Nu History

March 15 - Omega Psi Phi fraternity established at Penn State as the first colored organization and fraternity on campus. It was reported that all 8 colored students on campus at the time joined the fraternity. 

April 4 - Omega Psi Phi fraternity reported as achieving the highest grade point average of any social fraternity or sorority at Penn State during the 1932 fall semester.

February – Henry Norwood “Barney” Ewell, Penn State’s “Ebony Sprint Ace,” is selected to the AAU All- American track team in the 400 meters. At the 1939 and 1940 Penn Relays, Ewell broke, and then bettered, the 50-yard dash world record with times of 5.1 and 5.0 seconds. In 1942 Ewell set a world record in the 200-yard dash with an 18.9 seconds performance. Ewell would be the most dominant and best known athlete at Penn State during the early 1940s, even having an entire page dedicated to him in the 1941 LaVie yearbook. Ewell was a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity 

April 13 – Marian Anderson, famed contralto and world renowned singer performs on campus. Track star, Barney Ewell, serves as her body guard.

April 10 - Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity chartered at Penn State.

March – Council on Racial Equality (CORE) established on campus. Its influence continued into the early 1960s.

March - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) chapter organized on campus. The group lasts only a few years at this time, but would re-form several times over the years.

August - Henry Norwood "Barney" Ewell (BS H&HD 1947) wins a gold medal in the 400-meter relay and silver medals in the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash at the 1948 London Olympics -- at the age of 30. His three Olympic medals are still the most won by a Penn State alumnus. Lou Prato, Penn State sports historian, contends that "Barney would have been as well- known an Olympian as Jesse Owens if two Olympics (1940 & 1944) had not

been cancelled due to World War II, when Barney was in his prime.” Ewell, a Penn State legend in his time, also took home 4 NCAA Gold Medals. Track & Field News later voted him one of the top ten sprinters of all time.

September - 60 Negro students are estimated to be enrolled at Penn State College, about half of which are pictured in the below fall 1949 photograph. The photo was taken at a reception hosted by Agnes and Emanuel Gifford, fraternity house cooks who ran the boarding home earlier dubbed “Lincoln Hall.”

Parmi Nous honorary society taps its first Negro member, Hardy Williams. Williams, Liberal Arts major from Philadelphia, co-captained the basketball team and was the first Negro to earn a varsity letter in the sport (1949) at Penn State. A member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity and president of the Pi Lambda Sigma pre-law honorary society, Williams would later serve on the Penn State Board of Trustees (1972 – 1975) and thirty years in the Pennsylvania State House and Senate (1968 – 1998).

Formed in 1907, Parmi Nous is the oldest honorary hat society at Penn State.  

May 17 - Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity chartered at Penn State.

March 14 - Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority chartered at Penn State as the first Negro sorority on campus. Ethel Brown served as the charter president of the group.

September 23 – Omega Psi Phi fraternity recognized as achieving the highest grade point average of any fraternity or sorority at Penn State during the 1952-53 school year. The fraternity had placed near the top of the list several times during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s..

November 14 - The Pennsylvania State College officially changes its name to The Pennsylvania State University. 

Henry Norwood “Barney” Ewell inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame 

126 Negro students are estimated to be enrolled at Penn State .

May 21 - Delta Sigma Theta sorority is chartered at Penn State.

 March 9 – DARE launches a campaign to require all fraternities and sororities to eliminate any constitutional clauses that forbid membership due to race, or religion. The campaign received little support from the major student organizations 

250 Negro students are estimated to be enrolled at Penn State NAACP is reestablished on campus primarily through the efforts of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

September 23 - Emmett Smith, Jr. suits up as the first known Black member of the Penn State Marching Blue Band. Smith, from Pittsburgh, was selected as a tuba player, and would perform with the band for two years.

