UGA's first African American sorority funds scholarships for Franklin students

Great story about the commitment to UGA by some of our most esteemed alumni:

Set against the backdrop of a segregated south and a newly-integrated University of Georgia, eight students at UGA chartered the university’s first African American sorority in 1969. Backed by a powerful sisterhood and an alumnae network of over 600 graduates, the women of the Zeta Psi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta are celebrating 50 years of sisterhood, service and scholarship.

The sorority created the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Fortitude 1969 Scholarship in honor of the anniversary, and the UGA Foundation has pledged to match each $50,000 that is raised. The scholarship is part of the UGA Foundation’s Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program.

The organization’s goal was to raise $100,000, which it exceeded before the event. The goal was then raised to $125,000. After this past weekend’s events, the scholarship campaign alone had raised $138,467.91. Combined with matching funds from the UGA Foundation, the campaign has raised about $238,000.

In establishing the scholarship, DST hopes to “bring diversity to [UGA] and to provide need-based aid for underserved students who have overcome socioeconomic obstacles,” according to the scholarship description. The award will help students with “a reported family income less than tuition and fees.”

DST, which has chapters around the world, was founded in 1913 at Howard University. It has since expanded to include more than 200,000 women.

Delta Sigma Theta raised funds for 2 GCS scholarships and yesterday, on the sorority chapter’s 50^th anniversary, they presented President Morehead with a check for $142,886.91. The first scholarship is for a Franklin College student. Our thanks and congratulations to this passionate group who continue to set the standard and light the way forward for students.

Image: The Zeta Psi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta with President Morehead