Alpha Phi Alpha Mission Statement
My desire to be an Alpha man strongly revolves around the fraternity’s aims, mission statement, and vision. These principles and values of Alpha are something that resonates deeply with how I try to develop myself as a man within an academic setting as well the local community. The fraternity itself set the standard for which other Black Greek fraternities and sororities would follow as being the first inter-collegiate fraternal organization established for African-Americans with the sole purpose of mutual uplift and support. There has never been a time when Alpha Phi Alpha fell short of producing men whose leadership and service to the community made an impact on the lives of African-Americans especially the youth. This is why Alpha Phi Alpha stood out to me in a
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unique sense. The fraternity has a rich history of accomplishments, customs, and traditions that distinguish itself from any other fraternal organization. Alpha Phi Alpha produces leaders and scholars and functions as a catalyst for exceptional service and activism in any given time or place. One could say that their reputation proceeds them and only the best of the best are chosen to continue to build the legacy of Alpha.
With such prominence and significance, I strongly believe that this is the only fraternity to truly understand the work that must be done unequivocally to uplift the conditions of impoverishing communities. It makes me more zealous than ever to pursue membership into Alpha Phi Alpha, the reason being is that I’m highly passionate about community engagement and service. Alpha Phi Alpha can teach me the true essence of brotherhood and good leadership. The aims of the fraternity, manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind, is something that I can understand and truly appreciate because I strongly believe that it is one’s obligation to give back to the community in which he was raised in, academic excellence is always an imperative factor in determining one’s future and destiny, and love for all mankind is important in understanding brotherhood and showing compassion for humanity.
From a historical perspective, I’ve always admired how the Alphas not only emphasized scholarship and academic success but also proved to be a great service to the African-American community. Alpha Phi Alpha so desperately pushed for social change and justice in the black community. They initiated the national program “voteless people-hopeless people” in the 1930s to serve as a catalyst for voter-registration and political awareness for Blacks who was not knowledgeable about exercising their right to vote. The men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated viewed voting as a means for shaping the political structure in any giving community as well as making sure your voice is heard at the ballots. It is for this reason why I think I would be best fit to be a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, because I always felt that I should be involved with social, political, and economic factors concerning the African-American community, which is also the same reason why I joined my school’s chapter of the NAACP.
Alpha men are leaders, they take the initiative to lead in dire circumstances, to be a guiding light and a beacon of hope for those who are lost in despair. Some of my favorite role models were members of Alpha Phi Alpha and strived for social justice and equality. Just to name a few, W.E.B Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, Martin Luther King Jr. and many more. These men were pioneers of social change and freedom for blacks in America. Martin Luther King Jr being arguably one of the most prominent members of Alpha Phi Alpha and the leader of the Civil Rights movement had always challenged me to do better and motivated me to stand for what’s right from the core of my conscience for whenever there is an injustice anywhere there is an injustice everywhere. I always try to hold myself up to that standard, in which my morals, integrity, and principles would be uncompromising. In an academic setting, Alphas proved to be the most distinguished men by how they dress in a professional manner, they’re excellence in their educational studies, and how they provide numerous forums and events that are beneficial for students to succeed in college as well in life. To me that separates them from any other fraternity that I’ve come known, Alphas are the majority that students can look up and exemplify leadership, scholarship, and success. From day to day I try to mirror their principles mentoring students, being active in the community and striving for academic excellence, this is why I believe Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated best fits me.
I also would like to acknowledge the Alpha men who have had a significant impact in my life that further fueled my desire to become a man of Alpha. Starting with Virginia State University’s vice president of finance Kevin Davenport. Kevin is in charge of a finance internship program that I am currently a part of and it was how we were introduced. He was once like me an accounting major whose sole aspirations were to be a certified public accountant and to have an impact in society through giving back and putting forth the tremendous effort to ensure that the school funds are managed properly. From there on he has achieved a significant level of excellence he was previously the chief financial officer at Virginia Commonwealth University. Kevin would always tell me the importance of obtaining a CPA license after graduation and how it can take you very far in life. I’ve always admired the level of professionalism he displayed at school and how he would strongly encourage me to continue the pursuit of being an Alpha. Having a high leadership position in an academic institution such as himself further convinced me that Alpha men are leaders and strive to serve the community in which they reside in.
