On Nov. 21, at the Syria Center in Cheswick, the Iota Phi Foundation an affiliate of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. presented their 2015 Achievement Awards Dinner. With Harold Hayes of KDKA-TV as the master of ceremonies, the Iota Phi Foundation 2015 scholars were presented to an audience of nearly 300.
This year’s scholars included Tyler Coleman, a senior at Winchester Thurston School; Ronae Jones, a senior at CAPA High School; Kareem Simpson, a senior at Central Catholic High School; Madison Ware, a senior at the Ellis School; and Taylor Williams, a senior at Plum Boro High School. This distinguished group of scholars volunteer in their communities, work part-time jobs, participate in athletics and still maintain outstanding GPAs. All of them have been accepted at numerous colleges and universities.
The men of the Iota Phi Foundation selected this evening to honor the 2015 Achievement honorees. The illustrious list included: Donna Baxter, CEO/founder of Soul Pitt Media—Exemplary Service Award for Business; Dawndra Jones DNP,RN,NEA-BC—Exemplary Service Award for Medicine; Brother Paul T. Harper, PhD, assistant professor/Katz School of Business, University of Pittsburgh— Exemplary Service Award for Education; Jasiri X, hip hop activist, founding member of 1 Hood and founder of 1Hood Media Academy—Exemplary Service Award for Community Advocacy; Brother Ronald Lawrence, president of the 100 Black Men of Western Pennsylvania— Iota Phi Foundation Citizen of the Year; Bill Neal, chairman and CEO of Achieving Greatness Inc.—Iota Phi Foundation Exemplary Service Award for Leadership Development; Kappa Scholarship Endowment Fund—Iota Phi Foundation Exemplary Service Award for Philanthropy; Chris Moore, multi-media host on PCNC and KDKA Radio, founder and co-chair of the Educational Committee of the Frank Bolden Urban Journalism Workshop of the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation —Sylvester Pace Humanitarian Award; Sala Udin, former Pittsburgh City Council member, and in his retirement, a Sports and Exhibition Authority board member and co-chair of the Hill District Education Council—Civil Rights Vanguard Award.
Brother Leo Woods was honored posthumously with the Iota Phi Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. Woods was a faithful member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity for 77 years and completed his career with the Pittsburgh Board of Education as vice-principal at Westinghouse High School. Keith Key, CEO of Keith B. Key Enterprises, has been involved with over $1 billion dollars of real estate development inclusive of residential, commercial and religious oriented projects— Iota Phi Foundation Barack Obama Leadership Award; Charles Buddy Allie, national sprint champion— Iota Phi Foundation Sportsperson of the Year Award; and the Iota Phi Foundation Omega Man of the Year Award was presented to Brother Devin Patterson who is a psychotherapist with over two decades of experience.
Patterson is currently employed as a counselor and assistant professor at the Community College of Allegheny County. He is the sole proprietor of DLP Mental Health Services, where he provides counseling services in grief and loss, anger management, trauma, pre-marital and marital counseling.
The evening concluded with mixing, mingling and dancing.
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