100 Camden Area Students Taken to Hidden Figures Viewing by Local Fraternity
VOORHEES, NJ, January 24, 2017 – On January 23, 2017, the Delta Epsilon Foundation rented out the Ritz Carmike Theater in Voorhees, New Jersey and invited 100 young people for a private screening of the movie, Hidden Figures. The Oscar nominated film tells the story of three African-American women working at NASA who served as the brains behind the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit. In addition to inviting young men who are personally mentored by archons, the Foundation partnered with several local organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Camden Youth Services, Eastern Regional High School, and the Willingboro High School cheerleading squad to expose their youth participants to this amazing film focused on empowering black women to succeed in careers in the STEM subjects.
“I learned that talent does not see race, color or creed. The movie inspired us to challenge social norms to be the first, make history and change the world,” said Korey Hagamin, a senior at Overbrook High School (Pine Hill, NJ).
Before the film, Archon Rod Bennett, chairman of the Delta Epsilon Foundation, gave opening remarks about the history of Sigma Pi Phi and its social action initiatives. Archon Ron Ward also moderated a Q&A session with Ms. Laurie Hylick, granddaughter of Katherine Johnson, the African-American physicist and mathematician portrayed by Taraji P. Henson in the movie. Throughout her career at NASA, Katherine Johnson made significant contributions to the aeronautics and space programs that launched Apollo 11 and Project Mercury, among others. Ms. Hylick spoke about her grandmother's research for NASA and the Space Shuttle program, as well as breaking barriers for women in science.
Ron Bacon, head of Delta Epsilon Boulé (Voorhees resident and formerly with TD Bank) emphasized the organization’s commitment to mentor African-American youth and thanked the following Archons for their efforts in organizing this event: Archons Donn Scott (Voorhees resident formerly with Wells Fargo Bank), Lloyd Freeman (Sicklerville resident and partner at Archer Law firm), Rod Bennett (Voorhees resident and co owner
of BCG Solutions) and Ron Ward (resident of Beverly and co-owner of Origlio Beverage).
About Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity-Delta Epsilon Member Boulé
Sigma Pi Phi (ΣΠΦ) is the first African-American Greek-lettered organization and was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 15, 1904. The fraternity quickly established chapters (referred to as "member boulés") and currently have 129 member Boulés in the
United States, Europe and Nassau, Bahamas. The Delta Epsilon Member Boule is located in Southern, New Jersey (web address www.deltaepsilonboule.org). Their national organization can accessed at www.sigmapiphi.org.