Lee B. Revels Scholarship & Mentoring Foundation

 Annually, Theta Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and its Lee B. Revels Scholarship & Mentoring Foundation hosts the Annual Senator Edward W. Brooke III Oratorical Competition.

 The competition is open to young men of African or Latino descent currently attending high school in Western Massachusetts and interested in attending college.  The event is free and open to the public. 
Participation in the program provides the young men the opportunity to experience the art of public speaking while learning about a topic relevant to their lives.

 This year’s topic is:  Turned On, Tuned In, and Checked Out: What Effect Is Social Media Having on Today’s Youth? This theme raises an important question in a technologically-advanced age and presents an opportunity for our youth to understand the developmental benefits and/or risks of having self-controlled access to social media. Participants have group workshops and one-on-one mentoring sessions to help prepare them for the competition.  

The top three orators are awarded scholarships that they will receive upon enrollment in college.

First Place $1,500
Second Place $1,000
Third Place $750

Award amounts may vary depending upon available funds.

For the past twelve years, Theta Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has gained the support of the Western Massachusetts community to identify young men to compete for these scholarships. Each year we ask for your help in identifying Black and Latino men in Western Massachusetts who would like to participate in the  competition.

Students may register by completing our online registration form, which will be posted here on this web site. If you cannot find the application, reach out to education@springfieldalphas.com.

After completing the online application, the registrant will be contacted with confirmation of his registration and provided with additional details regarding times, dates and locations of  mandatory workshops. 

Mandatory Meeting Schedule:

• Orientation
• Mentor Assignment  
• Workshop #1 
• Workshop #2/Preliminary Competition 
• Contest  

The Foundation is funded via grants from corporations, other foundations, civic groups, and faith-based institutions, as well as individual sponsorship by fraternity members and friends of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.  

Contributions are 100% tax deductible.  A few initiatives of the foundation include Project Alpha (a teen pregnancy prevention program targeted to males ages 12-18), an Oratorical Scholarship competition, a Leadership Development Institute for rising junior and senior high school students and scholarships for graduating high school seniors and college students.  More information about Theta Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and its foundation is available on our website: www.springfieldalphas.com. 

James Lightfoot, President, TIL Chapter 
Persons seeking additional information regarding the Oratorical Scholarship Competition should contact a committee member:

Denzel Washington, Director of Education, TIL Chapter
education@springfieldalphas.com 

Arthur R. Shurn, Director Communications, TIL Chapter
arthur@springfieldalphas.com

Kevin Jeffries, Foundation President
President, Lee B. Revels Scholarship & Mentoring Foundation