Deltas Award Annual Scholarships

Nine Portland and Vancouver graduating seniors have been selected to receive $1,000 scholarships that previously were presented at an annual Women of Excellence luncheon hosted by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event had to be cancelled. But, later this month, sorority members will personally deliver the awards to the doorsteps of each graduate. The Portland Alumnae chapter partners with Piedmont Rose Connection Inc., a non-profit organization.

“We wanted to add a personal touch, even though we’ll be wearing masks and can’t give them hugs,” said scholarship committee chair, Karis Stoudamire.

Scholarship committee members say they take great pride in the legacy of their chapter by consistently providing college funding to achieving youth scholars in their community.

Criteria for Scholarships: The Portland Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and Piedmont Rose Connection Inc. have offered scholarships to deserving African-American female and male high school seniors from Oregon and Southwest Washington for over 30 years. Applicants must plan to pursue higher education at a four-year institution leading to a degree in a profession or applied science. Applicants must have an overall grade point average of 3.00 or above.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a public service organization composed of college educated women, founded in 1913 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Its membership exceeds 200,000 women in over 900 chapters established throughout the United States and several countries.

Scholarship Recipients

Christine Bynum, LaSalle Catholic College Preparatory; Major: Biology/Pre-Dental; Minor: Spanish and Food Studies; School: Spelman CollegeTaji Chesimet, De La Salle North Catholic High School; Major: International Relations – Latin America; School: The University of ChicagoAujee Taylor Crane-Stone, St. Mary’s Academy; Major: Business; Minor: French; School: Clark Atlanta UniversityBereket Getachew, De La Salle North Catholic High School; Major: Biological Sciences/Pre-Medicine; School: University of RochesterDior Edwards, Horizon Christian High School; Major: Business Administration; School: University of OregonJa’Shai Green, Parkrose High School; Major: Business and Marketing; School: Clark Atlanta UniversityKalkidan Ketema, De La Salle North Catholic High School; Major: International Studies; School: University of OregonHachalu Moti, Jesuit High School; Major: Business; School: University of Southern CaliforniaAmira Tripp Folsom, LaSalle Catholic College Preparatory; Major: International Relations and Economics; School: American University