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OUR HERSTORY

The Diamond State Pearls were officially chartered as the Sigma Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® in Newark, Delaware, on Saturday, January 27, 1990.


At that time, North Atlantic Regional Director Idell Pugh welcomed the Newark, Delaware graduate chapter into the North Atlantic Region with the blessings of International President Janet Ballard.

                                
 

Ready To Lead

The first President of Sigma Zeta Omega Chapter was Norma J. Jackson. Norma planted the seed that would be watered with sisterhood and become the chapter of today. Her tireless efforts and dedication to Sigma Zeta Omega still live on in our daily commitment to bettering communities throughout Delaware. In addition, Norma was also the chapter’s first Ivy Beyond the Wall. Her dedication and perseverance was at the forefront of founding Sigma Zeta Omega Chapter. Each year, a scholarship is presented to a deserving local student in her honor. Her legacy shall live forever.

Down to Business


Having met all the strict qualifications and guidelines for beginning a new chapter, the ladies of Sigma Zeta Omega wasted no time getting down to business. Members undertook dozens of chapter projects. They awarded monetary scholarships to college-bound students in the Newark, Delaware, area. The chapter also participated in community service projects that would eventually become annual endeavors:


• volunteering at the Newark Senior Center
• supporting the Emmaus House for the Homeless
• supplying educational materials to local and South African schools
• sponsoring youth educational contests and programs to foster creativity

Former Chapter Presidents

Sigma Zeta Omega Charter Members

Yvonne Barnett
Irene Burke
Sonya Cross
Barbara Duncan*
Leslie Esdaile*
Ann Hodges*
Cynthia Fairwell
Patricia Floyd
Joan Holden
Norma Jackson*
Styna LeCompte

Sandra Maness*
Eula Oliver
Olivia Roane
Sylvia Roberts
Gloria Penn
Frances Potts*
Debra J. Spence*
Linda West-Olds
Brenda Wilson
Phyllis Wooley

Norma J. Jackson

Debra Spence

Jacquita Wright-Henderson

Yvonne Barnett

Sylvia R. W. Roberts

Kimberly M. Collins

Tiffany Matthews

Tamika Davis-Cannon

Shealese P. Russell-Reams

Styna LeCompte

1990-1992

1993

1994-1998

1999-2002

2003-2006

2007-2008

2009-2012

2013-2014

2015-2018

2019-2022

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