Theta Phi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. dedication affirms roots and future growth in the heart of campus
Five decades after becoming Virginia Tech’s first Black sorority, the alumnae of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. have spread more roots on the Blacksburg campus.
Members and alumnae of the Theta Phi Chapter gathered on Quillen Spirit on Saturday, April 11, 2026 to dedicate a commemorative bench and tree, cementing a legacy of service, leadership, and sisterhood that began on May 4, 1974.
Placed outside D2 dining hall, a historic gathering spot for Divine Nine new member presentations, the living monument honors the chapter’s ongoing impact while marking a new chapter for campus recognition.
"As the first Black Greek-letter sorority established at this institution, Theta Phi not only broke barriers, but it also laid a foundation of excellence, service, and sisterhood that continues to shape generations," said Kimberly Gunter Bell '94. Bell said that the bench and tree will serve as "lasting tributes to legacy, growth, and enduring sisterhood."
The national Alpha Kappa Alpha organization, founded in 1908 at Howard University, holds a historic standard as the nation's first sorority for Black college-educated women. At Virginia Tech, that cultural leadership translated into over 50 years of community engagement, leadership, and service across Blacksburg and the New River Valley.
For chapter alumnae, the installation bridges the sorority’s founding principles with the university’s mission.
"With deep gratitude for the experiences and sisterhood that shaped us at Virginia Tech, we dedicate this bench and tree as a lasting tribute to Theta Phi’s legacy of scholarship, service, and sisterhood," said Fredericke Stewart '95. "Representing reflection and growth, they embody our lifelong commitment to Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) and stand as an enduring gift to inspire future generations."
The ceremony also signaled a broader transformation for Quillen Spirit Plaza. Chandler Crean, assistant director for Fraternity and Sorority Life at Virginia Tech, said the dedication helps fulfill a vision for the plaza as an expanded permanent presence for all Divine Nine historically Black fraternities and sororities.
"Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first organization to bring this vision to light," Crean said to attending alumnae. "Because of your leadership, this space now begins to take shape in a way that honors both tradition and future possibility."
Crean said future opportunities will allow other Divine Nine organizations to add their own benches and trees to the space.
The dedication comes during a high-water mark for the university’s National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), which recently celebrated a record 108 members at Virginia Tech and the active presence of eight out of the nine chapters.
"Your investment ensures that future generations will see themselves reflected in this campus and understand the powerful legacy they are a part of," Crean said. "This bench and tree will stand as a lasting reminder that the legacy of Alpha Kappa Alpha and the Divine Nine is alive, thriving, and deeply rooted here at Virginia Tech."
