News > April 3, 2008

By Caitlin Brooks | Staff writer

April 14 marks the 20th anniversary of the Pi Omicron Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, a historically black service sorority and the first sorority to be established on campus. In recognition of the occasion, the chapter has organized a celebration for past and present members for the weekend of April 4-6.

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The Pi Omicron Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, a historically black service sorority, will celebrate its 20th anniversary April 14. Delta Sigma Theta was the first sorority established on campus. (Kelly Makepeace/Old Gold & Black)

The celebration is member exclusive and will begin with a mixer on April 4 for current members and alumni to get to know each other.

Chapter president Brigette Proctor, a junior at the university, referred to the event as a “sisterhood healing and bonding experience,” in keeping with one of the three pillars upon which Delta Sigma Theta is based; sisterhood, scholarship and service. April 5 will focus on another pillar of the sorority, service. The girls will travel to Kernersville to volunteer at Next Step Ministries, a domestic violence shelter, where they will work in the organization’s thrift store and help raise money for the ministry. The service trip will be followed by a cookout and banquet where past and present chapter advisers will be recognized and there will be a lesson about the chapter’s history as well as a presentation of awards and special recognitions.

April 6 will conclude the weekend-long celebration with a worship service at Union Baptist Church immediately followed by a rededication ceremony. Delta Sigma Theta has a very small presence on campus. There are currently only six members, but it has a major impact in several ways.

Every year in February, the chapter sponsors two $500 scholarships for a non-Greek minority female. This year, they hosted two voter registration drives, participated in Greek Week and walked on the Alzheimer’s Awareness walk on campus.

They are also very active in Black History month activities. This year, they showed a film on the Greensboro sit-ins and hosted Delta Deep Talks, forum discussions on key race issues like the conflict in Darfur, Sudan.

“I think what we really give Wake Forest is a positive image of a minority woman as a leader and someone who is really involved in community service and scholarship,” Proctor said.“I decided to join because I wanted to make an impact on campus and just grow in my skills as a leader and someone who could really make an impact on Wake Forest and the community, especially the minority community because we are so small here at Wake.”

The university has a very small minority population, and the chapter serves as a place that driven minority women can go to make a difference, find unity and stand out.