Andrew Jackson would follow in 1970 on the bass drum and silks. Both were members of Omega Psi Phi fraternity

November 1 - the Black Student Union articulate their demands and grievances at halftime of a Penn State football game. “Since we cannot reach you at any other place, we find it

necessary to come to a football game to ask you to think as members of an academic community. We wish to express an analysis of our situation, and we ask you to join us in these thoughts,” stated the group spokesperson. At the end of the 8-minute speech, the students marched off the field single file with fists held high. (Photo from Penn State Archives)

November 10 – Matthew “Matt” Robinson, Jr. (BA Lib1958) debuts as Gordon on the first episode of Sesame Street. Appearing in that role for the first three seasons, Robinson was one of the original creators of the show. He wrote The Gordon of Sesame Street Storybook, recorded an album of children’s songs and helped shape the show into an international success. He would also achieve acclaim writing and producing for The Cosby Show (1983 - 1990), the movies Save the Children (1973) and Amazing Grace (1974), and the play The Confessions of Stepin Fetchit (1993). The former president of the Penn State Omega Psi Phi fraternity chapter, Robinson and his wife, Dolores, would have two children, actress Holly Robinson Peete and Matthew Robinson III. A recipient of an NAACP Image Award, Robinson was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1982, and passed away on August 5, 2002.  

October - The Frederick E. Douglass Association (Douglass Association) is established to petition for the creation of an Afro American history course at Penn State. The Douglass Association would later press for increased Black enrollment and awareness. 

January 13 - Fve representatives from the Douglass Association gave University President Walker a list of thirteen demands aimed at making a stronger black presence felt on the campus. On the list were demands that a thousand Blacks be admitted within a year, a special recruiter for Black students be appointed, courses in Black history and culture be added to the curriculum, and more black faculty members be hired. The Douglass Association also wanted a special collection in Black literature to be established in the library and a new building to be named after Martin Luther King, Jr. 

February - the Douglass Association, now led by William “Rick” Collins, lobbied the then Pennsylvania State House Majority Leader, K. Leroy Irvis for support. As a result, Irvis convinced University President Eric Walker to include an extra $1 million in his budget strictly for the purpose of Black recruiting. 

April - the Douglass Association transitioned into the Black Student Union, but the mission remained basically the same. Two years later, the then inactive Black Student Union was replaced by the Black Caucus.  

1969-70 Black Student Union was led by a Coordinating Committee of 5 people including

Vincent Benson and J. Raleigh Demby.

January - Benson L. Dutton (BS Eng 1933) is selected as a Penn State “Distinguished Alumni” by the Board of Trustees. Dutton, a retired director of construction for the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and the former dean of the School of Engineering at Tennessee State University, becomes the first Black alumnus selected for the award. The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor that Penn State bestows upon an outstanding alumna or alumnus.

Distinguished Alumni Award –  The Distinguished Alumni Award, established in 1951, recognizes the achievements of outstanding alumni “whose personal life, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of The Pennsylvania State University.” Alumni are nominated by trustees, faculty, staff and alumni, then chosen by the Board of Trustees.  

Groove Phi Groove Fellowship is established at Penn State. The Nittany Lion chapter of the Black social organization operates under a fraternal structure, but is not considered a Greek organization.

January 7 – Hardy Williams (BA Lib 1952), a Pennsylvania state representative, and former Penn State basketball player, is appointed to the Penn State Board of Trustees by Pennsylvania Governor Milton Shapp. Williams, the second Black on the Board of Trustees, would serve until 1975. In 1982 he was elected to the state senate.

Ronald Ross Davenport receives Alumni Fellow Award – The Alumni Fellow Award is the most prestigious award given by the Penn State Alumni Association. Administered in cooperation with Penn State’s academic colleges and campuses, the program, established in 1973, provides recipients with the opportunity to return to campus to share their knowledge with the University community.  

Ronald R. Davenport  receives Distinguished Alumni Award –  The Distinguished Alumni Award, established in 1951, recognizes the achievements of outstanding alumni “whose personal life, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of The Pennsylvania State University.” Alumni are nominated by trustees, faculty, staff and alumni, then chosen by the Board of Trustees.  

June 26 – Zeta Phi Beta sorority chartered at Penn State

September – 1294 Black students (2.4 % of University wide students) are enrolled at Penn State.

January 28 – Phi Beta Sigma fraternity is established at Penn State.

May 8 - Sharon Thorpe is crowned “Miss Black Penn State” in the inaugural pageant sponsored by Omega Psi Phi fraternity. The pageant was “meant to showcase the beauty of the African American culture through its young women.” An enthusiast crowd filled the Paul Robeson Cultural Center auditorium to witness the event. Thorpe, a sophomore health planning and administration major, received a crown, flowers, a trophy and $100 for the win. Susan Lindner was the first runner- up, and would be crowned Miss Black Penn State in 1981. Anya Armstrong would take the title in 1982.

