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Stephens re-elected as Georgia State Director; 2025 Georgia State Conference Recap
Posted on Monday, March 17, 2025 11:53 AM
The 2025 Georgia State Conference returned to the Macon campus of Middle Georgia State University to celebrate the work of chapters and handle the business of Phi Beta Sigma - State of Georgia. The weekend event, hosted by the Gamma Pi Sigma Chapter of Macon, was filled of brotherhood and a renewal of Sigma spirit. The conference kicked off on Thursday, March 13, with a virtual plenary session, and program directors (Bigger and Better Business, Collegiate Affairs, Education, Sigma Beta Clubs, and Social Action) presented their reports. Several committee chairmen presented during Thursday's session as well.
Friday shifted to in person with the registration and the opening program in the Robert Hatcher Conference Center on the Macon campus of Middle Georgia State University. International president of Phi Beta Sigma, Honorable Chris V. Rey, and Southern Regional Director, Kenneth "Sarge" Straughter, brought forth greeting via video presentations due to their absences. Greetings were brought by local Macon-Middle National Panhellenic Council members, local chapter presidents Vontavious Howell of the Gamma Pi Sigma chapter and Tracy George of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc - Epsilon Tau Zeta Chapter. The key event of Friday was the Miss Phi Beta Sigma Pageant & Stepshow. Miss Alpha Pi, Hadijat Oleshuji, became Miss Phi Beta Sigma Georgia for 2025-27. The step team Pi Alpha Chapter won the stepshow.
The remaining plenary sessions were held on Saturday, March 15. The previous conference minutes and this year's financial report after the necrology. Vice state directors Ken Love and Andrew Gyimah presents their officers' reports. State Director delivered the State of the State address, and it was followed by a Regional Director's update by Southern First Vice Regional Director, Ruben Grant.
A series of workshops conclude the morning activities.
The Awards Luncheon was an opportunity for local community leaders, individual brothers, and chapters to be honored. The District Attorney Anita Reynolds Howard received the Social Action Award for her work in R.I.S.E. Tanya Mumford was the recipient of the Bigger and Better Business Award for her contributions with Amina Financial Solutions. Phi Beta Sigma man, former high school coach, Alvin Copeland, received the Education Award. After the community awards, the fraternity awards wrapped up the luncheon. The following awards were presented
- Collegiate Affairs Awards:
- Outstanding Service: Julian Williams
- Social Media: Pi Alpha (Collegiate)
- Social Media: Rho Beta Sigma (Alumni)
- Collegiate Chapter Report of the Year: Alpha Pi
- Alumni Chapter Report of the Year: Tau Beta Sigma
- Advisor of the Year: Corey Kemp
- Chapter of the Year - Alumni
- Silver: Gamma Pi Sigma
- Gold: Phi Beta Sigma Sigma
- Diamond: Rho Beta Sigma
- Platinum: Lambda Sigma
- Chapter of the Year – Collegiate
- Bronze: Alpha Pi
- Silver: Gamma Zeta
- Education
- Collegiate Chapter of the Year: Alpha Pi
- Alumni Chapter of the Year (Level 1): Alpha Omega Sigma
- Alumni Chapter of the Year (Level 2): Gamma Pi Sigma
- Adopt-A-School: Rho Beta Sigma
- Collegiate Chapter with Highest GPA: Gamma Beta Gamma (3.295)
- Georgia Teacher of the Year: Larry Layfield (Rho Beta Sigma)
- Administrator of the Year: Corey Sapp (Kappa Alpha Sigma)
- Faculty Member of the Year: Matthew Trice (Xi Chi Sigma)
- Bigger and Better Business Chapters of the Year
- Collegiate Diamond Level: Alpha Pi
- Collegiate Bronze Level: Gamma Beta Gamma
- Alumni Platinum Level: Kappa Alpha Sigma
- Alumni Diamond Level: Rho Beta Sigma
- Alumni Gold Level: Sigma Eta Sigma
- Alumni Silver Level: Gamma Pi Sigma
- Special Bigger and Beta Business Award – Juneteenth Challenge:
- Collegiate Chapter: Alpha Pi
- Alumni Chapter: Sigma Eta Sigma
The final plenary session brought Saturday's activities to an end. The final activities included committee reports and the much anticipated election. The election produced the following results:
- State Director - Dr. Walter Stephens (Kappa Zeta Sigma Chapter - Warner Robins)
- First Vice State Director - Kenneth Love (Sigma Delta Sigma Chapter - Woodstock)
- Second Vice State Director - Andrew Gyimah (Beta Beta Beta Chapter - Clayton State University)
- Financial Secretary - Jay Wells (Upsilon Iota Sigma Chapter - Douglasville)
- Treasurer - Rasheed Marshall (Xi Chi Sigma Chapter - Atlanta)
- Director of Collegiate Affairs - Charles Phillips (Kappa Alpha Sigma Chapter - Stone Mountain)
- Director of Bigger & Better Business - Andre Belue (Kappa Alpha Sigma Chapter - Stone Mountain)
- Director of Education - Christian Harden (Lambda Sigma Chapter - Atlanta)
- Director of Social Action - Ucal Palmer (Lambda Sigma Chapter - Atlanta)
Southern First Vice Regional Director, Ruben Grant swore in newly elected officers, and the conference closed with the signing of the fraternity hymn.
