Grambling State News

Members of the Delta Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. have doubled down to support their alma mater and its current studies.

As Grambling State University (GSU) held its 2024 Homecoming festivities last year, the initiates of the Delta Iota of Spring 1999 and 2004 each wrapped up the establishment of $10,000 endowments presented to the university, respectively.

While plans for the endowments were completed around Homecoming or soon thereafter, plans for the anniversary contributions to GSU were longer in the making.

“It was our 25th anniversary that year of joining the sorority and this was something that we had talked more and more about as the anniversary year approached,” said Victoria Washington of GSU’s Delta Iota Class of 1999. “Service, scholarships, sisterhood, and making a social impact are the core beliefs of Delta Sigma Theta, and so we wanted to see how we can make an impact on the university where we all met. And so that’s how we initially came up with the idea of doing this.”

“Of all the things we planned and talked about for our 25th anniversary, the endowment was one of the most important pieces of that — creating some type of scholarship plan that we can give back to the university where we all met. So, we’re very proud of how it all came together.”

Dr. Dayna Harper, a 2006 graduate of GSU, said the spring of 2004 line’s Legacy of Excellence Scholarship was established because that group felt it was essential to give back to the institution that shaped their lives and values.

“This endowment is a tribute to Delta Iota’s legacy of leadership, academic excellence, and community service,” Harper said. “It serves as a way to ensure that future generations of GSU students receive the support they need to excel and continue carrying forward our chapter’s tradition of excellence.”

Stephanie Usher, a 2005 Grambling State graduate and member of the Delta Iota line of 2004, said being a Delta made establishing the endowment something that came naturally.

“Sisterhood in Delta Sigma Theta means always standing together, lifting each other up, and giving back to the world around us,” Usher said. “Together, we’re stronger, and our impact reaches beyond ourselves. United by love, service, and a commitment to making a difference, we are forever bound by the call to give back.”

Members of both GSU’s Delta Iota 1999 and 2004 lines said the endowments were coincidental other than the fact both being established during milestone anniversary years.

“I don’t think either line thought about another (line) maybe establishing an endowment,” Washington said. “But it makes sense, because giving back is what Deltas do. It was not planned; it was just coincidental. But that’s a good thing. As Deltas, we all want to give back to the university that means so much to us, so it just worked out like this in a good way for the two lines and more importantly, the university.”

Students applying for scholarships from the endowments will need to be a sophomore, junior, or senior African American female in good academic standing with a minimum grade point average of 3.04 on a 4.0 grading scale who are in financial need of the funding.

“The scholarship is designed to support students who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership potential, and a commitment to community service — qualities that align with the values of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.,” Harper said. “The intent is to offer meaningful financial support to at least one student annually, with the potential to expand to multiple recipients as the fund increases.”

Harper said hopes are that the endowments make an even broader impact than simply providing financial assistance to students in need.

“This scholarship also reflects our commitment to directly investing in Grambling State University in the name of the Delta Iota Chapter,” Harper said. “It highlights the importance of alumni giving and serves as an invitation for others to join us in supporting GSU. Our hope is that this act of giving inspires fellow alumni, current students, and supporters to continue building on the university’s legacy of academic excellence and service.”

Washington, who played on the Lady Tigers’ volleyball team while attending GSU and earning her undergraduate degree in computer science, said teamwork played a big role in both recent endowments.

“Being a Delta Iota member is about working together for Grambling and the surrounding community,” Washington said. “People contributed whatever they could, because different people are in different situations. But every dollar counts. If I had to guess, I’d say around 90% of our line who are still with us contributed to our line’s endowment.”

“Doing it on the 25th anniversary of our crossing the line seemed like great timing and the appropriate thing to do, and we hope it encourages others to do the same in the future. It’s all about giving back to what has given great and successful lives to so many of us — Grambling State University.”

Learn more about investing in a brighter future for Grambling State by visiting gram.edu/endowments.