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Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Founders

The Founders of Kappa Alpha Psi
Born in Madisonville, Kentucky, Elder Watson Diggs graduated from the Indiana State Normal School (now the Indiana State Teachers College) at Terre Haute, Indiana, in the spring of 1908, and entered Howard University in 1909. In June 1916, he was granted a degree by Indiana University. His leadership ability, sincerity of purpose, enthusiasm and dedication earned for him the respect of his fellows and the office of Grand Polemarch of the newly established Fraternity. He held that office for six consecutive years (to December 1917) and was awarded the first Laurel Wreath, the Fraternity's highest recognition for achievement, in 1924. Diggs died November 8, 1947, and a public school in Indianapolis was named in his memory. Byron Kenneth Armstrong of Westfield, Indiana, entered Howard University in 1909, met Elder Watson Diggs, and with Diggs transferred to Indiana University in the fall of 1910. By 1914, he had earned his master's degree from Columbia University. His early and continuing efforts in the Fraternity interest earned him the Laurel Wreath in 1935. In 1940, he was granted the Doctor of Philosophy degree by the University of Michigan. Guy Levis Grant was born in New Albany, Indiana, the third of Robert and Lucy Grant's thirteen children, five of whom became members of Kappa Alpha Psi. After the death of his father, Guy became head of the household and assumed responsibility for the education of himself and his younger brothers. After finishing high school, Guy entered Indiana University and graduated with the bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1915. In 1920, he received the D.D.S. degree from the school of dentistry. He collected and guarded the precious source material which eventually became the factual, supportive base for the history. He was named Grand Historian Emeritus. Ezra D. Alexander was a native of Bloomington. Having been born and reared in that southern Indiana town, Ezra had first hand acquaintance with the bias that led to the establishment of Kappa Alpha Nu. Being a student at the University, from which he received his bachelor's and M.D. degrees in 1917 and 1919, he knew and learned to live with the existing social conditions. He was the non-voting member of the Grand Board of Directors until his death on September 29, 1971. Edward G. Irvin was born in Spencer, Indiana, and graduated from Kokomo High School in 1910. In the fall of that year, he entered the University, became a Founder of Kappa Alpha Nu, and served on the Fraternity's Incorporation Committee. After leaving Indiana, Irvin pursued a journalistic career. After World War I, he served on the staff of the Indianapolis Freeman. In March of 1922, he established The Shining Star, a weekly newspaper in Anderson, Indiana. Irvin became the most beloved Kappa man of the seventies and eighties. He wore the Laurel Wreath. Paul W. Caine entered the University from Greencastle, Indiana. His pleasant disposition soon won many friends in the Greek letter houses where he worked as a cook or housekeeper. These friendships enabled him to gain information that contributed to the organization of Kappa Alpha Nu. In later years, Caine operated his own catering service in Evanston, Illinois. He died in 1922. Marcus Peter Blakemore was born in Franklin, Indiana, and attended the public schools of Anderson. He was graduated in 1909 and entered the University in the fall of 1910. A rugged individual, Blakemore was determined to make a place in life for himself. As a roommate of Byron Armstrong, he became enthusiastic about the new Fraternity and contributed significantly to Kappa Alpha Nu. After leaving the University in 1911, Blakemore organized the Electric Engineering Company which he operated until he enlisted in World War I. He received his D.D.S. degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1923 and practiced until his death on October 9. Henry T. Asher was born in Woodburn, Kentucky, June 29, 1890, and moved to Bloomington where he graduated from high school in the spring of 1910. In June of 1914, he was granted the Bachelor of Arts degree by Indiana University. After one year of teaching at Lincoln Institute, Jefferson City, Missouri, Asher entered the graduate school at the University of Illinois for the 1915-1916 school year, but received the Master of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1917. In 1928, he was awarded the LL.B. degree by the Detroit College of Law. Asher died March 5, 1963. John Milton Lee, a personable, confident graduate from the Danville, Indiana high school entered the University in 1910 where he competed three years of pre-medical study. As told elsewhere in this Story, Lee was from the beginning an active and interested participant in the founding of Kappa Alpha Nu. In 1915, he attended Temple University. In 1918, he enlisted in the 349th Field Artillery and served overseas as a sergeant first class and gunner. His was the first all black battery to open fire on an enemy. John Milton Lee was associate editor of Modern Artillerymen, the official record of Battery F. 349th Artillery. He died January 8, 1958. Little was known of the Fraternity's tenth Founder, George Edmonds, other than he was from Vanderburg County near Evansville, Indiana, and entered Indiana University in the fall of 1910, until his family and grave were discovered in Evansville, Indiana in 1978

