Featured Article
The National Pan-Hellenic Council has donated over
one million dollars in the Bahamas in the past two
decades. With mentorship programs, charities,
fundraisers and scholarship programs- the NPHC has
benefitted the youth of The Bahamas in
unfathomable ways. he Bahamas Primary School Student of the
year is one award and scholarship program
that the NPHC has founded, having
recognized over 700 students and awarded
over hundreds of thousands of dollars since
its inception in 1997.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council was founded on
the Howard University Campus in 1930, along with
five of the nine Historically Black Letter Though not all of their donating and services
are that public. Each chapter in the NPHC
organization partakes in various programs
such as: A High School Essay Contest,
Scholarship Programs, Voter Registration
Drives, Programs that combat illiteracy, "
Assault on illiteracy," Talent Hunt programs,
College Endowment Funds, Blood Drives, and
HIV/AIDS Awareness, Honor's Day Events.
Organizations, and was chartered in the Bahamas on
February 4,1995. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha
Phi Alpha Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Iota
Phi Theta Fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity,
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity,
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and Zeta Phi Beta
Sorority- known as the Divine 9, have spent twenty-
two years, with the objective of " working to be a
governing organization that embodies the essence
of individual fraternities and sororities while working
to positively impact economics, education, social ills
and concerns by leveraging, coordinating and
collaborating."
The current chapter presidents are Contanza
Adderley of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Michael H.
Wilson, CPA, of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Quintin
Lightbourne of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Owen
Forbes of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Tara Johnson of
Delta Sigma Theta, Derek Smith Jr, CAMS, of Phi
Beta Sigma Fraternity, Georgette Albury of Zeta Phi
Beta Sorority, Tanya Woodside of Sigma Gamma Rho
Sorority, and Vandyke Pratt o Iota Phi Theta
Fraternity.
In an interview with Derek W. Smith Jr., the
President of the NPHC and Phi Beta Sigma
Fraternity member, I became proficient in not
only the history of the NPHC, but their current
actions along with their goals and objectives.
Mr. Smith Jr., a Charter Member of the Rotary
Club based in Old Fort Bay, the Director of The
Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year
Foundation, and the President of Delta
Epsilon Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma
Fraternity Inc, has had an avid role in charity
and influencing the youth of the Bahamas all
his life. With his membership, not to mention
his leadership roles, in these many
organizations, it is clear why Mr. Smith Jr. was
voted for President of the NPHC as well as
awarded an award by Professional Services
Bahamas last year in 40 under 40, an award
presented to young Bahamian citizens who
have led exemplary lives and careers in this
country.