At the 68th Second District Conference, held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland from April 28 – May 1, 2016, Pi Omega Chapter, Graduate Chapter of Baltimore, received a chapter award and several members received individual recognition.
For the third consecutive year, Pi Omega Chapter was recognized as the Second District’s Social Action Chapter of the Year (Large Chapter, 50+ Members), for 2014-2015. The Social Action Chapter of the Year is presented to the chapter that best implements the Fraternity’s mandated programs and provides significant community based programs to the local area and beyond. Pi Omega competed with entries from throughout the Second District of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. The Second District of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity covers the states of New York; New Jersey; Pennsylvania; Delaware; and Maryland. Pi Omega has won this award at the district level four times.
(Diana Williams)
Winners of the 2016 Second District Talent Hunt (left to right) First Place Vocal Classical, Katyrah Davenport; John Berkley, Pi Omega Chapter Talent Hunt Chairman; and First Place Visual Arts, Kaila Hammond.
C. Donald Bowser, Basileus (president) of Pi Omega Chapter, received the Graduate Chapter Basileus of the Year award. The District Representative presents this award to the chapter Basileus who did an outstanding job leading his chapter to meeting fraternity mandates and servicing the community. Bro. Browser’s leadership of the chapter activities during and after the riots following the death of Freddie Gray in April of 2015, and his oversight of the energy retrofit of the Pi Omega Fraternity Center in West Baltimore were mentioned during the presentation. Bro. Bowser kept the chapter focused on working to assist the community, while also maintaining a high level of performance from the chapter members.
Eric M. Brown received the Second District Superior Service Award. The Superior Service Award is given to a Brother who has demonstrated outstanding contributions and sustained concern for the activities of his Chapter, his District and to the Fraternity.
Zanes E. Cypress, Jr., was the guest speaker for the Second District Life Membership Luncheon on Friday April 29, 2016. Bro. Cypress was recognized for his long time service as the Second District Director of Public Relations, and his support of the Omega Psi Phi Life Membership Foundation.
The Second District Talent Hunt Competition was conducted at the Thomas S. Wooton High School in Rockville, Maryland. Katyrah Davenport, from Catonsville High School, represented Pi Omega in the Vocal Classical Category in the Competition. Davenport was awarded first place for her rendition of “Deep River.” Kalia Hammond from The Baltimore School for the Arts, who represented Pi Omega in the Visual Arts Category was awarded first place for her series of drawings and paintings.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is a historically black fraternal organization that provides and promotes programs of social, cultural and economic uplift to the communities we serve. For over a century, the organization has recruited, trained and deployed men of color for leadership roles in service to humanity.
Pi Omega is a graduate chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Pi Omega Chapter has been instrumental in sponsoring programs that foster achievement; scholarship; community action; and the search for talent. For over 90 years, Pi Omega has contributed to various organizations, programs and schools, which serve as valuable resources to the Baltimore community and continues to grow and serve the community in the name of manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift.