CHAPTER NEWS

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY

Grambling State University's Pi Gamma Mu graduating seniors and chapter advisor are pictured in front of the administration building at the University before commencement ceremonies. From left to Right: Trevon Dunn, Mustapha Yoosuf-Akinlaja (Valedictorian), Dr. Frances Staten (Pi Gamma Mu Advisor), Tionna Baker (valedictorian), and Janie Green (Magna Cum Laude).

Members of the Louisiana Eta Chapter at Grambling State University celebrate after 2019 commencement ceremonies.

Dontavious D. Joseph, member of the Louisiana Eta Chapter at Grambling State University, meets American civil rights activist and religious leader, Al Sharpton.

SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY

The Florida Lambda Chapter of Pi Gamma Mu at Saint Leo University consists of several "education centers" located in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia.  During the last academic year, each campus participated in a variety of activities which are aligned with the seven ideals of Pi Gamma Mu including: Scholarship, Science, Social Science, Social Idealism, Sociability, Social Service, and Sacrifice. 

At the Virginia center, Dr. Michelle Boone-Thornton and Dr. Amina Abdullah, along with the Human Services club members, spearheaded the Food Bank of Southampton Roads canned food drive at the Chesapeake and Newport News Center.  Members of Saint Leo University's Virginia center also participated in the Southeast Community Day Parade & Festival which is hosted by the Southern Christian Leadership Coalition of Newport News Virginia.  The event is a celebration for citizens who live in the most economically deprived area of the City of Newport News.  Many of them would never get to see area marching bands, school and local officials, and of course, Saint Leo University and Pi Gamma Mu members, in person.  The event offered students the opportunity to engage with residents, view the neighborhoods, understand the need for human services programs, and possibly visualize themselves working to improve the southeast community.  Faculty Advisors include Dr. Amina Abdullah and Dr. Michelle Boone-Thornton.  Other activities included the Out-of-the-Darkness: Suicide Prevention Walk, Feeding 5000 Thanksgiving Dinner event, a Race for the Cure event, and more.

Members at the Savannah and Atlanta Georgia centers participated in the Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family event and collected and donated nearly 10 bags of clothing for local churches and other groups.

Members from the South Carolina center provided dinner for the Samaritan House, an emergency homeless shelter, collected food, cash, and other items to donate to the Salvation Army, and three members of the chapter presented their research at the Annual Southern Organization for Human Services Conference in Miami, Florida.