Gamma Pi Omega
History

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is the oldest Greek-letter organization established in America by Black college women and has provided service to the nation since 1908.  Founded by Ethel Hedgemon and eight Howard University women in Washington, D.C., the efforts of these women in scholarship, vocational guidance, encouragement of foreign study, health services, and the promotion of human and civil rights constitute a priceless part of the Black experience in America.

Gamma Pi Omega Chapter, chartered in March 1942 was the third chapter chartered in the State of Georgia.  The Chapter is located in Georgia’s Peach City, Fort Valley, USA, “Where Caring is a Way of Life”. The five charter members were Mary Clay, Kathleen Cook Pitts, Aquilla Jones Thompson, Myrtle O’Shields, and Lillie Merriweather Adkins.

The new chapter quickly began the implementation of projects and activities that would enhance the Fort Valley community. The first fund raising project of the sorority was a benefit Bridge Party. Members solicited gifts from local businesses and raffled them off. The profits from this project were placed in the business office at Fort Valley State College so that students could borrow small amounts of money in emergencies.
In 1955, the Debutante Ball replaced the Bridge Party.  The ball afforded the opportunity for sorority members to work with young women and men (escorts) in areas of improving social graces, dressing for success and travel. This project is still on-going and has provided thousands of dollars in scholarships to young ladies.

Gamma Pi Omega developed several service projects in the community.  A Career Conference, held for two days at H.A. Hunt High School and Fort Valley State College provided young people the opportunity to meet leaders in all walks of life, including the late Whitney Young of the National Urban League and the late Attorney Vernon Jordan, who impressed upon the young participants the importance of education and career goals.  Realizing the importance of remedial education, a tutorial program was developed for students in need of extra help in reading, math and science. 
In the same vein, Gamma Pi Omega Chapter continues to sponsor college fairs and campus tours for high school students.  We support The Fort Valley State University, as well as other HBCUs.

The Arts were introduced through the production of Operettas and Plays for presentation to young people during the summers. These plays were the forerunner of the Fort Valley State College Players Guild founded by Soror Lillie Adkins and her husband, Dr. Joseph Adkins, who was a professor at Fort Valley State College. They produced a host of plays, most notably, Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town”, and “A Raisin in the Sun” (Lorraine Hansberry).  More recently we hosted an advanced private screening of the movie ‘Just Mercy’ featuring our own Soror Karan Kendrick who played McMillian’s wife Minnie. Also, in collaboration with FVSU featured “artrapreneur”, Caleb Brown, local high school and community artists. 
Gamma Pi Omega continues to be impactful in the Middle Georgia community through Community Health Fairs providing medical services and the Caregivers Awareness workshops providing information, training support and care coordination for caregivers; as well as contributing to the numerous projects of the National organization.