Promoting Unity and Sisterhood Among Women

By Beth Brooks

Who are the ohhhh so pretty ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® in Newberry County? We are strong, proud, educated women that represent the epitome of excellence! We are doctors, nurses, lawyers, businesswomen, entrepreneurs, educators, leaders, and so much more. Providing service to our community is a priority, but sisterhood is also at the forefront!

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® is an international service organization and was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908. It is the oldest Greek Letter organization established by African American college-educated women.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® has more than 355,000 initiated members in graduate and undergraduate chapters. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Pi Beta Omega was chartered November 16, 1985, in Newberry County and we currently have 47 graduate members. Upsilon Nu was chartered at Newberry College on April 24, 2022, and currently has 7 members.

Pi Beta Omega chapter’s mission is to provide supreme service to Newberry and enrich our community. Some of the ways that our sorority enriches the community is by hosting service projects. We have collected toiletry items for SC Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Day at the Capitol Service Project. These items were donated to the office of Student Services at the School District of Newberry County. The sorority members also collected items such as socks, chapstick, lotions, crossword puzzles, hand sanitizer, candy, and notebooks, pens, and “thinking of you” cards. These items were donated to clients of Palmetto Gardens Assisted Living in Prosperity, SC.

Education is an essential aspect of our community as well as our sorority platform. Pi Beta Omega also provides three, $1,000 college scholarships to Newberry County students. One scholarship is awarded to a student at each high school in the school district. Our sorority also packed snack packs and delivered them to students in the district. We are also hosting a sneaker gala and those funds will be used to continue to provide funds to local students.

Our chapter also actively supports voter registration. We provide assistance with registration and organized voter registration at the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration and the Juneteenth celebration.

Being a part of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® promotes unity and sisterhood among women. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® personifies scholarship, excellence, femininity and sisterhood. We work side by side to encourage one another and to uplift the community. Sorority life allows one to create lifelong bonds and special memories from debutante balls, step shows, community service and all the other wonderful events that are a part of Greek life.

When asked what makes our sorority so special, these were some of the comments from the illustrious ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®. “Overwhelming love and support through any and everything, that’s true sisterhood.’ ‘I love the community and support.’ ‘I literally moved to a new state and city where I didn’t know anyone and I have been able to meet, grow and foster many relationships.’ ‘Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® represents class, sophistication, and dedication to your sisters and to the community.’ ‘Sorority life equals sisterhood, common goals, and aspirations.”