Vandynow Foundation™ - Black Alumni Alliance, Inc.
Black Alumni Unity, Networking, Scholarships, Leadership, & Diversity
"My challenge," John Hope Franklin says, "was to weave into the fabric of American history enough of the presence of blacks so that the story of the United States could be told adequately and fairly."
Our challenge is to weave into the fabric of University history enough of the presence of black students/alumni so that the story of higher education can be told adequately and fairly. - Vandynow Foundation™ - Black Alumni Alliance, Inc.
Any institution that has existed for a quarter of a century has made history. The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated has far exceeded that mark, to date having been established over ninety-five years ago. During this time thousands of college educated men have pledged themselves to lives of the noblest ideals; fostering men committed to becoming one in aim, one in thought, and one in loyalty.
On the night of November 17, 1911, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity was born; founded by three undergraduate students, Edgar A. Love, Oscar J. Cooper, and Frank Coleman, with the assistance of their faculty advisor, Ernest E. Just. The four cardinal principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift were decided upon as core values for any man within this organization by our founding fathers. The motto, “Friendship is essential to the soul”, symbolized by the Greek letters ΩΨΦ, derived the name Omega Psi Phi.
Following the gilded path set by our founders, fourteen men, inspired by the sense of initiative and beliefs held by our standard-bearers, sought to establish the same ideals on the campus of Vanderbilt University. On March 1, 1971, these fourteen men, fueled by the desires of our founders, established the Theta Beta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. With its incorporation, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity became the first black Greek letter organization at Vanderbilt University.
Today, the same ambitions and passion for brotherhood are instilled in our members. We are leaders in both the Vanderbilt and local communities alike. While small in numbers, we have never shifted our vision away from the future. We are committed to lifting as we climb, knowing that the true value of our fraternity is not in numbers but in men – in real brotherhood.
ΩΨΦ - ΘΒ - March 1, 1971 Charter Members: Bro. Lawrence Campbell, Bro. Calvin Coleman, Bro. Leslie Hightower, Bro. Richard Jackson, Bro. Johnny Legget, Bro. David Lombard, Bro. William Nash, Bro. Terry Nichols, Bro. Alvin Simpson, Bro. David Smith, Bro. Johnie Sneed, Bro. Taylor Stokes, Bro. Larry Wallace, Bro. Larry Wooden
History provided, Aubrey F. Hammond, III –Skeletor- 3 Theta Beta F’05, Daryl E. Grayer, Jr. –He-Man- 2 Theta Beta F’05
