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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
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Nassau, Bahamas - Over the weekend of March 27th – 29th, the country’s best and brightest graduating females will be recognized and honoured by Eta Psi Omega, the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Students from as far away as Inagua will come together to compete for scholarships valued at over $10,000. This year’s theme “Launching New Dimensions of Leadership” reflects the overall programme thrust of the international organization’s current administration’s theme as well as it anticipates the presentation of the keynote speaker, Aisha Bowe.
Through the Honours Day Programme, the chapter’s signature initiative, more than $100,000 in scholarships have been awarded to the most outstanding female students from islands across the nation . . This year’s top student will be awarded $5,000 toward attending an institution of her choice. Other awards include the prize for the top Family Island Student, the Overall Best essay and a community service award. Other exciting weekend activities include a community service project, courtesy calls on Ministers of Youth, Sports and Culture and Social Services and officials of The College of The Bahamas, a tour of The College campus, and workshops.
This year’s keynote speaker, Ms. Aisha Bowe, a Bahamian based in California, is the co- founder and CEO of STEMBoard, a technology solutions company that works to close the achievement gap by empowering historically underrepresented youth to help build transformational technologies. She holds a Bachelors degree in Aerospace Engineering and a Master degree in Space Systems Engineering.
The Honours Day programme was started in 1978 under the presidency of Mellany Zonicle and it is the brain child of Thelma McMillan, a member. This tradition of service through scholarship continues to the present day to be the impetus of the Eta Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. Initially, the chapter invited the top three female graduating seniors from high schools in New Providence to a two day programme where they participated in an essay competition for a small cash prize.
In 1984, a scholarship to attend Success Training College was added to the program. In 1990, the concept expanded and Family Island students were invited to participate and during the year the scholarship was renamed the Linda Higgs-Swan Memorial Scholarship Award in Honour of the past President. In recognition of the quality of tertiary education in The Bahamas, in 1992, the award was made tenable at The College of The Bahamas.
More than thirty (30) years later, the annual program has expanded to ensure that students participate in a weekend of enriching, interactive, educational and social activities designed to celebrate the accomplishments of the best and the brightest female graduates from schools throughout The Bahamas.
The Honours Day Programme is one of several initiatives that demonstrates the organization’s mandate of service to all mankind. This contribution and that of the many other service programmes from each of the Greek fraternities and sororities throughout The Bahamas continues to affect positive change in the local community and will undoubtedly leave behind a permanent legacy.
The scholarship and activities are funded solely through donations and chapter fundraisers. The chapter looks forward to its various partnerships with the business community, sponsors and donors. Visit the chapter’s website at www.akaetapsiomega.com for more information
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
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