2010 Eta Omega Scholarship Banquet
On a warm Spring Tuesday afternoon (May 4, 2010), the Eta Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. hosted their annual Scholarship Banquet. This Scholarship Banquet honored young men from F. Douglass, B.T. Washington, Creekside, South Atlanta, Banneker, North Atlanta, B.E. Mays, H.M. Grady, Carver, M.H. Jackson, D.M. Therrell, Westlake and Tri-Cities High Schools. Master of Ceremony Bro. Henry Porter spoke warm greetings to commence the occasion. The Eta Omega Quettes presented a $1,000 check to be invested in the Chapter Scholarship Fund to current Chapter Basileus, Bro. Joseph Robertson. Bro. Robertson followed with words of appreciation and blessed the meal for the Banquet. Salad, mixed vegetables, chicken and fish was on the menu for the occasion. Bro. Josiah Townsend uplifted the purpose of the event and expressed words of encouragement to the 27 young men from Metro-Atlanta Area High-Schools honored for their scholarly work. Bro. Townsend concluded with words from Nelson Mandela "good heart, good hand and scholarly work."
The Eta Omega Ensemble sang a melodious arrangement of Psalm 133. Between presentations Bro. Porter shared words of ice breaking humor. Former Chapter Basileus Bro. Hebert Chennault introduced the speaker to address the honorees. The speaker on the occasion was Bro. Robert Holmes, Jr.
Bro. Holmes opened with greetings to former Grand Basileus, Chapter Officers, honorees and other invited guests present at the time. Honoring the eldest Fraternity Brother in the room - if not the entire Fraternity - Bro. Holmes uplifted Bro. Dosh Jackson, born in February 1911. Bro. Holmes opened his address with quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson and Bro. Benjamin Elijah Mays. He uplifted a charge to the honored scholars of solid purpose and grand dreams. Bro. Holmes shared personal experiences from his youth in Alabama during the intense, segregated 60's and revolutionary 70's. In testament to personal perseverance, Bro. Holmes shared his thirty plus year experience at Alabama Power as he climbed the corporate ladder through social obstacles to the Executive Office. With special attention to the skill and ability of perseverance, Bro. Holmes went on to share solid examples of manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift. Bro. Holmes closed his address to the young men, "know and believe you are somebody going somewhere."
The Eta Omega Ensemble followed the speaker with an encouraging Negro Spiritual. Immediately following, former Eta Omega Basileus Bro. Christopher Norman presented each honored scholar with a framed Scroll of Honor. Bro. Porter followed the Scroll of Honor presentation with a heart-felt rendition of "Dream the Impossible Dream." The program was concluded with the Brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. singing the Omega Hymn.
Scholarship is a necessary and fundamental aspect in the development of manhood. While athletic and entertainment success is the dream of many young men, it is noble of the Brotherhood of Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity, Inc. to honor and encourage the scholarship of high-school young men. The honorees were fortunate to hear words of encouragement and personally experience examples of manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift. The Spring 2010 Scholarship Banquet presented by the Eta Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was one to be remembered.