Members of the Kappa Iota Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. joined the "Wake Up With Dee Morning Show" to discuss their ongoing efforts to support education through scholarships for students in the Atlanta area.
Michelle Langham-Robinson, Esq., president of the chapter, and Dr. Karen Dudley, the chapter’s scholarship committee chair and a board-certified neonatologist, spoke about the importance of making scholarship opportunities accessible to local youth. The Kappa Iota Zeta Chapter recently celebrated its 45th charter anniversary and has been actively serving the community through programs that uphold the sorority’s principles of scholarship, service, sisterhood, and finer womanhood.
“Our first principle is scholarship, and that is actually what brings us here today,” Langham-Robinson said. She highlighted several scholarship programs, including the Marynette Bonner Lovejoy Book Scholarship, the Zora Neale Hurston Humanities Scholarship, and the Haroldine Crowder Book Scholarship, which collectively provide financial support for high school and college students pursuing higher education.
Dr. Dudley addressed the large number of unclaimed scholarships nationally. “Approximately $100 million in private scholarships were unclaimed annually due to lack of applicants,” she said, noting that awareness is a major barrier for students seeking financial assistance. The chapter works to combat this issue by hosting workshops, visiting schools, participating in scholarship fairs, and providing guidance to applicants.
The scholarships are open to students pursuing a range of higher education paths, including associate and bachelor’s degrees, and are awarded based on academic accomplishments, community service, letters of reference, and personal essays. The chapter has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships since its inception, including $40,800 to 13 recipients in the past year alone.
Langham-Robinson also shared details about upcoming events, including the signature Tea with Z event on Feb. 22 at Zoo Atlanta’s Carlos Ballroom, where recipients of the Zora Neale Hurston Humanities Scholarship will be honored. Other scholarship recipients, including those from the Marynette Bonner Lovejoy and Haroldine Crowder programs, will be recognized at receptions later this spring. Interested students can apply online at www.zphbkiz.com under “Our Scholarships.”
In addition to scholarships, the chapter actively serves the community through initiatives such as Zeta’s Helping Other People Excel (Z-HOPE), focusing on needs like food insecurity, housing assistance, and health programs in partnership with organizations such as March of Dimes and Black Health Matters.
To listen to the full interview, click the link above.