I’d like to wish each and every member of my illustrious sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, a Happy Founders Day.  108 years of service and still committed to the mission.  My sisterhood has been one filled with magnificent and bold women, determined not only to make their lives better, but also to make our communities better.   I pledged at Beta Tau (LeMoyne-Owen College).  When I stepped on to the campus back in 1998, I knew three things:  I wanted to be a great scholar; I wanted to be Ms. LeMoyne-Owen College, and I wanted to be a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (God’s favor on me allowed me to become President of my chapter).  I knew that I was not going to leave that campus until I accomplished each of those goals.  What I learned is that it would take a lot more than “one” person – me – to do that.  The women and men on that campus who helped me, tutored me, mentored me and propelled me into a better future always deserve acknowledgement for their selfless efforts.  The love only grew after graduation was even more surreal.  Belonging to something so great, makes you feel greater.  There is nothing like arriving off a plane in a city where you don’t know a soul and seeing a the face of a sister, nothing like applying for job and sitting across the interview table from a sister, going to a bank to get a loan and talking to a sister, giving birth to your child and being cared for by a sister, watching the First Lady of the United States and being proud of your sister, looking at your daughter and hoping she’ll become your sister.   My line sisters.  My big sisters.  My Greek Sisters.  My Skee-Phi brothers.  Other Greeks on the Yard who believed in the Divine 9 and our ability to change cultures.   All of you have a special place in my heart.