Avon Administrators Represent Top HBCU Sororities

Every picture tells a story. When ACSC Director of HR Kristin Williams snapped this photo, she recognized that these four individuals are representatives of the top four Historic Black College and University (HBCU) sororities.

We asked River Birch Elementary Assistant Principal Karmesha Molton, Multilingual Learner Coordinator Angela Rasor, Maple Elementary Assistant Principal Melissa McCollum, and AIS East Assistant Principal Orleta Holmes to talk about their sororities and what their continuing involvement means to them. Their inspiring stories — and excellent history lessons — follow, lightly edited for this format.

I love the community service aspect and sisterhood I continue to receive from members of Zeta as well as the other organizations represented in the picture. Orleta Holmes

Karmesha Molton, Delta Sigma Theta

I am a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Also known as “The Deltas” or “The Reds” or even “Divas”.

We are a predominately African-American sorority; however we have, and welcome, members from all races, nationalities, and ethnicities. Membership in our sororities is considered a lifetime commitment and we remain actively involved through many ways for many, many years! Women may join as an undergrad or through our graduate chapters.

Delta Sigma Theta was founded by 22 women on the campus of Howard University on January 13, 1913. They wanted to focus on public service and programs to assist the African-American community. The first public act of Delta was the participation in the Women’s Suffrage March in Washington, DC.

Our focus is on economic development, educational development, physical and mental health, political awareness and involvement, scholarship, sisterhood, and service. We currently have over 350,000 members in over 1,000 chapters around the world.

Notable or famous Deltas include Shirley Chisholm, Aretha Franklin, Nikki Giovanni, Angela Bassett, Wilma Rudolph … and on and on.

I became a member on April, 12 1998, at Ball State University, Delta Phi chapter. I chose to become a member, amongst many other reasons, because I was searching for an extended sisterhood (especially as an only child) and ways to become more active within my community.

Angela Rasor, Sigma Gamma Rho

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was formed as a club in 1920 by seven African American women in Indianapolis. Two years later — on November 12, 1922 — it was founded at Butler University. From seven young educators, Sigma Gamma Rho has become an international service organization composed of women from every profession.

Sigma Gamma Rho is the only sorority of the four historically African American National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities founded at a predominantly white institution instead of at Howard University. The sorority's slogan is "Greater Service, Greater Progress".

Sigma Gamma Rho has affiliate groups for women at different stages in life: Rhosebuds (elementary-age girls), the Rhoer Club Affiliates (teenage girls), and the Philos Affiliates (friends of the sorority).

Sigma Gamma Rho has over 100,000 members with more than 500 undergraduate and alumnae chapters in the United States, Bermuda, The Bahamas, Canada, Germany, South Korea, U.S. Virgin Islands, Tokyo and the United Arab Emirates.

I became a member on November 26, 1989 at ISU, Beta Beta Chapter. I was searching for a community that created a true sisterhood within their organization and had an outreach in the community that was authentic and not just a once or twice a year. 

Melissa McCollum, Alpha Kappa Alpha

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is an international service organization that was founded on the campus of Howard University on January 15, 1908. It is the oldest Greek letter organization established by African American college-educated women. The sorority was founded on a mission of five basic principles: 

• to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards
• to promote unity and friendship among college women
• to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature
• to maintain a progressive interest in college life
• to be of "Service to All Mankind"

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated is comprised of more than 355,000 initiated members in graduate and undergraduate chapters located around the world.

I became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. on April 18,1998 at Indiana University, Tau Chapter. I chose to become a member to have a positive impact on the community while forming a strong sisterhood with women having similar aspirations.

Orleta Holmes, Zeta Phi Beta

I am a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was founded on January 16, 1920, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

During this period, the Klan was active. The Harlem Renaissance was acknowledged as the first important movement of Black artists and writers in the US. The Volstead Act was passed, heralding the start of Prohibition. Tennessee delivered the crucial 36th ratification for the final adoption of the 19th amendment, giving women the right to vote. The worst and longest economic recession to hit the U.S. would define the end of the decade — The Great Depression.

Within this environment, five coeds envisioned a sorority that would directly affect positive change, chart a course of action for the 1920s and beyond, raise people’s consciousness, encourage the highest standards of scholastic achievement, and foster a greater sense of unity among its members.

I became a member of Zeta March 23, 2002, at the University of Kentucky and have been an active member since. I love the community service aspect and sisterhood I continue to receive from members of Zeta as well as the other organizations represented in the picture.

The group of fraternities and sororities of the predominantly black organizations are also referred to as the Divine Nine, as there are nine total organizations under the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

---

Thank you, Karmesha, Angela, Melissa, and Orleta, for sharing about your passionate involvement in your sororities and for living out your values as members of the Avon Schools administrative team!