Visit any Historical Black College and University throughout the country, and it will not be long before one will see a fraternity or sorority represented on campus. Whether it’s through entertainment or their service, fraternities and sororities have been a staple of higher learning for Black students for decades.

During today’s Board of County Supervisors meeting the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) will be commended for their service to both the local Prince William County community and across the nation. In a motion led by Potomac District Supervisor Andrea Bailey, the BOCS will honor these institutions as an integral part of the American historical fabric. The NPHC is a collaborative umbrella organization composed of historically Black Greek-lettered fraternities and sororities. The nine NPHC organizations are informally and collectively referred to as the “Divine Nine.”

These fraternities and sororities are as follows:

• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority
• Iota Phi Theta Fraternity

According to the motion, the NPHC “promotes community awareness and action through educational, economic, and cultural service activities. They also engage the community through forums, meetings, and other media for the exchange of information, as well as provide cooperative programming initiatives through various activities and functions.”