| (from left) Thomas Cunningham, IV, Vice President for University Advancement Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Nelson Grillo, FAMUPresident Larry Robinson, and Brandon Moore. |
During the 2022 FAMU homecoming celebration, the university recognized the more than 200 alumni members and supporters of the Alpha Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Xi Gives campaign who donated more than a half a million dollars for student scholarships.
The Alpha Xi Endowment was established with the stated mission to fund need and merit-based scholarships for FAMU students with a demonstrated record of academic achievement, leadership, and service to their communities and FAMU. Since its inception in October 2018, the Alpha Gives campaign/Alpha Xi endowment has donated $514,400 and awarded $114,000 in scholarships to 32 FAMU students.
The Alpha Xi Gives campaign, and the Alpha Xi Endowment, continues the Alpha Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.’s extensive history of achievement and service at FAMU since the chapter was established at FAMU in 1933.
During a plaque recognition ceremony at the Meek-Eaton Black Archives and Research Center, last Thursday, Nelson Grillo, a 1988 School of Business and Industry graduate, said the campaign began with fellow fraternity member Brandon Moore making a challenge, followed by a conversation with Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D., vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the FAMU Foundation.
“She challenged our competitive spirit. She threw out the names of other fraternities and sororities,” said Grillo, head of marketing analytics at MedStar Health in Baltimore, Maryland. “We are not done yet. I am going to lay down the gauntlet. My brothers, we are going to get to a million dollars. There is no greater honor than to serve our University.”
Friday-Stroud reassured the gathering that the contribution is not a one-time donation.
“This is a movement,” she said. “It is not just about the here and now; it is about the commitment they made over time that is going to help our students and our great University.”
SirBlake Murphy, a first-generation business administration from Orlando, spoke about what it meant to have a full scholarship from the Alpha Xi Gives campaign.
“At the end of August, I learned that I have $25,000 for the next three years. I won’t have any student loan debt,” Murphy said. “All the scholarships came with mentorship and internship opportunities. I am forever grateful.”
