HR0754LRB098 17244 MST 52604 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Illinois State Representative Monique D. Davis
3and the members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish
4to recognize the legacy of Alpha Kappa Sorority, Incorporated
5and thank them for their commitment to its community; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is the
7first sorority founded by African-American women on the campus
8of Howard University in 1908 under the guiding principles of
9sisterhood, scholarship, and service; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The organization currently has more than 265,000
11members and more than 970 chapters across the globe; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The Gamma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
13grew out of the Delta Phi Eta Club at the University of
14Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for the purpose of fostering a
15friendlier relationship among students; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Through the guidance of Alpha Kappa Alpha Founder
17Beulah Elizabeth Burke and Incorporator Nellie Quander, Gamma
18Chapter was chartered on February 12, 1914 as the third chapter
19of Alpha Kappa Alpha; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha was the first sorority for

 

 

HR0754- 2 -LRB098 17244 MST 52604 r

1African-American women at the University of Illinois; and
 
2    WHEREAS, The charter members of Gamma Chapter were Emma
3Ballinger, Selma Beck, Frances Ellis, Clara Vesta Lewis, Louise
4Lewis, Ivorine McAllister, Edith Stevens and Helen Stevens; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Gamma Chapter was a trailblazer in the expansion
6of Alpha Kappa Alpha nationwide; and
 
7    WHEREAS, "Gamma Girls" have shown strong leadership in
8service and scholarship both during and beyond their
9undergraduate years; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Notable members of the organization include the
11first African-American female University of Illinois Bronze
12Tablet Scholar, the first African-American woman to be crowned
13Homecoming Queen at a Big Ten school, an Alpha Kappa Alpha
14International Corresponding Secretary, and 5 regional
15directors; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Gamma Chapter played a pivotal role in the early
17enrollment and housing of African-American women at the
18University of Illinois; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Gamma House, which has served as a residence for
20both sorority sisters and non-members alike, was instrumental

 

 

HR0754- 3 -LRB098 17244 MST 52604 r

1in recruiting and retaining African-American women at the
2university; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Members of Gamma Chapter have gone on to become
4educators, authors, lawyers, physicians, legislators, and a
5plethora of other successful occupations; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Lovingly known as "Glamorous Gamma," the chapter
7set the tone for student activism and future organizations
8focused on women of color; and
 
9    WHEREAS, One hundred years later, the Gamma Chapter of
10Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority remains the longest-serving
11organization for African-American women at the University of
12Illinois, the State's flagship public institution of higher
13learning; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
15NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
16we celebrate the women and legacy of the Gamma Chapter of Alpha
17Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated in commemoration of their
18centennial anniversary; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That we designate the date of Wednesday, February
2012, 2014 as "Gamma Day" in the State of Illinois; and be it
21further
 

 

 

HR0754- 4 -LRB098 17244 MST 52604 r

1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to the Gamma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority as
3a symbol of our esteem and respect.