from the desk of Madam regional director

Soror Anika Wilson Starling

Mid-Western Regional Director

Thank You!

Dear Mid-Western Sorors,

Let us once again recognize the 95th Mid-Western Regional Conference Chairman, Soror Ashley Stewart; Honorary Chairman and 30th Mid-Western Regional Director, Soror Twyla Woods-Buford; Co-Chairmen of the Conference, Soror Audrian Galbert and Soror Diamond Bronson—as well as the members of Iota Zeta Omega, the Steering Committee Leadership, and the more than 800 sorors of Cluster C—for their dedication in orchestrating a sisterly good time in Des Moines, Iowa. Their efforts created an experience that will be cherished for years to come.

I would be remiss if I did not also extend my deepest gratitude to the Mid-Western Region Executive Pink Print Team, a devoted group of sorors who work tirelessly behind the scenes to support the Region and your Regional Director. Their strategic leadership not only contributed to the success of this conference but also ensures the seamless operation of all regional affairs.

It truly takes a village, and I am profoundly thankful for all those who contribute to making the Mid-Western Region more poised, packed and polished.

Sisterly,

Soror Anika Wilson Starling

Mid-Western Regional Director

undergraduate corner

Spring 2025 Skee-Week - Diner 1908

Soror Quianna E.E. Christian

Second Supreme Anti-Basileus

Dear Sorors,

As we prepare for Spring 2025, let’s gear up for an incredible week of sisterhood and service during Skee-Week, April 7–13, 2025. This year’s theme, “Diner 1908 – Serving Sisterhood and Service in Style”, is a creative celebration of our commitment to our communities and one another. Each day offers a unique opportunity to embody our purpose:

Monday, April 7 – Empower Our Families™: "Family Brunch: Empowering Generations"
Tuesday, April 8 – Building Our Economic Wealth™: "The Wealthy Plate: Building Economic Strength"
Wednesday, April 9 – Enhance Our Environment™: "Green Garden Special: Enhancing Our Environment"
Thursday, April 10 – Advocate for Social Justice™: "Justice Brew: Advocating for Change"
Friday, April 11 – Uplift Our Local Community™: "Hometown Favorites: Uplifting the Community"
Saturday, April 12 – Strengthen Our Sisterhood™: "Sisterhood Sundaes"
Sunday, April 13 – "Soaring in Faith and Elegance"

The Undergraduate Activities Committee (UAC) is looking forward to seeing you undertake this administration’s initiatives. Please continue to tag us on Instagram at @aka_uac and on Facebook at AKA Undergraduates. We want to highlight your amazing programs on our social media pages. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to the Mid-Western Region Representative to the Undergraduate Activities Committee, Soror Brooke Bryant (Brooke.bryant13103@gmail.com).

With Sisterly Love,

Soror Quianna E.E. Christian

Second Supreme Anti-Basileus

NABA Inc. Scholarship Application

Now Open!

The 2025 National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Inc. Scholarship Program Application is now open! This is your chance to access financial support as you pursue a career in accounting, finance, business, or entrepreneurship—fields that align with NABA’s mission to elevate talent, foster innovation, and strengthen our professional community.

This opportunity is available exclusively to NABA student members, and the best part, membership is completely FREE! Join NABA today to unlock access to scholarships, professional development, mentorship, and networking opportunities that will elevate your future.

Key Dates:

Applications open: February 28, 2025
Applications close: April 11, 2025
Recipients announced: Early July
Scholarships disbursed: Late July/Early August

Tips for a Standout Application:

Highlight your leadership experience, academic achievements, and community involvement that reflect your commitment to excellence.
Ensure your application is clear and polished by having someone review it before submission.

Don’t miss this opportunity to advance your career and join NABA in shaping the future of business leadership. Learn more and apply at nabainc.org/scholarships.

Interested in supporting NABA’s scholarships and empowering future leaders? Learn more about investing in the scholarship program here.

mid-western Region events

register now for aka day at the capitol

This year’s theme is “The Power of the Ivy: Advancing Justice and Equity Through Advocacy”. Now more than ever, our presence is required to raise our voices. The communities we serve expect us to show up, stand in the gap, and advocate for issues vital to them. Our Ancestors resisted oppression, and so shall we. Let's show up as Alpha Kappa Alpha Women have for the past 117 years.