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History

National History

William "Randy" Bates Jr., Esq. 32nd Grand Polemarch

IHQ website
Kappa Alpha Psi , a college Fraternity, now comprised of functioning Undergraduate and Alumni Chapters on major campuses and in cities throughout the country, is the crystallization of a dream. It is the beautiful realization of a vision shared commonly by the late Revered Founders Elder Watson Diggs; John Milton Lee; Byron K. Armstrong; Guy Levis Grant; Ezra D. Alexander; Henry T. Asher; Marcus P. Blakemore; Paul W. Caine; Edward G. Irvin and George W. Edmonds.It was the vision of these astute men that enabled them in the school year 1910 - 11, more specifically the night of January 5, 1911, on the campus of Indiana University at Bloomington, Indiana, to sow the seed of a fraternal tree whose fruit is available to, and now enjoyed by, college men everywhere, regardless of their color, religion or national origin. It is a fact of which KAPPA ALPHA PSI is justly proud that the Constitution has never contained any clause which either excluded or suggested the exclusion of a man from membership merely because of his color, creed, or national origin. The Constitution of KAPPA ALPHA PSI is predicated upon, and dedicated to, the principles of achievement through a truly democratic Fraternity.Chartered and incorporated originally under the laws of the State of Indiana as Kappa Alpha Nu on May 15, 1911, the name was changed to KAPPA ALPHA PSI on a resolution offered and adopted at the Grand Chapter in December 1914. This change became effective April 15, 1915, on a proclamation by the then Grand Polemarch, Elder Watson Diggs. Thus, the name acquired a distinctive Greek letter symbol and KAPPA ALPHA PSI thereby became a Greek letter Fraternity in every sense of the designation. The objectives of Kappa Alpha Psi:1) To unite college men of culture, patriotism and honor in a bond of fraternity2) To encourage honorable achievement in every field of human endeavor.3) To promote the spirtual, social, intellectual, and moral welfare of its members.4) To assist the aims and purposes of colleges and universities.5) To inspire service in the public interest.

Southern Province

Linnes Finney, Esq. 9th Province Polemarch
The Southern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi was created by the last Grand Chapter at which the late illustrious J. Ernest Wilkins, Sr. presided. As a result of extensive study, the Grand Board of Directors, meeting in Kansas City, MO in 1950, recommended that the Southern Province, then the most extensive province in Kappadom, comprising, as it did, the states of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, be partitioned. The Southern Province is now comprised of Alabama, Florida, U.S. Virgin Islands, Republic of Panama, and Grand Bahamas. It has 44 Alumni and 34 Undergraduate Chapters. The Province is home to over 7,000 alumni members and over 3,000 undergraduate members. Linnes Finney, Esq currently has served as the 9th Province Polemarch since 2011.

2011 Holiday Party

Kappa Holiday Party and Toy Drive

2011 Info

Event History

2011 Info

Event History

Annually, the brothers of the Miami Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi helps to bring a bit more Holiday cheer to the lives of many inner city youth in Miami.

By hosting a cocktail reception where the entry free is a new, unwrapped toy; the chapter was able to provide new toys to EVERY child at

Paul Lawrence Dunbar Elementary School in 2010.

