The brothers of Omicron Kappa Kappa chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. celebrated their 10th anniversary and the fraternityÕs National Achievement Week Nov. 11 with an awards dinner and dance at the Dulles Hyatt.
Robert W. Fairchild, former Grand Keeper of Records and Seal and a Vietnam veteran who received the Purple Heart, two stars for Valor, two Army Commendation Medals and the Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry, was the keynote speaker. The fraternityÕs motto is ÒFriendship Is Essential to the Soul,ÕÕ and Fairchild spoke to the audience of more than 250 about what it means to be a friend.
During National Achievement Week the fraternity recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to society.
Chapter awards went to Cornell Huddleston, who was Omega Man of the Year, the highest honor for a fraternity member; Luther Williams, who received the Founders Award; Capt. Stanley Harris, who received the Col. Charles Young Award, which goes to fraternity member in the military, and James Moore, who received the Superior Service Award for contributions to the OKK Chapter.
Emmanuel McCrae, OKKÕs first Basileus, received a plaque for 10 years of dedicated service to the chapter.
The chapterÕs 11 charter members, Luther Williams, Charles Smith, Ronald Patterson, Willie Henderson, Paul Cole, Roscoe Nance, Harrison Wallace, Dr. John Jones, Earl Lewis, Clarence McNeill and Emmanuel McCrae, received medallions commemorating their roles in starting OKK, which now has more than 40 members.
The Rev. Kenny Smith, pastor of First Baptist Church of Vienna, received the Citizen of the Year Award for his contributions to the community as well as his humanitarian efforts nationally and internationally. The Citizen of the Year Award is the fraternityÕs highest honor for a nonmember.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is an international organization with more than 100,000 members who are college trained. Omega Men work together through their activities, programs and projects to achieve the fraternityÕs goal and initiatives to improve the quality of life for all mankind.
They mentor junior high and high-school students, provide college scholarships as well as provide food and clothing and other community services.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity was founded Nov. 17, 1911, by three Howard University students, Oscar J. Cooper, Bishop Edgar A. Love, Professor Frank Coleman, and a young professor, Ernest E. Just. Omega Men are guided by four cardinal principles: manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift.