By Jason Smith
The South Dade Alphas honored several minority high school graduates with college scholarships at the organization’s annual community gala on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at the University of Miami Newman Alumni Center.
The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Iota Pi Lambda Chapter, provided eight high school graduates from the South Dade community with scholarships as part of the organization’s “Go to High School, Go to College” national initiative. Close to $8,000 in scholarships were awarded through the Iota Pi Lambda Education Foundation.
“ In the spirit of our fraternity, we’ve gathered to celebrate the achievements of several young men who have demonstrated noteworthy commitment in the classroom and community,” said Bryan Jones, president of the IPL Education Foundation.
Scholarship recipients graduated from various high schools in South Dade including Robert Morgan Education Center, Coral Reef Senior High, Terra Environment Research Institute, Gulliver Preparatory, and the School for Advanced Studies.
Students were selected based on their grades, community service and leadership at school. Several scholarships were provided to students who would be attending a Historically Black College or University.
Camron Collins received the inaugural Darrell and Tenisha Williams HBCU Bound Scholarship. Collins is a graduate of the School for Advanced Studies where he earned a 4.571 GPA. As an AP Scholar, he served as the vice-president of the school’s debate club. His leadership led to increased membership and a resurgence of the debate club. He will be attending Fort Valley State University in the fall.
Darrell Williams was on hand to recognize the scholarship recipients. He and his wife, Tenisha, are the owners of Elite Realty Partners, Inc., one of the most successful real estate firms in Florida. The pair said they established the scholarship as a way to support and encourage Black young men to attain higher education.
The evening also saw the award of the inaugural Eglen Jones Memorial Career Pathways Scholarship. The scholarship was established to assist a minority male student, who has decided that pursuing their dreams in a vocation or trade program is their pathway to success.
The award went to Michael Truyol, a graduate of Robert Morgan Education Center where he earned a 3.51 GPA. He is a cross fit coach and fitness instructor. He is currently obtaining his
helicopter pilot license and will pursue an associate degree in Fire Science at Miami Dade College.
The organization also presented $1,000 to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition to support the organization’s mission to restore the civil rights of the formerly incarcerated.
Special recognition was also given several Black Greek-lettered organizations including the Pi Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; the Miami Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; the Mu Gamma Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority; and the Beta Tau Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.
