A Brief History of Pi Upsilon Lambda Chapter
The Pi Upsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorperated (Key # 652) was chartered at the 1993 General Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 1, 1993. The initial catalysts for chartering Pi Upsilon Lambda Chapter were six financial Brothers of Kappa Epsilon Lambda Chapter: Brothers Alex C. Bailey, Raymond Blackstone, Thomas Brown, Sr., Robert Kirkland, Al Perrine, Sr., and J. Keith Wilson. There were joined by Brother James Henderson, a Life member of the fraternity, in the petition to establish a second alumni chapter in Prince George's County, Maryland. Sixty-one Brothers became charter members of Pi Upsilon Lambda Chapter, believed to be the largest number of charter members for a chapter in Alpha history. General President Milton C. Davis and Executive Director James "Tiny" Blanton signed the charter establishing Pi Upsilon Lambda Chapter. With the initial chapter seat established at Brandywine, Maryland, the official chartering ceremony was held at the Noncommissioned Officers Club at Andrews Air Force on Sunday, December 12, 1993. The chapter seat was later moved to Largo, Maryland.
Pi Upsilon Lambda's primary focus has been on community service, education and scholarship. The chapter annually provides a financial aid workshop that is attended by parents and students from all across Prince George's County. The chapter sponsors a mentor-tutorial program at Suitland High School, participates in the Adopt-A-Highway program, provides food baskets to the needy on holidays such as Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and assists with area and district implementation of Project Alpha.
In 1994, Pi Upsilon Lambda chapter established the Alpha Phi Alpha Pi Upsilon Lambda Charitable Foundation, a tax exempt non-profit organization, to provide scholarships to graduating high school students living in Prince George's County who plan to pursue collegiate studies.
In a short 15 year time span, Pi Upsilon Lambda Chapter has provided from its membership leaders at the National, Regional and District levels of Alpha, including an Executive Director of the fraternity, an Administrative Director, a Director of Communications/Editor to the Sphinx, a Director of Membership Services, a Director of Educational Activities and an Executive Director of the national Education Foundation. Brothers from Pi Upsilon Lambda have also served as Regional Director of Educational Activities and General Counsel. Three Brothers have served as Associate Area Directors for the District, three have served as Area Directors, and the Current District Director is a member of our chapter.
The eight presidents of Pi Upsilon Lambda Chapter were, in order of service, Brothers Alex C. Bailey, Ronald L. Anderson, J. Keith Wilson, Jeffrey J. Johnson, Keith L. Battle, Andre R. Watkins, Anthony Harris, and Christopher Moore. Paul Brown serves as the ninth President of the chapter.
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