Undergraduate Chapters

The undergraduate chapter of Epsilon Upsilon at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama was the first chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated to be chartered on a predominately white campus in the state of Alabama. The Epsilon Upsilon Chapter is located in the South Eastern Region and was chartered under the leadership and guidance of Delta Theta Omega Chapter on June 10, 1970.

The birth of the chapter started in 1968, when Ruth Collins, Juanita Robinson, and Carolyn Wilson from Delta Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., spoke to Dean Blanche Cox, the Assistant Dean of Women, about forming an undergraduate chapter on the University of South Alabama’s campus. She was receptive and told them she would be glad to work with them.

Delta Theta Omega received a list of twenty names from Gwendolyn Jones, an undergraduate student on the campus. Carolyn Wilson, Alice Crenshaw, Loretta Evans, Margaret Munnerlyn and Ethel Wright worked with the young ladies. In early 1970, they began to finalize the group. A list of eight students who were interested in and had the required GPA average was generated. Dean Cox advised Delta Theta Omega to find someone on campus to work with the students. Dr. Lynette Gaines accepted the challenge and four more young ladies were added to the list of eight.

On June 10, 1970, the Epsilon Upsilon Chapter was chartered. The Regional Director, Velma Lois Jones, performed the chartering ceremony. The charter members are Lola Brown, Lois Bruno*, Jean Crawford, Sherpian Harper*, Barbara Irvin, Deborah Isom, Gwendolyn Jones, Lena Payne, Edna Seltzer, Arthurine Thomas, Gloria Walker, and Beverly Wilson.

The Birth of Pi Rho Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated came to Spring Hill College when a brilliant, energetic group of women in Mobile, Alabama formed Pi Rho Chapter in 1992.

Gale Cornega, from Spring Hill College, diligently worked until she captured the attention of Carolyn Wilson, who was the President of Delta Theta Omega Chapter, in the Spring of 1991. Developmental meetings began in which vital information was shared. Despite the growing interest, there were not enough people to form a chapter. However, with time, the four interested young women grew into thirteen.

The thirteen Charter members were initiated on April 26, 1992. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Pi Rho Chapter became the first Black Greek Organization on the campus of Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. Pi Rho Chapter continues to perpetuate the Sorority by initiating new members, providing service to the community, and being of service to all mankind.

The Charter Members consisted of Rhyon Haston, LaTonya James, LaTonya F. King, Erica Faulkner, Sonja Y. Hughes, Dominica Morrisette, Tanjanika L. Melton, Katina Adams, Barbara Betancourt, Angelique Walker, Danielle Lombard, Renicha McCree, and Deandrea M. Benoit. The Charter was signed by the Internation President, Mary Shy Scott; International Secretary, Nancy Gardner Sewell; and the South Eastern Regional Director, Ida K. Martin.

Pi Rho is a small but active chapter. Some of the signature programs for the chapter include: The Princess Project in which gently used clothing items are collected for a local Children’s Home, “Midnight Madness with Pi Rho” a basketball tournament event used to collect items for the Program Initiatives of the Sorority, and an annual service project of providing a meal for Thanksgiving or Christmas for Children’s Home in the Community.