Stone Mountain-Lithonia Alumnae Chapter
Jewels of Distinction
2008-09

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PINNACLE AWARD Soror Deanna Draper Physical and Mental Health Chair 2007-09 Soror Deanna Draper has been a member of the Stone Mountain-Alumnae Chapter since 2004.  She currently serves as chair of the Physical and Mental Health Committee, where she has encouraged collaboration between her committee with several other chapter committees such as Recreation and Debutante.  She spearheaded the chapter’s Healthy Living Initiative, where over 200 sorors participated in the challenge to lose weight to increase their health.  By far, her proudest moments in SMLAC have been her implementation of the chapter’s annual “Amazing Race”.  For the past 3 years, she has worked tirelessly to create a fun-filled day of physical and mental challenges for chapter sorors to enjoy.  In addition to her work with Physical and Mental Health, Soror Draper is also on the Membership Services committee, where she facilitated a workshop at the 2007 Sisterhood Advance, and strives to reclaim and retain members for SM-LAC.  Soror Draper says, “I truly believe that SM-LAC is one of the most exemplary chapters in Delta Sigma Theta, and plan to do everything in my power to do my part in maintaining our tradition of excellence.  Receiving the Pinnacle Award is a great honor and I sincerely thank the sorors of SMLAC for recognizing my contributions.  I absolutely LOVE being a part of the Jewel of the Mountain!”

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FORTITUDE AWARD Soror Deria Whatley Social Action Chair 2007-09 Soror Deria Whatley has been a member of several committees, i.e. Step-Team, Arts and Letters, May Week, Political Awareness & Involvement, Financial Projects, and Social Action since joining SM-LAC in 2004.  She currently serves as the Chairperson for the Social Action Committee.  She was inspired to become a Delta by one of her graduate school college professor at Clark Atlanta University in 2003. She received her doctorate degree from Argosy University in 2006.   Dr. Whatley strongly believes in giving ALL to what she believes and states “We must continue to educate our society about the issues that affect people. The time has come where we must STOP living as if we are the only people in this world. There are people who are less fortunate than we are and it is our duty to give back.” And, constantly reminds ALL that “It's best to serve than to receive. That is what our organization was founded on, SERVICE!”   To the members of Stone Mountain-Lithonia Alumnae Chapter, I am truly honored to have received this award and to have been selected by you, my sorors.  I Thank You for this esteemed honor, SM-LAC. Remember in everything, give “THANKS” for this is the WILL of GOD.

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SPIRIT AWARD Soror Ayanna Card Financial Projects Chair 2008-09 Founders Day Chair 2007-08 Sisterhood Advance Co-Chair 2006 Soror Ayanna Card has been a member of Stone Mountain-Lithonia Alumnae Chapter since 2003.  Over the years she has offered support to various committees including Step Team, May Week, Ritual and Ceremonies, Membership Services, and Arts and Letters.  She has served as chairperson of events and committees including Founder’s Day and Sisterhood Advance, and currently serves as Financial Projects Chair.  She provided as creative touch to the chapter’s New Member Orientation Manual, and to all chapter ads, and even designed the cover picture on the chapter’s website.  Soror Card is always willing to lend a helping hand where needed and can be counted on to jump in and get the job done.

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Mrs. Black Georgia USA 2007 Soror Lydia Howard  Soror Howard's Platform is Building Intolerance to child neglect and abuse and her Adopted Program is CHRIS KIDS - www.chriskids.org. Soror Howard stated that she ran for Mrs. Black Georgia USA so that she could have more available opportunities to speak out against child abuse and neglect.  She also affirmed that she can now use her title to advocate for the rights of children that are victims of abuse and neglect.  Soror Howard truly believes that the verse cited in the Bible, “If you spare the rod you spoil the child”, has become misunderstood and misused because a great herder knows that in dealing with a delicate sheep, the rod is used to GUIDE the sheep. Not ABUSE them.

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SM-LAC COMPETITION STEP TEAM AWARDS, APPEARANCES,  and COMMUNITY SERVICE  INITIATED JAN 2003 2003 Southern Regional Champs Savannah GA 1st Place “Company DST” 2004 Competed with the Metro Atlanta National Convention Team Las Vegas NV - 1st Place 2005 Regional Champs Ft. Lauderdale FL 1st Place “The Band” 2006 Competed in the National Convention Step Show  Phiadelphia, PA - 4th Place “The Band” 2007 Regional Champs Chattanooga TN 1st Place “Superheroes” Outside DST Wins 2003 Kappa Alpha Psi College Park Alumnae - 1st Place   2004 Alpha Kappa Alpha Metrowide Show Atlanta GA - 1st Place   2005 Univ. of Tennessee Knoxville Alpha Phi Alpha - 1st Place   2005 Tuskeegee - Morehouse Classic Columbus GA - 1st Place   2005 Alpha Kappa Alpha Nu Lambda Show Atlanta GA - 1st Place   2006 2 Live Stews Radio Step Show Atlanta GA - 2nd Place   2006 ESPN SWAC/MEAC Classic Challenge Birmingham AL - 1st Place   2007 Ryan Cameron Old School/New School Step Show Atlanta GA   2007 Stepnationals Charlotte NC - 1st Place   2007 Iota Phi Theta National Convention Atlanta GA - 3rd Place   2007 ESPN SWAC/MEAC Classic Challenge Birmingham AL -  1st Place  Community  Service 2004 Dekalb Medical Center Christmas Grand Opening   2005 Omega Psi Phi Benefit Atlanta GA   2006 DST Atlanta Alumnae Senior Day for Girls Performance   2006 Bally’s Renovation Grand Opening Performance   2007 V103 Family Day Program Morris Brown   2007 Redan Middle School Performance TV and Movie Appearances 2003 Good Day Atlanta Morning Show   2004 Good Day Atlanta Morning Show   2005 Good Day Atlanta Morning Show   2006 Good Day Atlanta Morning Show   2007 Good Day Atlanta Morning Show   2007 Featured as extras in the Movie, “Stomp the Yard.”

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2007-09  Southern Regional Leadership  Appointments www.dstsouthernregion.com Soror Royce LoveDiagne, Trainer Chapter and  Member Development   Soror Beverly Harris Schembri, Trainer Chapter and  Member Development Soror Jenelle Clark. Chair  Advisors Council Soror Angela Thompson Arts  and  Letters Committee  Soror Toni H. Johnson Awards and Recognition   Rev Corliss Heath Regional Chaplain and Member of National Ritual and  Ceremonies Committee Soror Felicia Frasier Program, Planning and Development Soror Siddiqa Amrullah-Gibson Ritual and Cermonies  Soror Kellie Sibert Technology, Information and  Communications Regional Webmistress and National  Technology Task Force Soror Gloria G. Traynum Technology, Information and Communications

Select 2007-08 Honorees to view previous years honorees.