LU Alphas make history with Miss Black and Gold win, clean sweep at district convention
February 23, 2022 | by Shelbe Rodriguez
The Epsilon Rho chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. made history on Feb. 12 at the annual Texas Council of Alpha Chapters Convention. For the first time, the organization was awarded outstanding chapter of the year and chapter president Trey Wilson was awarded Brother of the Year and announced as second-place winner of the Belford V. Lawson Oratorical Contest. 
“I first want to commend our chapter president, Trey Wilson for his leadership –– he has done an amazing job at leading us and putting the Epsilon Rho chapter in a positive light,” said D’Von Boyd, Epsilon Rho chapter member. “This has been such a surreal moment for the organization and I’m truly proud of everything that we’ve accomplished in the span of just a few weeks.”
The TCAC Convention also generated another big win for the organization. For the second time in 17 years, the organizations LU Miss Black & Gold pageant winner competed on the state level and brought home the crown. The LU Alphas hosted their annual LU Miss Black & Gold Scholarship Pageant in late January where a select number of female students showed off their intelligence, elegance, talents and diverse facets of their personality.
First-place winner earns the title of Miss Black & Gold along with a $1,000 scholarship. Second place wins the title of Miss Black and a $750 scholarship. The third-place winner of the pageant, Miss Gold, receives a $500 scholarship. This year, the pageant had five contestants: Makaila Jackson, senior exercise science major, was crowned as the 2022 LU Miss Black & Gold, Shawnta Cotton, junior general business major, was named Miss Black and Islamiyat Abubakar, junior pre-nursing major, was named Miss Gold.
Along with her $1,000 scholarship, Jackson also was able to attend the TCAC conference with the Epsilon Rho chapter where she won the state title of Miss Black & Gold after competing against other university pageant winners across Texas universities.
Boyd, who served as the organizer for the pageant, said, “This pageant is a way for the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to give back to Lamar University students. This was all truly a team effort. Each of these wins changes the future of Epsilon Rho forever. The expectations have been put on another level –– for the chapter, for our brothers and everything that we do for Lamar University and our community.”
“I first want to commend our chapter president, Trey Wilson for his leadership –– he has done an amazing job at leading us and putting the Epsilon Rho chapter in a positive light,” said D’Von Boyd, Epsilon Rho chapter member. “This has been such a surreal moment for the organization and I’m truly proud of everything that we’ve accomplished in the span of just a few weeks.”
The TCAC Convention also generated another big win for the organization. For the second time in 17 years, the organizations LU Miss Black & Gold pageant winner competed on the state level and brought home the crown. The LU Alphas hosted their annual LU Miss Black & Gold Scholarship Pageant in late January where a select number of female students showed off their intelligence, elegance, talents and diverse facets of their personality.
First-place winner earns the title of Miss Black & Gold along with a $1,000 scholarship. Second place wins the title of Miss Black and a $750 scholarship. The third-place winner of the pageant, Miss Gold, receives a $500 scholarship. This year, the pageant had five contestants: Makaila Jackson, senior exercise science major, was crowned as the 2022 LU Miss Black & Gold, Shawnta Cotton, junior general business major, was named Miss Black and Islamiyat Abubakar, junior pre-nursing major, was named Miss Gold.
Along with her $1,000 scholarship, Jackson also was able to attend the TCAC conference with the Epsilon Rho chapter where she won the state title of Miss Black & Gold after competing against other university pageant winners across Texas universities.
Boyd, who served as the organizer for the pageant, said, “This pageant is a way for the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to give back to Lamar University students. This was all truly a team effort. Each of these wins changes the future of Epsilon Rho forever. The expectations have been put on another level –– for the chapter, for our brothers and everything that we do for Lamar University and our community.”