November – State Representative Hardy Williams (BA Lib 1952) is elected to the Pennsylvania state senate after serving twelve years in the state house of representatives.

Henry R. Smith Jr.  receives Distinguished Alumni Award –  The Distinguished Alumni Award, established in 1951, recognizes the achievements of outstanding alumni “whose personal life, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of The Pennsylvania State University.” Alumni are nominated by trustees, faculty, staff and alumni, then chosen by the Board of Trustees.  

September – 1293 Black Students (2.2 % of University wide students) enrolled at Penn State

September - 1625 African American students are estimated to be enrolled at Penn State.

2308 African American students are estimated to be enrolled at Penn State (3.7% of total)

Jack L. Burley receives  the  Black Arts Festival Alumni Award – The Black Arts Festival Alumni Award was given in conjunction with the 1984 Black Arts Festival at University Park. The awards were presented by Black students to recognize not only the professional achievements of Black Alumni, but also their contributions in aiding the University to recruit and retain Black students and faculty. Award recipients were chosen by a committee of students, staff and the director of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center. 

Glenn R. Mahone receives the Black Arts Festival Alumni Award – The Black Arts Festival Alumni Award was given in conjunction with the 1984 Black Arts Festival at University Park. The awards were presented by Black students to recognize not only the professional achievements of Black Alumni, but also their contributions in aiding the University to recruit and retain Black students and faculty. Award recipients were chosen by a committee of students, staff and the director of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center. 

Julian Abele Cook, Jr.  receives Distinguished Alumni Award –  The Distinguished Alumni Award, established in 1951, recognizes the achievements of outstanding alumni “whose personal life, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of The Pennsylvania State University.” Alumni are nominated by trustees, faculty, staff and alumni, then chosen by the Board of Trustees.  

December 17 - Sigma Gamma Rho sorority was chartered at Penn State. 

July 1 – Joanne E. Burley assumes the position of campus executive (chancellor) for Penn State McKeesport (now Penn State Greater Allegheny), becoming the first African American to lead a Penn State commonwealth campus.  

June 1 – Dr. Eddie N. Moore, Jr. (BS Bus 1968) becomes the twelfth president of Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA. Moore, a Philadelphia native, had previously served as treasurer of the commonwealth of Virginia.

Matthew T. Robinson receives Distinguished Alumni Award –  The Distinguished Alumni Award, established in 1951, recognizes the achievements of outstanding alumni “whose personal life, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of The Pennsylvania State University.” Alumni are nominated by trustees, faculty, staff and alumni, then chosen by the Board of Trustees.  

Judith Loftin Davenport receives Distinguished Alumni Award –  The Distinguished Alumni Award, established in 1951, recognizes the achievements of outstanding alumni “whose personal life, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of The Pennsylvania State University.” Alumni are nominated by trustees, faculty, staff and alumni, then chosen by the Board of Trustees.  

Jack Burley receives Distinguished Alumni Award –  The Distinguished Alumni Award, established in 1951, recognizes the achievements of outstanding alumni “whose personal life, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of The Pennsylvania State University.” Alumni are nominated by trustees, faculty, staff and alumni, then chosen by the Board of Trustees. 

Hardy Williams recieves Distinguished Alumni Award –  The Distinguished Alumni Award, established in 1951, recognizes the achievements of outstanding alumni “whose personal life, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of The Pennsylvania State University.” Alumni are nominated by trustees, faculty, staff and alumni, then chosen by the Board of Trustees.  

September - 2975 African American students (3.8% of total) are enrolled at Penn State.September – 88 (2% of total) members of the faculty at Penn State are African American. 

February – “Framework to Foster Diversity at Penn State 1998 – 2003” is first issued by the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity. The document described the actions that would be undertaken from 1998 – 2003 to strengthen Penn State’s efforts to promote diversity as an essential ingredient in its quest for greater excellence. The basic thrust of Penn State’s efforts over the five-year period would be to increase the synergies between the various diversity initiatives and the other missions of the colleges and departments as well as the goals set forth in the university’s strategic planning framework. The focus of this diversity plan included: historically underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities, women, persons with disabilities, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender persons, and persons from low-income families who would be the first generation in college.

