Twenty-one recent high school graduates were honored at the 36th Annual Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Scholarship Luncheon at the Denver Marriott Hotel City Center in May. The honorees, whose suits and thoughtful blueprints diminished any impression of their immaturity, reflected a diverse and promising bunch. Many from various high schools within the Denver metropolitan area were early bloomers in giving back to the community and members of multifarious activities, while all managed academic success.
Over the past 36 years, since the fraternity alumni chapter was founded in 1972, it has honored 684 young Black men. Among them was Daniel Wetmore, who excelled in International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement programs at Smoky Hill High, where he earned a GPA of 4.37.
Already aware of the disparities in the Black community, Wetmore co-founded The Brotherhood, a mentor/tutorial club designed to encourage academic excellence for Black males at Smoky Hill. The Brotherhood has generated a membership of more than 70 young men and thus far has proven to be successful in its initiative.
“This will not be the last time you see me,” Wetmore assured the audience of mainly moms, dads and Kappa alumni suited in red jackets.
He said he planned on returning to Denver and impacting “the community, showing kids that African Americans can succeed, and it’s not all about being the best at sports and rapping, but that you can be successful using your education.”
He was awarded a distinct Kappa’s scholarship that will cover his four years at Stanford University.
Kappa alumni shared encouraging and powerful words with the young men, after acknowledging that their accomplishments “had not been easy.”
“We all expect big things from you. There is no such thing as a free lunch,” joked Kappa alumni Marcus Houston during his speech to the recipients. “Continue committing to excellence.”
Other 2008 recipients of the Kappa Alumni awards were Antoine Borden, Karim Bounouar, Cameron Browne, Josh Dickerson, Quinton Dodson, Tramaine Duncan, Cedric Ennis, Mahad Fahieh, Anthreus Fayne, Michael Fuller, Lee Hall Jr., Joseph Kidane, Kellyn Lewis, Kevin Lozandier, Shaine Mcgee, Jake Sally, Marcus Steward, Lexis Wash-Tate, Brenton Weyi, and Denzel Williams.
