March 30, 2013 - April 5, 2013, The Afro-American B1

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Gamma Pi Chapter, held its 2013 Mardi Gras Extravaganza on Mar. 15 at Martin’s Crosswinds, Greenbelt, Md. Under the theme: “Forty Years of Purple Rain,” the Chapter Basileus, Gordon Everett Sr. along with the co-chairs, Ronald Swann and Rodney Beverly provided an evening of fun, merriment and gaiety for the guests who attended. Special honored guests included Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker; District 6, Prince George’s County Councilman, Derrick Leon Davis and Amina Gilyard, Miss Exquisite 2012/2013. The chapter has awarded over $500,000 in college scholarships over the years.

Photos by Rob Roberts

Celeste Calhoun, Mary Barnes and Melony Jones

Jim Wyatt and Pat Dowtin

Bernadette Williamson-Taylor, Dana Bucker, Damia Jackson and Nicole Swann

Monica Valdiviez-Wiley, Edgar Brookins, Ebony Andrews, Ambassador Teddy Taylor and Amina Gilyard, Miss Exquisite 2013

Derrick Leon Davis, Rushern Baker, Gordan Everett, Brother Milton Harrison and Kenneth Rogers

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III giving remarks as county councilman Derrick Leon Davis and Gordon Everett look on.

Participants at the Mardi Gras who competed for best costumes

Mardi Gras Prince, Alfonzo Powell, with his wife and event co-chair, Ronald Swann

Ronald Swann, left, Rodney Beverly, second from right, Mardi Gras king with his wife and chapter Basileus Gordon Everett

Rodney Beverly and Thomas Boone Jr., recipients of the Service Award, shown with wife and Everett Gordon and Ronald Swann on the right

Brothers singing the Omega Hymn

Young brothers stepping

These older brothers can step.

Wobble, baby, wobbleDenay Reed, Delores Murphy, Monique Martin and Zoe Martin

Locke, Locke and Locke: Stephanie, Veronica and Erin

UNCF (United Negro College Fund), the country’s largest and most effective minority education organization, having recently moved its headquarters to Washington, staged its inaugural UNCF Masked Ball in late February at the JW Marriott hotel in Washington, D.C. Over 450

guests attended. Proceeds from the event will support the education of the almost 4,000 students from the Washington metropolitan area who attend UNCF’s 38 member Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Ball opened with a VIP reception for sponsors, general reception

and silent auction followed by the signature parade of dignitaries, an elegant dinner, and the parade of masks. Dancing followed with musical entertainment provided by R & B singer Jeffrey Osborne. Dr. Michael Lomax is the president/CEO of the UNCF.

Photos by Jason Johnson

Charlene Drew Jarvis serving as the evening’s auctioneerAdrienne and Frederick Brooks and

Kinshasha Conwil, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Pedro and Kim Alfonzo

Meta Williams, regional development director, Washington Area Office of UNCF; Dr. Michael Lomax, president and CEO of UNCF, Paulette Jackson, vice president of UNCF

Event co-chairs Dr. Dallas and Dea Dea Leah and Ernie and Debbie Jarvis

Erika Hughes and Scott Bolden

The evening’s MC’s, husband and wife team Marc Clarke of WHUR FM Radio and Allison Seymour of FOX 5 News