In 2011, we will continue to help bring Holiday joy as we host our cocktail reception at Elle's Lounge in Miramar, FL on December 8, 2011.

As always, entry to this event requires a NEW, unwrapped toy for a child ages 4-16.

Polemarchs Scroll

Polemarch's Scroll

Welcome to the home of The Miami Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. I am truly honored to represent this chapter as the Polemarch.

Each member of the chapter is excited to be working with all of you as we continue to make an impact in Miami-Dade County through our community service efforts this Fraternal year.

I encourage you to join us as we embark on our journey from "Good to Great", while we continue to provide service to youth and families in our community.

Torrance Gary

Miami Alumni Polemarch

Chartered 1946

Chapter

Chartered 1946
The Miami Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi was chartered November 23, 1946.Miami Alumni Charter Members were:Leo JenkinsOscar J. Edwards Chester Williams James E. Hart Leonard Walker Frank Jones Louis Blake Leandus BlackusThe Miami Alumni Chapter seeks to provide a positive atmosphere by which our members can achieve in their respective fields and hold high the true ideals of Kappa. The Miami Alumni Chapter is deeply committed to our youth and continues to encourage education and higher learning through scholarship and tutorial programs.The Miami Alumni Chapter will continue to work with other organizations to better the economic and social conditions of African-Americans in the Greater Miami area.Simply put, it is the mission of this Chapter to be a vanguard in paving the way for African-Americans to achieve while humbly being of service to our God, our Community, and our Fraternity.Contributions to the Fraternity:Host, 58th Grand Conclave: August 5-9, 1973 Host, Southern Province Council Meeting: :1953, 1970, 1989, 2005, 2013Host, 5th Annual National Founders' Day: Jan. 5-10, 2010 Notable MembersThomas L. Battles, Jr.- Senior Grand Vice Polemarch (Current) 6th Southern Province PolemarchCarnell White- Member, Southern Province Board of Directors (Current)Oscar Braynon II-Florida State Senator (District 33)Dorrin Rolle-Former Miami -Dade County CommissionerJohnny Jones- First Black Superintendent of Dade County Public Schools (3rd largest public school system in the U.S.)The Honorable Robert Ingram-Mayor and former police chief of the city of Opa-Locka, FLArthur Teele, Esq.- Former Director of the U.S. Urban Mass Transit Authority; former President of the National Business League; and runner-up for the Mayoralship of the City of Miami.Frank "Flap" Jones-Miami Alumni charter member and 12-year Southern Province Board MemberGeorge Knox-The first black Miami City AttorneyDewey Knight, Jr.-The first black Interim and Assistant Dade County ManagerH.T. Smith, Esq.-The first black Assistant Dade County Attorney; Founding President of the Dade County Black Lawyers Association.Richard Williams, Jr.-Former member, Grand Board of DirectorsDwayne Wynn -Founding President of the nationally acclaimed Black Professional Network of South Florida.Ronald Frazier-Past President of the Miami-Dade Chamber of CommerceLester Brown, Ph.D-Former Interim President of Florida Memorial CollegeWillard Hart- Former Illustrious Potentate of Kazah Temple #149Walter Anders, Sr.-National Officer of the American Association of Public Administrators

2011-2012 Officers
Torrance GaryPolemarch William JohnsonVice PolemarchMaceo PickettKeeper of RecordsDanyale DukesAssistant Keeper of RecordsTravis L. BrownKeeper of ExchequerKyle J. HarrisAssistant Keeper of ExchequerSteffond ConeStrategusThomas NelsonLt. StrategusJeremy BakerHistorian/ReporterBoard Of DirectorsFernand CharlesChris FrazierGerald Millender