Another person I would want to give recognition to is Henry Colson Jackson.
Although Henry Colson Jackson passed in 1997, I can honestly say he’s moved me through his legacy of work and service that he left behind at Virginia state university. Henry Jackson was one of the members to charter the Beta Gamma chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha in 1926 and he also founded the historic prestigious organization named the Betterment of Brothers and Sisters organization (BBS). I learned a lot about Henry through joining BBS and I’ve come to discover that he was a guy of respect and esteem. Just looking at how involved BBS was on campus and how most of the members of BBS have held high campus positions and represented themselves in a businesslike manner I knew from there on that I wanted to join something of that stature to be a part of something that was created by Henry Colson Jackson. He well renowned for his leadership, service, and determination to transform the school campus for the better. When I joined the organization BBS I had so much ambition and drive that I was elected to the executive board and served as treasurer. BBS has changed my life for the better and I have Henry Colson Jackson to thank for
that.
I, Mark Ellis Grant, am a senior from Hampton, VA, majoring in accounting with a minor concentration in finance. I believe that I can bring the best asset to this fraternity with my sense of dedication, commitment, and resourcefulness to further progress the rich legacy of Alpha. My past involvement with other academic and social organizations has prepared me to be actively engaged with any campus or civic responsibility. With my repertoire of knowledge gained from past experience through campus involvement, I believe I can best serve the fraternity on school grounds by hosting a series of innovative forums and events geared towards financial literacy, academic success, voter-registration, and political awareness.
Lastly, a crucial element I feel that I could bring to the fraternity is effective resourcefulness. For me I’ve always been considered a reliable and dependable person when it comes to resources, coming up with ideas for a solution, providing the ways to implement a strategy. I believe that’s something that is missing from my school campus, and to my concern, the lack of positive leadership has led some students astray from being academically inclined to finish their undergraduate studies. I want to implement a plan of action where we can revitalize the essence of good leadership on campus so that the students can fulfill the purpose of coming to college. It is for these reasons that I wish to seek a lifelong affiliation with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and I believe I possess the unique qualities necessary to be a part of this extraordinary brotherhood.
unique sense. The fraternity has a rich history of accomplishments, customs, and traditions that distinguish itself from any other fraternal organization. Alpha Phi Alpha produces leaders and scholars and functions as a catalyst for exceptional service and activism in any given time or place. One could say that their reputation proceeds them and only the best of the best are chosen to continue to build the legacy of Alpha.
With such prominence and significance, I strongly believe that this is the only fraternity to truly understand the work that must be done unequivocally to uplift the conditions of impoverishing communities. It makes me more zealous than ever to pursue membership into Alpha Phi Alpha, the reason being is that I’m highly passionate about community engagement and service. Alpha Phi Alpha can teach me the true essence of brotherhood and good leadership. The aims of the fraternity, manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind, is something that I can understand and truly appreciate because I strongly believe that it is one’s obligation to give back to the community in which he was raised in, academic excellence is always an imperative factor in determining one’s future and destiny, and love for all mankind is important in understanding brotherhood and showing compassion for humanity.
From a historical perspective, I’ve always admired how the Alphas not only emphasized scholarship and academic success but also proved to be a great service to the African-American community. Alpha Phi Alpha so desperately pushed for social change and justice in the black community. They initiated the national program “voteless people-hopeless people” in the 1930s to serve as a catalyst for voter-registration and political awareness for Blacks who was not knowledgeable about exercising their right to vote. The men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated viewed voting as a means for shaping the political structure in any giving community as well as making sure your voice is heard at the ballots. It is for this reason why I think I would be best fit to be a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, because I always felt that I should be involved with social, political, and economic factors concerning the African-American community, which is also the same reason why I joined my school’s chapter of the NAACP.