Eddie N. Moore Jr. receives Distinguished Alumni Award –  The Distinguished Alumni Award, established in 1951, recognizes the achievements of outstanding alumni “whose personal life, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of The Pennsylvania State University.” Alumni are nominated by trustees, faculty, staff and alumni, then chosen by the Board of Trustees.  

October – Ronald R. Davenport (BS Bus1958) and Judith L. Davenport (BS MED Tec 1961), founders of the Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation, pledge $3 million to the university.

Judith Loftin Davenport receives Alumni Fellow Award – The Alumni Fellow Award is the most prestigious award given by the Penn State Alumni Association. Administered in cooperation with Penn State’s academic colleges and campuses, the program, established in 1973, provides recipients with the opportunity to return to campus to share their knowledge with the University community.  

Christopher Chambers selected Penn State University Homecoming King

September – 3741 (4.51%) African American students are enrolled at Penn State.

September – 147 (3% of total) members of the faculty at Penn State are African American 

Lydell Mitchell inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame 

June - Nu Alumni Association organization was founded

Dr. Andrew Jackson receives the Forum On Black Affairs’ Humanitarian Service Award – This award was created in 1985 to honor a person who has provided outstanding service to African-American citizens of Pennsylvania, especially at any Penn State Campus. Such service includes leadership of offices, programs or organizations that develop or implement policies impacting African America. The award is handed out at the annual FOB Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Banquet.  

April 18 –The “Penn State University African American Chronicles, 1899 - 2008” is first distributed to alumni attending the 2008 Black Alumni Reunion. The fifty-page booklet was compiled by Darryl Daisey (BS Bus 1983) who referred to it as a “work-in-progress.” The document was considered by many to be the first comprehensive account of the African American experience at Penn State. In December 2008 an unofficial website was launched to provide broader access to the information.

September – 4986 (5.4%) African American students are enrolled at Penn State.

September - 3.0% (175) of the faculty and 3.0% (372) of the staff at Penn State are African American.

November 13 - Iota Phi Theta fraternity is chartered at Penn State, completing the “Divine Nine” African American greek organizations at the university.

Dr. Andrew Jackson receives K. David Weidner Diversity Award – The K. David Weidner Diversity Award recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed to fostering diversity at Penn State by sharing or volunteering his or her talent, time, and resources on behalf of the University. The Alumni Association Alumni Council selects the recipients. 

Christopher Nock is elected President of the Black Caucus. He will be elected again in 2010 becoming only the second individual to be elected twice since 1972. 

March 23 -  Nu Alumni Association Incorporated in the State of Pennsylvania. 

October 23 - Edward N. Thompson, Penn State director of development for Educational Equity, dies from a heart attack while running the Tussey Mountainback Relay in Rothrock State Forest (PA). Thompson, 58, had bypass surgery 13 years earlier, but was a lifelong athlete. The former president of the Forum on Black Affairs spent most of his Penn State career raising funds to allow more minorities, veterans and disabled students to attend the university. Thompson was a proud member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

September – 5781 (6.0%) African American students are enrolled at Penn State.

September - 2.8% (171) of the faculty and 2.7% (342) of the staff at Penn State are African American. 

Ronald & Judith Davenport Alumni Achievement Award established– This award honors alumni who have made significant career advancements, including longterm leadership within their chosen profession and/or public service, paving the way for others to follow. 

2012 - Angela Guy ‘78 (DST) – Chief Diversity Office, L’Oreal was selected as the first Ronald & Judith Davenport Alumni Achievement Award recipient.

John Bigger / Matthew Robinson Visual and Performing Arts Award established– This award honors alumni who have made significant contributions to the areas of visual, written, and /or performing arts. 

2012 - Stan Lathan ’67 - Movie and Television Producer  was selected as the first John Bigger / Matthew Robinson Visual and Performing Arts Award recipient. 

Ronald ’58 and Judith ‘61 Davenport - Founders of Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation and major philanthropists  recieve The Pioneer Alumni Achievement Award. This award is designed to recognize alum that graduated or an organization founded any time between the 1910’s and the 1950’s (can be a posthumous award) 

 March 23 – Gregory Drane is selected as the first African American Blue Band Director. Drane became the assistant director for the Blue Band in 2005, putting him in charge of the pep band for women's volleyball, along with the Pride of the Lions basketball pep band. 