Chapter Meetings

Upcoming Fraternal Meetings

Thursday, January 12, 2012

7:00pm

Florida Memorial University

15800 NW 42nd Avenue

Miami, FL 33054

3rd Floor

Lehman Aviation Building

Gude Right

Guide Right

GR History

Kappa League Home

Elite Achiever

Kappa Kamp

GR History Guide Right is a program for the educational and occupational guidance of youth, primarily inspirational and informational in character. Its reach extends to high schools and colleges alike. In the latter, giving due attention to the needs of undergraduate Brothers.The Miami Alumni chapter offers 3 facets to its Guide Right Programs: The Kappa League, Elite Achievers, and the Kappa Kamp. The five national Guide Right initiatives are Kappa League, Jr. Kappa League, A-MAN Program, St. Jude Research Hospital, and the premier program, "Kappa Kamp," which enables inner city boys to attend camp at the Piney Woods Country Life School in Piney Woods, Mississippi. In addition to the above-mentioned national initiatives, chapters within the Fraternity sponsor a wide variety of Guide Right programs in their communities that support their local youth.

Kappa League Home

Aout KL

Contact KL

Aout KL The very foundation of Guide Right can be traced to the St. Louis Alumni Chapter and to Leon W. Steward, who is rightfully dubbed the "Father of the Guide Right Program." Ultimately, Brother Steward, a Y.M.C.A. secretary, proposed a program of guidance to be designated as Guide Right, with the purpose of assisting high school seniors to choose and pursue useful careers, consistent with fraternity purpose. This program w as immediately adopted at the local level and the 12th Grand Chapter adopted Guide Right as the national service program.Kappa League was founded on Thursday, February 12, 1970, by the Los Angeles Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., at Alain LeRoy Locke High School. The founders of the Kappa Instructional Leadership League were Mel L. Davis and Edgar H. Bishop.The Kappa League is a series of activities designed to help young high school male students develop their leadership talents. The activities provide both challenging and rewarding experiences to enhance their lives. The goal of the League is to help the students achieve worthy goals for themselves and to make meaningful contributions to their communities. Requirements to be considered for Kappa League:1) Must be a High School student (grades 9-12)2) Must have a minumum overall GPA of 2.53) Must complete Kappa League application4) Must submit a letter of interest5) Must submit two (2) letters of recommendation 6) Must be committed to the cause of ACHIEVEMENT Kappa League Advisors:Steffond Cone, ChairmanMaceo PickettKyle HarrisMac McMillanWesley Edmond

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Elite Achiever

About

Contact

About The mission of the "Elite Achievers" Mentoring Program is to provide ongoing mentoring to young men in our community. We provide an outlet for them to succeed in our diverse society. Every effort must be made to ensure that our young men have the proper education and training that is necessary for our young men to succeed. We believe that success should be displayed, demonstrated, and implemented in a lifelong process. We expect our young men to make a commitment to themselves and their community to serve in our rich diverse society. Through dedication, hard work, and integrity; together we can make a difference in our young men lives. Each week, members of the Miami Alumni Chapter mentor middle-school aged youth at the Belafonte Tacolcy Center located at 6161 NW 9th Avenue, Miami, FL 33127 in Miami's Liberty City neighborhood. •The young men that participate in our mentoring program are enriched by undergoing information sessions on:I. Self IdentityII. TrainingIII. CompetitionIV. SocialV. Health EducationVI. Tutoring (Reading, Writing, and Math Skills)VII. Employment and Career DecisionsVIII. Presentations IX. WorkshopsX. GraduationOur mentors are well-educated and certified in their respective fields and backgrounds.We are nurturing, committed, hard-working, motivating, and inspirational to our mentees. We do not discourage mentees who come from differing ethnic or socio-economic backgrounds.With the assistance of parents, teachers, and families; we discuss strategies that will determine the best approach to achieving success in the classroom and at home.

Contact

Kappa Kamp

Coming Summer 2012

Undergraduates

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Epsilon Mu

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Transition

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The Miami Alumni Chapter seeks to foster a positive working and mentorship relationship with South Florida undergraduate chapters.

The Miami Alumni Chapter oversees both the Epsilon Mu (Florida Memorial University) and the Pi Kappa (Barry University) of Kappa Alpha Psi.

