PVAMU Collegiate Wins Presidents Cup Award

The Collegiate 100 Chapter of Prairie View A&M University received the university’s highest honor, the President’s Cup, for student organizations at the Student Organization Awards Program on April 30.  The PVAMU Chapter is sponsored by the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston, Inc.  The award is given to the student organization for dedicated community service, personal and professional development of its members, accomplishments and academic achievement.

In presenting the award, the committee chair, Mrs. Isis McCraw shared highlights of the organization’s activities for the year to include its outstanding mentoring program for male students at the university, as well as two area middle and high schools.

PVAMU’s Collegiate 100 Chapter President Patrick Gray and Vice President Vincent Ellis accepted the award along with members Jonathan Amos (Treasurer), Timothy Anderson and Ryan Turner (Parliamentarian) and Frederick V. Roberts, the 100 Advisor.

The Collegiate 100 was selected for the award over some 100 eligible organizations at the university.  The award was established at the university in 2004. After three years on the campus, the organization was recognized for its activities in 2012 and to win the award in 2013 is an honor the chapter cherishes.

In addition to sponsoring impacting events, winning the award this year was a major goal established by President Gray for 2012-13 under the moniker of “Keeping it 100™”. That theme permeated every aspect of the chapter in leadership, programming, academics, brotherhood, mentoring, professional development and service to the community.  The national’s “Four for the Future” programs: economic empowerment, health and wellness, education and mentoring provided the foundation for programming and implementing the events for the year.

“We took our tasks very seriously to be involved and to make an impact on the community, not just an impression,” say President Gray.  “We wanted to do things in a big way and to do things not usually perform by student organizations, such as hosting the “Black Tie Scholarship Gala” and establishing the “Power 100 Awards” to honor faculty, staff, students and community leaders.”  Additionally, the chapter ramped up its mentoring program at the Arnold Middle School in Cypress with some 28 male students and at Navasota Elementary with some 32 students.  The members also participated in the bi-weekly Mentoring the 100 Way, sponsored by the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston, Inc.

Dr. Clement Glenn, Collegiate Campus Advisor and Frederick V. Roberts, 100 Advisor insists and encourage the young men and women to maintain high standards of excellence for themselves and the organization. Both advisors are involved in the chapters programming and activities and usually conducts seminars on leadership and professional development throughout the year.   “We are very proud of the membership and the superior services they provide to the campus and the communities at large,” say Roberts.  “Patrick has provided exceptional leadership to the chapter and has raised the bar for student sponsored activities with the recognition of the Women’s Basketball and Volley Ball Champions, and honoring the local mayors with the Power 100 Award,” Roberts continued.

Some of the activities sponsored by the chapter in 2012-13 are:

• Sponsored the 2012 Black Tie Scholarship and the Power 100 Gala honoring the Women's Basketball and Volley Ball Champions, Mayors Frank Jackson and Michael Wolfe
• Provided Christmas Gifts and Funs to the Texas Children Hospital
• Sponsored its Real Men can Cook Program for the ladies of the 100
• Participated in the 100 Black Men of Metro Houston, Inc. Leadership Academy
• Raised Awareness for breast and testicular cancer
• Sponsored a College Tour to PVAMU for the Mentees from Arnold Middle School
• Presented scholarships to Mentees in the Arnold Middle School Mentoring Program
• Presented Check to Navasota Elementary School for programs
• Participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life
• Promoted safe sex and raised awareness about sexually transmitted diseases
• Participated in Highland Heights Elementary school’s Real Men Read Program
• Mentoring Seminars for a select group of freshmen male
• Saluting the Ladies during Women's History Month Celebration

The Collegiate 100 has impacted the students with their career readiness through sponsorship of its Career addressing resumes, interviewing techniques, dress for success and art of networking. The expo was co-sponsored with the Career Services Center at the University in the fall and spring semesters.  The Collegiate 100 believes in leading by example and is one of the few organizations with 100 percent of its members registered with Center.  In fall 2012, the chapter co-hosted Mr. George Olukun "Mr. Opportunity” of Atlanta as the keynote speaker for the Student Recognition Banquet. 

To ensure the personal, professional and cultural growth of the members, the chapter adopted a reading list and required the members to read “Secrets to Success” by Eric Thomas, the Hip Hop Preacher.  Mr. Thomas was featured speaker for the University’s SPIT Knowledge and took the time for a special meeting with the members.  Mr. Thomas was also made an honorary member of the chapter and vowed to work with the members in the future with its programs.

The chapter’s commitment is to provide mentoring to young African Americans and other students; maintain academic excellence in the classroom and provide community service. In keeping with the goals of the 100 Black Men of Metro Houston, Inc., the chapter fervently supports the mentorship, education, economic empowerment and health and wellness awareness, programs.