September 1 - Marcus A. Whitehurst, with more than 20 years of experience in educational leadership, is named Penn State’s vice provost for Educational Equity after holding the position in an interim capacity for more than a year. Previously, Whitehurst had served as assistant vice provost for Educational Equity since July 2007. He succeeded W. Terrell Jones, who died Aug. 19, 2014, after an extended illness.

September - 5556 (5.7%) African American students are enrolled at Penn State, and for the first time the Hispanic student enrollment surpassed the African American student enrollment. 

May - Glenn Justin Haley receives his 1st  Emmy Award from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences  for [Outstanding Live Sports Special - Super Bowl 50] 

October 6 - “All In at Penn State: A Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion” kicks off with a public multimedia rally in front of Old Main. The event, which was livestreamed to all Penn State campuses, launched an ongoing University-wide initiative to brings students, faculty and staff together to cultivate a diverse and inclusive environment. President Eric Barron and Vice Provost for Educational Equity Marcus Whitehurst, addressed the crowd, while the Essence of Joy choir provided entertainment. 

March - Myron Patterson is the 1st Deputy Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department.  His promotion to 1st Deputy elevated him from a two-star to three-star deputy. As 1st Deputy Commissioner of the nation’s 4th largest police department, he oversees Field Operations.

November 7 -  Hanif Johnson (D) defeated Claude Phipps (R) in the general election for the Dauphin County Magisterial District 12-1-05. Hanif Johnson is the youngest Magisterial District Judge in Pennsylvania.  Johnson graduated from Penn State in 2012, with a B.S. in Economics.  

He became the Track and Field Team Captain and earned the honor of being an All-American in Division I Track and Field. 

Omega Psi Phi Nu Chapter 1921 recieves The Pioneer Alumni Achievement Award. This award is designed to recognize alum that graduated or an organization founded any time between the 1910’s and the 1950’s (can be a posthumous award)  

April 13 - The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life welcomes back the Nu Chapter of Omega PsI Phi Fraternity, Inc. to the Penn State - University Park campus with an inspiring new member class of Penn State student. 

August 3 - Nu Alumni Association obtains 501(c)3 Tax-Exempt Status as a Public Charity

August - Glenn Justin Haley receives his 2nd Emmy Award from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for [Outstanding Playoff Coverage - NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament]  

August - Glenn Justin Haley  receives his 3rd  Emmy Award from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for [Outstanding Live Sports Series  - NFL on CBS]  

March 2 - Nu Alumni Association (NAA) is gratefully acknowledged by Eric Barron (President, The Pennsylvania State University) and Matthew W. Schuyler (Chairman, Board of Trustee) for its generosity for establishing the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Nu Alumni Association Educational Equity Scholarship. The (NAA) "Gift" made along with University matching contributions will create a $375,000 endowment. The Fund will provide scholarships in perpetuity. 

Scholarships will be made available to those who contribute to the student body's diversity and who have a demonstrated financial need for funds to meet their necessary college expenses. 

March  14 - Nu Chapter celebrates its Centennial virtually via Zoom.   

May 15 - Nu Chapter awarded Undergraduate Chapter of the Year 2019 - 2020 at the 73rd Second District Conference by 37th Second District Representative Bro. Kevin K. Ampofo and Achievement Week Chairman Bro. Kier Pemberton.

August 30

Justin Haley [Nu'07], who is highlighted in the current issue of The Penn Stater magazine! His lifelong passion for Penn State football led him to an award-winning career in sports journalism. As an associate director and producer for CBS Sports, Brother Haley (’08 Com) recently won his sixth Emmy for outstanding live coverage of Super Bowl LVIII. A six-time Emmy winner—an incredible accompli Brother Justin Haley [Nu'07], who is highlighted in the current issue of The Penn Stater magazine! His lifelong passion for Penn State football led him to an award-winning career in sports journalism. As an associate director and producer for CBS Sports, Brother Haley (’08 Com) recently won his sixth Emmy for outstanding live coverage of Super Bowl LVIII. A six-time Emmy winner—an incredible accomplishment that makes the Nu Chapter proud! 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

October 26

Michael “Sugar Bear” Larks [Nu'81] was the recipient of The Legend Alumni Achievement Award, which celebrates alumni and organizations from the 1960s through the 1980s. As a former graduate assistant for Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Larks has been instrumental in the chapter’s success, helping undergraduates maintain university standing and lead community outreach. He also represents Penn State on national platforms through his work with the Penn State Sports Media Center.