UK Students Unveil National Pan-Hellenic Council Crests on Campus
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 20, 2020) — Members of the University of Kentucky’s National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) revealed the new installation of crests honoring their contributions to campus on Oct. 9 in the Gatton Student Center.
The unveiling began with a welcome by Ja'Mahl McDaniel, director of the Martin Luther King Center and member of the Rho Lambda chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. His remarks were followed by the 2020 NPHC executive board.
“Nobody can see your impact if they don’t know you are here,” shared Natalia Dixon, external programming chair and member of the Mu Epsilon chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
“These crests are symbols — symbols of the strife that our past members have overcome, symbols that NPHC is here to stay, a symbol of unity. They are a symbol of hope that UK will see us and our commitment to making our voices heard,” Dixon said.
Other student speakers included:
- Aniyah Greenwade, president and member of the Iota Sigma chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.;
- Langston McHenry, vice president and member of the Epsilon Chi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.; and
- Cherish Harris, public relations chair and member of the Iota Mu chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.
Rico Tyson, internal programs chair and president of the Epsilon Chi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., was unable to be present. The NPHC executive officers were joined by representatives from each of the seven active NPHC chapters, Trisha Clement-Montgomery, acting dean of students, and staff members from the Fraternity and Sorority Life Office.
The crests can be viewed in the display case outside MLK Center in the Gatton Student Center and were created by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. alumna Justice Stamps, owner of Woods and Walls LLC.
The University of Kentucky NPHC is the coordinating body for seven of the nine historically African American fraternities and sororities. The council organizes educational and cultural programs as well as community service projects for members and the larger university community.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.