administrator of Orange County Government, Byron Brooks. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings named Brooks to this post in 2019, and he is the first African American to serve in this capacity. He is also the first African American to serve as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the City of Orlando, and the first African American to serve as CEO of LYNX. Brooks has been a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. for more than 35 years and holds an undergraduate degree from Furman University and a master’s degree from Clemson University. Being the father of two collegiate graduates and the son of a lifelong educator (Rufus Brooks), Byron Brooks was uniquely qualified to address the “Class of 2024.” In his commencement oratorical style, he challenged tomorrow’s leaders with the question; “Is your goal to go to college or graduate from college?” With that question Brooks dissected the statistics informing the near capacity crowd that approximately 54% of all incoming African American college freshman will not graduate from college for a variety of reasons. It is therefore important for the incoming freshman class seated in the audience to “show up to class, study hard, plan properly, stay focused, have fun, but never lose sight of the ultimate goal.”
The afternoon would not have been complete without the awarding of scholarships, six of which were endowments distributed by Chi Tau Chapter and the Friendship Foundation. The first recipient was Shaunt’ai Davina Azarae Robinson, representing Apopka High School. She was awarded the Omega International Outreach Scholarship and has plans to attend Florida A&M University in the fall. Matthew Nunn from Lake Nona High received the “Immersed 18” Scholarship and is the winner of the Chi Tau Graduate Chapter and Friendship Foundation Essay Contest. He plans to attend Morehouse College in the fall. Next, Nathaniel Worrell is the recipient of the Brooks Family Scholarship, named in honor of the family of keynote speaker Byron Brooks. Nathaniel proudly represents Ocoee High and plans to attend Howard University next fall. Representing East Ridge was Haily Hunt, she will attend Tennessee State University in the fall. Solomons Riggins plans to attend North Carolina A&T University this fall and is a senior at Evans High. Nicholas Chandler, a graduating senior from Eustis High was the recipient of the Chi Tau Founder’s Scholarship. He plans to attend St. Thomas University in Miami this fall. Darrell Harris attends Dr. Phillips High and will be an incoming freshman at Anna Marie College in Paxton, MA in the fall. Jalon Thompson, a graduating senior from Olympia High plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this fall. Jones High School senior Andrew Anderson plans to attend the University of Central Florida (UCF) next fall. Kennedi Francis from West Lake High plans to attend Norfolk State University in the fall. Up next, Elliana Kirby represents Edgewater High where she is a senior with plans to attend the University of Florida this fall. Perry Long, a senior from Evans High was the recipient of the William (Bill) Asbury Scholarship and plans to attend Florida State University next fall. Chandar Lang Greene II is a senior at Lake Nona High and plans to attend the University of Central Florida (UCF) this fall. Graduating senior, Andrew Phillips, from Apopka High plans to attend Morehouse College next fall. James Lewis is the recipient of the Alexander Roberts Scholarship. He currently attends Orlando Science High and will be an incoming freshman at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in the fall. All totaled, Chi Tau Chapter and the Friendship Foundation presented the Class of 2024 with $20,000 in scholarships. It was indeed a momentous occasion.