Alpha men are leaders, they take the initiative to lead in dire circumstances, to be a guiding light and a beacon of hope for those who are lost in despair. Some of my favorite role models were members of Alpha Phi Alpha and strived for social justice and equality. Just to name a few, W.E.B Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, Martin Luther King Jr. and many more. These men were pioneers of social change and freedom for blacks in America. Martin Luther King Jr being arguably one of the most prominent members of Alpha Phi Alpha and the leader of the Civil Rights movement had always challenged me to do better and motivated me to stand for what’s right from the core of my conscience for whenever there is an injustice anywhere there is an injustice everywhere. I always try to hold myself up to that standard, in which my morals, integrity, and principles would be uncompromising. In an academic setting, Alphas proved to be the most distinguished men by how they dress in a professional manner, they’re excellence in their educational studies, and how they provide numerous forums and events that are beneficial for students to succeed in college as well in life. To me that separates them from any other fraternity that I’ve come known, Alphas are the majority that students can look up and exemplify leadership, scholarship, and success. From day to day I try to mirror their principles mentoring students, being active in the community and striving for academic excellence, this is why I believe Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated best fits me.
I also would like to acknowledge the Alpha men who have had a significant impact in my life that further fueled my desire to become a man of Alpha. Starting with Virginia State University’s vice president of finance Kevin Davenport. Kevin is in charge of a finance internship program that I am currently a part of and it was how we were introduced. He was once like me an accounting major whose sole aspirations were to be a certified public accountant and to have an impact in society through giving back and putting forth the tremendous effort to ensure that the school funds are managed properly. From there on he has achieved a significant level of excellence he was previously the chief financial officer at Virginia Commonwealth University. Kevin would always tell me the importance of obtaining a CPA license after graduation and how it can take you very far in life. I’ve always admired the level of professionalism he displayed at school and how he would strongly encourage me to continue the pursuit of being an Alpha. Having a high leadership position in an academic institution such as himself further convinced me that Alpha men are leaders and strive to serve the community in which they reside in.
Another person I would want to give recognition to is Henry Colson Jackson.
Although Henry Colson Jackson passed in 1997, I can honestly say he’s moved me through his legacy of work and service that he left behind at Virginia state university. Henry Jackson was one of the members to charter the Beta Gamma chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha in 1926 and he also founded the historic prestigious organization named the Betterment of Brothers and Sisters organization (BBS). I learned a lot about Henry through joining BBS and I’ve come to discover that he was a guy of respect and esteem. Just looking at how involved BBS was on campus and how most of the members of BBS have held high campus positions and represented themselves in a businesslike manner I knew from there on that I wanted to join something of that stature to be a part of something that was created by Henry Colson Jackson. He well renowned for his leadership, service, and determination to transform the school campus for the better. When I joined the organization BBS I had so much ambition and drive that I was elected to the executive board and served as treasurer. BBS has changed my life for the better and I have Henry Colson Jackson to thank for
that.
I, Mark Ellis Grant, am a senior from Hampton, VA, majoring in accounting with a minor concentration in finance. I believe that I can bring the best asset to this fraternity with my sense of dedication, commitment, and resourcefulness to further progress the rich legacy of Alpha. My past involvement with other academic and social organizations has prepared me to be actively engaged with any campus or civic responsibility. With my repertoire of knowledge gained from past experience through campus involvement, I believe I can best serve the fraternity on school grounds by hosting a series of innovative forums and events geared towards financial literacy, academic success, voter-registration, and political awareness.
Lastly, a crucial element I feel that I could bring to the fraternity is effective resourcefulness. For me I’ve always been considered a reliable and dependable person when it comes to resources, coming up with ideas for a solution, providing the ways to implement a strategy. I believe that’s something that is missing from my school campus, and to my concern, the lack of positive leadership has led some students astray from being academically inclined to finish their undergraduate studies. I want to implement a plan of action where we can revitalize the essence of good leadership on campus so that the students can fulfill the purpose of coming to college. It is for these reasons that I wish to seek a lifelong affiliation with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and I believe I possess the unique qualities necessary to be a part of this extraordinary brotherhood.