Alpha Phi Alpha Invests in Student Success at MSU Denver, Strengthening Pathways for Campus Scholars
Demonstrating more than a century-long commitment to scholarship and service, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. made a generous investment in student success initiatives at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) during a surprise grant presentation on Feb. 6.
Reinforcing its longstanding focus academic excellence, a $17,000 contribution was presented by the fraternity’s Denver Alumni Chapter, Delta Psi Lambda, and supported by leadership within the Western Region. The gift will fund academic enrichment, leadership development and monetary support aimed at expanding opportunity for Black students.
The announcement followed a celebratory gathering on campus, marking what fraternity members described as “the gift of education.”
“This investment will help strengthen academic enrichment initiatives, leadership development opportunities and student support efforts that remove barriers and open doors,” said Blair Lee, a member of the Chapter. Taking pride in the fraternity’s dedication to supporting student success, he expressed excitement for the continued partnership between Alpha Phi Alpha and MSU Denver, and its impact on the next generation of leaders.
Building a Stronger Campus Ecosystem
According to Javon Brame, president of the Delta Psi Lambda Chapter, the intention of the contribution extends beyond short-term programming.
“Our hope is to help support MSU Denver in strengthening the ecosystem that will ultimately breed successful educational pathways for Black students who matriculate through its programs for generations to come,” he said.
A native of Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood, Brame is a consultant, philanthropist, educator and change agent, whose philanthropic impact has strengthened Colorado communities for over a decade. He is engaged in various community and professional organizations, and is founding advisory board member for the Black Resilience in Colorado (BRIC) Fund and the AYA Foundation.
“Alpha Phi Alpha has been active in Colorado since 1921,” he shared with Colorado and Company (CO & CO) host, Tory Shulman, earlier this month. “We’ve done so much work to uplift the community and provide service to community. …When we come together and make collective impact there are great outcomes for our community.”
Alpha Phi Alpha’s $17,000 contribution will support a range of campus initiatives, including mentorship and retention efforts through the university’s Brother to Brother program, engagement efforts connected to Black faculty and staff, expanded scholarship opportunities and increased visibility for organizations within the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), commonly known as the “Divine Nine.”
Fraternity leaders emphasized that creating affinity-based spaces and bolstering mentorship networks are critical components of improving completion rates. With a high percentage of first-generation and historically underrepresented students, MSU Denver’s campus ecosystem requires intentional investment in support systems that help students persist through academic and personal challenges.
Frederick Jackson, Alpha Phi Alpha’s Western Regional Vice President said, “We are proud to partner with MSU Denver in advancing student support, strengthening affinity-based community, elevating awareness of NPHC organizations and expanding scholarship opportunities that help students thrive.”
By strengthening peer networks, faculty connections and access, the partnership affirms the fraternity’s committment to supporting clear, sustainable pathways to graduation and early career success.
The Rocky Mountain District of Alpha Phi Alpha echoed that commitment in a public statement, noting: “The Rocky Mountain District of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. proudly presents a grant to MSU Denver – continuing our commitment to education, excellence and community impact.”
A Brotherhood Born of Scholarship
Founded in December 1906 at Cornell University, Alpha Phi Alpha became the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men.
The organization was created during an era of racial exclusion in higher education, and emerged as a support system and platform for intellectual achievement, civic engagement and collective advancement.
Over time, Alpha Phi Alpha has counted among its members influential leaders across every sector, including the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, American philosopher and political activist Dr. Cornel West, entertainers Duke Ellington and Keenan Ivory Wayans and countless educators, legislators, entrepreneurs and civic leaders.
The fraternity’s guiding motto – “First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All” – continues to shape its mission. Through scholarship programs, mentoring initiatives, voter education efforts and community partnerships, Alpha Phi Alpha’s work reflects the same core principle that defined its origin: the belief that education is both a pathway to individual success and a cornerstone of collective progress.
An Ongoing National Commitment
The Colorado award is part of a larger national strategy to bolster access and institutional support at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and other Minority-Serving Institutions.
In a recent announcement, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. reported earmarking $600,000 in giving and scholarships for HBCUs and majority-minority institutions nationwide Alpha Phi Alpha Awards. The funding reflects a coordinated effort to strengthen educational pipelines, expand student retention efforts and provide direct financial support to learners navigating rising costs of higher education.
“Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is committed to its mission of promoting academic excellence,” said General President Lucien J. Mettelus, Jr. “These contributions are aimed at helping to somewhat offset the loss of educational support for disenfranchised students due to cuts in federal funding at these institutions as well as due to the dismantling of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) opportunities in higher education.”
The fraternity has provided contributions to Tuskegee University, Paine College, Central State University, Wilberforce University, Jackson State National Alumni Association Inc. and more.
Education as Collective Responsibility
For MSU Denver, the partnership reinforces the importance of collaborative investment in student achievement. The highly diverse, accessible and urban-focused public university serves a great deal of commuters, adult learners and non-traditional students with one of the lowest four-year tuitions in the state.
Fraternity members in attendance emphasized that while the $17,000 grant delivers measurable resources, its broader impact lies in sustained engagement, including mentorship, advocacy and visible partnership between alumni and current students.
As institutions nationwide contend with financial pressures and evolving student needs, Alpha Phi Alpha’s latest investment positions education as a shared civic responsibility. Celebrating 120 years in December, the recent contribution reflects an enduring commitment to ensuring that future generations of Black students thrive on campus, equipped with the leadership, confidence and community support to shape the institutions and communities they will eventually lead.