We believe in instilling the values of service and leadership to the campus, the community, and the fraternity.

Pi Kappa

Epsilon Mu

Campus

Community

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Epsilon Mu

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The Epsilon Mu of Kappa Alpha Psi was chartered on the campus of Florida Memorial College (now Florida Memorial University) on April 30, 1966.

Chapter Polemarch

DeSean Peterson

Chapter Advisor

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Torrance Gary

Page 2
Mr Florida Memorial University.pdf

Pi Kappa

PK Home

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PK Home

The Pi Kappa of Kappa Alpha Psi was chartered on the Campus of Barry University in Miami Shores, FL in October 2007.

Chapter Polemarch

Kaleel Nuriddin

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Chapter Advisor

Travis Brown

PK News

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Transition

Are you transitioning? If you are an undergraduate member of Kappa Alpha Psi that has recently graduated or will be soon graduating and are interested in transitioning to the Miami Alumni Chapter, please leave your contact information and a chapter brother will contact you shortly.

Membership

Membership
Requirements for Membership:Must have achieved a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited school/universityMust acquire three (3) letters of recommendation from current financial members of Kappa Alpha PsiMembership is a solemn commitment. To this Fraternity, the maker of the commitment becomes synonymous with the commitment itself. Membership in Kappa Alpha Psi is a lifelong dedication to the ideas and lofty purposes of Kappa Alpha Psi, which considers for membership only those aspirants whose personal, social and academic qualifications are acceptable to both the College and Fraternity. Expectations concerning maturity and dedication are made upon new members and established members alike.Maturity is more than simply reaching a certain age. Maturity to us means acceptance of reality, the ability to sacrifice and set goals, consideration of others, incisive judgment, emotional balance, development of social skills, intellectual competence, and moral rectitude. We expect our members to be mature. Dedication means putting those characteristics of maturity into a lifelong program of action to advance the goals and purposes of Kappa Alpha Psi.We expect our members to be dedicated. We recognize that many young men are limited in experiences and unschooled in the complexities of group dynamics. Therefore, one of the primary membership goals of Kappa Alpha Psi is to prepare members for a lifetime of dedication to the Fraternity. Kappa Alpha Psi hopes that its members will come to understand how the socializing influences of the group will contribute to personal advancement and achievement in all endeavors. But do not let personal goals supersede those of the Fraternity. A person who feels he would do the Fraternity a favor by joining is not worthy of membership. No one who holds himself superior to the Brotherhood of Kappa Alpha Psi is worthy of this distinction.Kappa Alpha Psi is not interested in the simple accumulation of members and chapters. Its emphasis, however, is in the quality and integrity of its membership. Membership quality manifests itself through an intangible element of brotherhood we call 'that Good Old Kappa Spirit.' That Good Old Kappa Spirit is not bestowed by any external entity. It cannot be bought, sold, bartered, borrowed or stolen. It comes from within and the only way to keep it is to give it away. It comes from a personal love of Fraternity, loyalty to purpose and ideals, the acceptance of responsibility and interest in the welfare of others. Acceptable qualities of Kappa Alpha Psi members include:The wisdom to abide by the will of the majority without sacrificing individuality.The discretion to refrain from destructive criticism while seeking to remove the causes of such criticism.The acceptance of responsibility for any effort that moves the group forward.The desire to strive for, and ultimately achieve, excellence in everything you do.The commitment to train for leadership.The resolution to give lifelong financial support and commitment to the maintenance and development of the Fraternity's programs and purposes.

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The Miami Alumni Chapter

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

19821 NW 2nd Avenue

Suite #224

Miami Gardens, FL 33169

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As part of Kappa Alpha Psi's National Service program, Guide Right, the Miami Alumni Chapter has instituted a mentorship program coined the "Elite Achievers" (middle school boys) and the Kappa League Leadership Development program (High Achieving High School males).
The Miami Alumni chapter has also participated in activities such as "Adopt-a-classroom", Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and 5000 Rolemodels of Excellence.

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