Fraternity hosting scholarship banquet at Fort Knox

A local chapter of a national fraternity is celebrating its anniversary by raising money to bolster education.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. is hosting a scholarship banquet at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Saber & Quill on Fort Knox to commemorate its 106th anniversary as an organization. Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for blacks, was founded in 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

A ticket to attend the banquet is $35 and covers the cost for dinner and entertainment, which includes dancing, said Radcliff Councilman Stan Holmes, a member of the fraternity.

Holmes said a few tickets remain but those who want to attend should make their purchase soon.

“Tickets are selling fast,” Holmes said.

The local chapter of the fraternity hopes to raise $3,000 for area scholarships. Holmes said the scholarships offered by the fraternity range from $500 to $1,000.

“It depends on how many we have applying for the scholarships,” he said.

The fraternity has focused much of its efforts on a mentoring program to assist young men transitioning to adulthood by teaching them responsibility, fiscal management, accountability, respect for others and the virtues of compassion. Holmes has said the fraternity wants to ensure that those it mentors maintain a good grade point average and properly prepare for the ACT and SAT tests because they have developed strong study habits, good note-taking skills and “actively listen.”

The fraternity also helps the young men set realistic goals and tap into their individual gifts, talents and abilities.

But the organization is active elsewhere, assisting the Boy Scouts, serving food to families throughout the year and hosting voter registration drives, Holmes said.

“There’s so much to be done,” he said.

Holmes said the fraternity is thankful to celebrate 106 years of service by continuing a strong tradition left by strong men who wanted to make their respective communities better. Notable members during the fraternity’s history include Martin Luther King Jr. and former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

Marty Finley can be reached at (270) 505-1762 or mfinley@thenewsenterprise.com.