Greeks entertain at national competition Alphas & Deltas champs as top Steppers By PATRICIA SMITH-DEERING Community News Editor Five of the eastern region's best stepteams had a chance to strut their stuff before approximately 1 ,200 energetic fans Saturday, March 23, at Reynolds Audito rium for the National Stepshow Association's 1991 Championships. Stepping away with the top honors were the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority from North Car olina State University and the lota Beta Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity from the University of Vir ; !yh5e crowd reacted with intense pleasure ? clap ping and cheering for their favorite sorority or fraterni ty. The event was held by the Zi Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., of Wake Forest University and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Forsyth County. According to Keith Belton, president of the National Stepshow Association, approximately $1,000 was raised for scholarships to be awarded by Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Participating in the competition were: the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority from Virginia State University; the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority from North Carolina State University; the Gamma Epsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi from Hampton University ? the nation al step champs for that fraternity; Phi Beta Sigma's Eta Chapter from North Carolina A&T State University, the defending champions from last year; and the Iota Beta Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at the Uni versity of Virginia. Commenting on the performances, Belton said .4- 'wm&r. & w %r Photo by Keith Belton Delta Sigma Chapter of Univerfsty of Virginia's Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity took top honors in recent National Stepshow Association Competition. with more than a little prejudice and pride, "I've been to stcpshows quite frequently in the past five years . . . and I must say the Alpha show is probably the second best show I've seen ever." Led by stepmaster Len Spady, the Alphas put on a show that attested to their long hours of practice. Belton feels that the success of the competition is also a testi * mony to the success of the National Stepshow Association and its goal of turning such per formances into fundraising opportunities for the students who participate. MNext year, instead of it being people from Greensboro and Charlotte com-, ing, people from Nashville, Ten nessee will be driving or from Washington, D.C. because they know we have the top stepteams who are putting in and dedicating the time," he said. He likens the competition and the interest the association is trying to generate to sports competitions such as basketball.. The resulting two scholar ships will be awarded this fall, he added. One will be given to an African-American male to attend Wake Forest University. "We're trying to gel more black males in," Belion explained. Given the success of the lat est stepshow, the NSA is consid ering becoming a fulltime opera tion with a director, Belton said. < 'f ' V, \ ' \ . ? . - - Photo by Keith Belton Alphas from University of Virginia were crowdpleasers with their precision routines. The future goal is threefold: providing technical assis ^ tancc to other groups and organizations who want to put on stepshow competitions, to attract better steptcams to those areas that already hold shows, and to enhance the existing stcpshows through association with major cor , poratc sponsors. "We have to be able to market ourselves," Bclton said. The bottom line is to make money and put the ? money to work in the black community in the form of ; scholarships. Belton sees the stepshows and ? fraternity/sorority involvement as ways to make the Greek presence more meaningful in the African-Ameri can community. "It shows that black college students can. make a difference . . . Black Greeks can make a positive impact . . display a positive culture for younger blacks." OUR FOLKS IN THE PERSIAN GULF By PATRICIA SMITH-DEERINO iOirhmunity New* Editor '$$$$ ? : % ?: it's not often that childhood friends can take their relationship right on through an experience that makes the two of them "I ?i : we were going to kill some people," he said in describing his reaction to the fight ing. But, he had a job to do aid he did it, he added. Like so many otiieis in the war, Lester Speas and Chuck Speas both matured as a Photo by LB Spea* Jr. Lester B. Sp?as III (right), who was on the U.S.S. Wisconsin, 8S *** from ,h? U-S.S. Sarato 10 *om* ,lm* OW now that they're back from the Persian Gulf. result of their experience* Of the time from August 7 until his ship pulled 1 felt kind of strange because I knew five them (CNN) too much leeway," he said, adding, "If the people in the United States were seeing it, you know Iraq was seeing it." Since he's been hack, Seaman Speas said he has had difficulty sleeping and gat ing and getting his body readjusted to the time 2one here; He said the feeling of power that he and his fellow servicemen and women had is somethingbe atso has to deal with, being in a position that gave them such an advantage over the Iraqi furthering his education. He plans on being an electrical engineer saying, "That's where the money is." He is also | keenly aware that educa lion is critical for African*Americans. And he believes his own edu cation was enhanced by his time in the Persian Gulf, especially what he leanied about the history of his own people and himself. He said; "You learn a lot . . . It's been good. I can go through anything." At the same time that Seaman S peas was landing at the port ip Norfolk^ his cousin Chqck was pulling into port in Florida on the U. S. S. S ara toga , As ilfc two, who had *been friends and rogues in high school, recounted their baule stories in the Persian Gulf, they both laughed at one thing they .-.-sax ? :r*'^ -VTW^ ,:^**^5v ' - v J Photo by L B Speas Jr. The u.s.s. Wisconsin pulls into port In Norfolk, Va. tor the last time begfore It's retired from service. ' * V J ' 5 J - - welcome home LESTtR \ -l"vvx:^,s ^lWSI^Ss^r Photo by LB. Speas Jr. ?ftfimtng-mtriii frnmHie Pmlm ftnlt liteawan nines I? lili ri)iatiiilll pmHi family members (l-r): Chartlse Miller, Christina Miller, Lillian Speas, Eliza beth Speas, and Doris Eld ridge. shared since the time they both shipped but to war: "Wc thought we were going on a six-month cruise and it turned out to be an ! eight-month war," they said. ?- r One of the most critical things they J learned as they both agreed is that African- i Americans can benefit from the experience they both had in terms of what bfe&ks have contributed to mankind* Seaman Speas said, "Black kids today don't know any* thing about their black history. ! teamed ft | lot about my own people." ********** {Editor's Note: Although the war has been officially declared ended, we are acut&y aware that the Persian Gulf remains an imminent concern until the last servicemen and women are back home with their iov&i ones. Their families continue toneedthe support and prayers of the community. This column wilt be devoted jis each returns home. 723-8428 J -