For more than a century, the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) has provided mentorship and leadership development opportunities, as well as connections to local communities on college campuses nationwide. And soon a space on the Eastern Kentucky University campus will remind future generations of the important role that NPHC fraternities and sororities continue to play in shaping young lives.
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held recently for NPHC Divine Nine Plaza in EKU’s Carloftis Gardens in recognition of the nine historically African American Greek-lettered, service-based fraternities and sororities under the council’s umbrella.
“The National Pan-Hellenic Council truly plays a valuable role in creating a sense of belonging for marginalized students,” said Dr. Dannie Moore, vice president for strategic initiatives and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at the University. “These monuments will represent the organization’s presence on campus and will serve as a gathering place for alumni and current students to come together, celebrate and reflect on their NPHC experiences at EKU.”
Alumni and current students worked with campus leadership to plan the plaza. “This idea was in the works prior to my arrival at EKU,” Moore said, “(but) as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, I was excited to assist with moving this project to completion.”
The “Divine Nine” fraternities and sororities, eight of which are represented at Eastern, include more than 1.5 million members. The council promotes interaction through forums, meetings and other mediums for the exchange of information, and engages in cooperative programming and initiatives through various activities and functions.
NPHC sororities at EKU are Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Gamma Rho and Zeta Phi Beta, while NPHC fraternities at Eastern are Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi and Phi Beta Sigma. For more information, visit greeklife.eku.edu/NPHC.