On Friday, June 6, at Morse Elementary School, 12 second-grade Morse students read their essays to a packed house in the cafeteria as a part of the 14th Ivy AKAdemy closing ceremony. The essays were written during the eight-week experiential reading and writing program sponsored each year by the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
The students – Amillian Allen, Zylynya Daisley, Tierra Elting, Nivanni Felix, Celestine Henry, Dmitri Jackson, Dylan Mahon, Markiesha McBean, Destinia Tolliver, Jaeson Tyler, Kiara Vinson and Tyrese Wallace – were taken on field trips to the Beekman Library, Stewart International Airport, Marist College, Trevor Zoo in Millbrook and the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
At Stewart, the children toured the General Electric Corporate hangar and leaned about the Tuskegee Airmen in that organization’s Red Tail Youth Flying School classroom and hangar. In a Marist College classroom, retired engineer Julius Jones had the children break into teams and build bridges out of toothpicks. While at Trevor Zoo, the youngsters were challenged with a scavenger hunt to find certain animals. The culmination of the field trips was to the American Museum of Natural History, New York City; the most popular place for the children was the Discovery Room, a hands-on exhibit where they got to see live animals and insects and use the microscope to see living things that are invisible to the naked eye.
One of the features of the Ivy AKAdemy program is the earning of “Ivy Bucks.” Children receive this play money for homework, attendance, participation and helping. The Ivy AKAdemy Store is opened after each closing ceremony and the children are able to buy books, toys, games, and puzzles with the Ivy Bucks they have earned.
Since 1993, Alpha Kappa Alpha has provided this enriching experience to over 170 children. The chapter has fostered partnerships with many community agencies. This year’s partners were the Poughkeepsie City School District, Cornell Cooperative Extension (Poughkeepsie), 4-H Youth Development Program, Beulah Baptist Church and Catharine Street Center.
The international parent organization, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, is marking the 100th year of its founding during a July gala celebration in Washington, D.C. The sorority was established in 1908 at Howard University and is the first founded by African-American women. From 16 young women, one generation removed from slavery, the organization has grown to more than 200,000 members in the United States and abroad. Iota Alpha Omega, the local chapter was chartered in the Mid-Hudson Valley in 1969. It has acquired a 501(c)3 tax status and has supported many area service organizations.