Omega Psi Phi Members to Be Honored

Editor's Note: Thanks to the Beta Alpha Alpha chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity for this information.

Two members of the member of the Beta Alpha Alpha chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc, will be honored by the organization for their activities in black affairs that promote equal opportunity, education, achievement and quality of life in New York state.

Receiving the Carter G. Woodson Memorial Award will be Judge Walter Riviera of Elmsford and Melvin Burruss, Esq. of Peekskill.

The award is named for the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Woodson, a scholar and historian, published books and journals about Black History, and initiated what is now Black History Month.  He is known as father of Black History. Woodson was also a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 

The award is presented by Metro Omega which consists of New York City’s Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. metropolitan chapters.  

The event, at 6 p.m. Feb. 10, will be held at Mother Zion A.M.E. Church in New York City.

The ceremonial theme is “A Celebration of Excellence Recognizing the Accomplishments of Outstanding African Americans.” The program is open and free to the public.  

Mother Zion, on East 137th Street, is the oldest Black church in New York State, founded in 1796 and charted in 1799 in lower Manhattan.  During the years of the Underground Railroad, Mother Zion was referred to as a “Freedom Church” for its active participation in the network. Gregory Roberson Smith, Ed. D, D. Min, and MBA is Senior Pastor.

Paul DeBerry of Elmsford is President of Beta Alpha Alpha Chapter (“Chapter”) of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.  The Chapter was founded on Sept. 18, 1978 in White Plains, NY.  The Chapter operates several programs in accordance with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. initiatives, as well as some of its own creation.  

Programs include an annual Talent Hunt Program where area high school students can demonstrate their artistic, and Achievement Week that honors male high school students academic achievers.  

The Chapter founded the not-for-profit Beta Alpha Alpha Foundation, Inc., which annually awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to deserving high school students graduating from high school and attending colleges and universities throughout the United States.