On June 5th the Virginia Beach, Virginia (Gamma Xi) chapter of Omega Psi Phi held it's annual Crossing The Bar and Scholarship event. This event involves an awarding of $1000 academic scholarships to six college-bound males, a prayer ritual for all graduating seniors in the room, and a Trunk Party for the graduating senior members of Gamma Xi's male mentoring program. The mentoring program is named The Golden Fold and serves young men in Hampton Roads in the 6th - 12th grades.
Selected Photos from Photographer Alvin Swilley of CandidQueShots
C. Philps (Black shirt) & B. Brown (Blue shirt) enjoy food at the event. Both are members of The Golden Fold.
(L to R) The Golden Fold Founder and Director Seko Varner and Assistant Director Fred Foard are interviewed by a WTKR News Channel 3 reporter Anthony Sabella.
(L to R) The Golden Fold Founder and Director Seko Varner and Green Run High School Graduating senior Cyntenious Morris Jr. are interviewed by a WTKR News Channel 3 reporter Anthony Sabella. Cyntenioushas been a member of The Golden Fold since 2011.
The senior members of The Golden Fold. (L to R) Cyntenios Morris of Green Run High, Christian Philp of Landstown High School, Kameron Gray of Green Run Collegiate High School, and Baldwin-Akin Varner of Landstown High School. Behind the young men are college foot lockers which have been stocked by gifts from members of Omega Psi Phi and members of the community to prepare the young men for their next phase in life. The filling of these"trunks" is called the "Trunk Party".
We were filling their trunks to send them off in grand style!
Some of the remaining members of the Virginia Beach branch of The Golden Fold.
Audience members standing to celebrate America during renditions of The Star Spangled Banner and Lift Every Voice and Sing.
Audience members standing to celebrate America during renditions of The Star Spangled Banner and Lift Every Voice and Sing.
Green Run High School's David White, III sings The Star Spangled Banner and Lift Every Voice and Sing to open the event. David is flanked by his fellow members of The Golden Fold.
Audience members standing to celebrate America during renditions of The Star Spangled Banner and Lift Every Voice and Sing.
The audience joined David White, III during his artful rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing.
Abdul Wallace, Lead Mentor of The Golden Fold, salutes community volunteers who have served The Golden Fold affectionately known as Bridge Builders.
High School Senior members of The Golden Fold - Cyntenious, Baldwin-Akin, Kameron, and Christian are challenged by the commencement speaker, Dr. LaQuiche Parrott.
Dr. Laquiche Parrot delivered our commencement address. She is flanked by Young Leaders of The Golden Fold.
Dr. LaQuiche Parrott.
Dr. LaQuiche Parrott.
Dr. Shafeeq Ameen speaks before providing $1000 scholarships to six scholarship receipients.
Gamma Xi scholarship receipients and Dr. Shafeeq Ameen:
1. Taquan Butler - Tallwood High School
2. Kameron Gray - Green Run Collegiate High School (A senior member of The Golden Fold)
3. Jaylen Johnson - Green Run High School
4. Cyntenious Morris - Green Run High School (A senior member of The Golden Fold)
5. Jalen Patrick - Tallwood High School
6. Dr. Shafeeq Ameen.
Scholarship receipient Marcus Twyman (not pictured) attends Landstown High School.
Green Run Principal, C. Todd Tarkenton, with scholarship receipients from Green Run Campus: Kameron Gray of Green Run Collegiate High School, Jaylen Johnson of Green Run High School, and Cyntenious Morris of Green Run High School. Green Run Collegaite and Green Run High school share a campus and are known as the Green Run Campus.
School counselor W.T. Calhoon with scholarship recepients from Tallwood High School.
Parents and graduating seniors participate in the Blessing of The Head ritual during the Crossing The Bar event.
Mentors, Parents, and graduating seniors participate in the Blessing of The Head ritual during the Crossing The Bar event.
Family members, Parents and graduating seniors participate in the Blessing of The Head ritual during the Crossing The Bar event.
Parents and graduating seniors participate in the Blessing of The Head ritual during the Crossing The Bar event.
Mentors, Parents and graduating seniors participate in the Blessing of The Head ritual during the Crossing The Bar event.
Mentors, Parents and graduating seniors participate in the Blessing of The Head ritual during the Crossing The Bar event.
Mentors, Parents and graduating seniors participate in the Blessing of The Head ritual during the Crossing The Bar event.
Parents and graduating seniors participate in the Blessing of The Head ritual during the Crossing The Bar event.
Parents and graduating seniors participate in the Blessing of The Head ritual during the Crossing The Bar event.
Mentors, Parents and graduating seniors participate in the Blessing of The Head ritual during the Crossing The Bar event.
Speaker Blair Durham challenges the cadre of graduating seniors.
Reggie Matthews, of The Gamma Xi Uplift Foundation and the Gamma Xi chapter of Omega Psi Phi thanks the guests for participating.
Cyntenios Morris surprises the audience by publically thanking The Golden Fold program for helping him to grow in leadership.
Graduating Senior Cyntenios Morris hugs Seko Varner, Director of The Golden Fold, to wish Seko well as Seko Varner is running for a 2018 at-Large seat on the Virginia Beach School Board.
(L to R) Golden Fold Young Leaders Jorden Bennett, Bryan Brow, and Lyreese DeRose close the event.
A collection of Bridge Builders (community volunteers) who supported The Golden Fold.
The members of The Virginia Beach branch of The Golden Fold with program mentors and Bridge Builders who support the program.
The Golden Fold Mentor Movement serves 6th - 12th grade youth by providing seminar based Big-Brother-type activities in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Contact: thegoldenfoldmovement @ gmail (dot) com or call 757-932-0177. The Golden Fold is a "Brothers and Others" Community Improvement activity of the Gamma Xi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi and the Gamma Xi Uplift Foundation.
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