Rescheduled - Missouri Registration: https://form.jotform.com/mwrtechteamaka/missouri-aka-day-at-the-capitol

The deadline to register is Sunday, April 20, 2025.

Oklahoma Registration: https://form.jotform.com/mwrtechteamaka/oklahoma-aka-day-at-the-capitol

The deadline to register is Friday, April 18, 2025.

Note for "Missouri AKA Day at the Capitol" Previously Registered Attendees:

Your registration will automatically carry over to the new date—no further action is needed. We look forward to seeing you there!

mid-western Region news

spring and summer

2025 graduation survey

Spring is a time reminiscent of new growth and inspiration. It is also a time to celebrate. Graduation represents the culmination of a student’s hard work. It is a moment of celebration, joy, and pride as graduates embark on their next adventure. If you are graduating with your undergraduate or graduate degree in Spring or Summer 2025, we would like to recognize you.

Please complete the brief survey below to be recognized in our May newsletters. All entries must be received by Saturday May 3, 2025.

Click here to submit your information: https://forms.gle/5bBtqp74SVf3ynAdA

let's do it again!

The theme of the 95th Mid-Western Regional Conference was “The Pink Print Relays: On Track to Soar”. During the First Plenary Session, Madam Regional Director announced that all Former Mid-Western Regional Directors that have an endowment have been fully endowed. However, we have one endowment that has not been met: Soror Gayle P. Miles Scott, Former Supreme Tamiouchos.

Sorors, we have received the charge, and it is time to carry the baton. $15,209.29 is needed to endow the Gayle P. Miles Scott Endowment. If at least 800 sorors can commit to giving $19.08, we can endow Soror Gayle’s fund.

Click here to donate $19.08: https://donate.akaeaf.org/pages/endowment-donation-form-a-d?fid=X9e990x6QEk%3d&fdesc=IU7xV153nYI%3d

Mid-Western Region

Diamond Digest Newsletter

Greetings Mid-Western Region Sorors,

Thank you for choosing Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation, Inc. as your philanthropic partner.

This year marks the 45th Anniversary of AKA EAF and we are proud to continue "Soaring to Greater Heights of Academic Achievement" with the Mid-Western Region! Congratulations to all MWR chapters that reached a level of Silver, Gold or Platinum within the first month of 2025. You have set the bar for contributions, and we are thankful to all of you for rising to the challenge.

Congratulations also to all scholarship winners who hail from your region. Our students work hard every day, and we are pleased to support their higher academic goals.

Please feel free to visit our website at www.akaeaf.org to download forms, obtain information about our scholarship programs or learn more about our Foundation.

Click Here to download the Mid-Western Region Diamond Digest Newsletter.

Yours In Scholarship and Service,

Erika V. Everett, EAF Executive Director

MID-WESTERN REGION HISTORY UPDATE

Greetings Sorors:

The past few years we have lived “history in the making”. It is our goal to update our history by documenting the Mid-Western Region’s response to this time of challenge. This period of time could have resulted in our not providing any service at all, but Mid-Western stepped up and found a way to serve. In fact, the Region not only stayed engaged, we also once again led the way in several areas for Alpha Kappa Alpha to continue to move forward in service and sisterhood. The story deserves and needs to be documented and told. Our Regional Director, Soror Anika Wilson Starling, has authorized an update to our Region’s History.

The history will also update some events and members that may not have been included in previous editions of the history book. It is an honor and a privilege for me to be asked to do so. Assisting me in this project is Golden Soror Martha Carpenter, researcher extraordinaire. We are in the process of collecting data that captures how the Mid-Western Region responded to and rose above the storm created by the pandemic. Obviously, your help is both needed and desired in order to effectively do the job. Please help by supplying information from your chapter covering the years 2020 to the present. Graduate Advisors, you may need to help the undergraduates since those who were in the undergraduate chapters in 2020 are no longer there.

Each chapter should submit everything by May 1, 2025. Click here to Access the Form

Information needed from all chapters (expand for more details)

Here is a list of the information needed from all chapters:

2020 Founders’ Day Information
- Theme for that year
- Speaker for that year
- Date it was held
- Identify all Chapters that participated
Chapters that celebrated 25, 50 or 100 anniversaries in 2020. Indicate what plans were, whether they were carried out and how.
Programs carried out during in 2020 during the “lockdown”. Include the method of delivery and impact. Indicate how this differed from before the shut-down.
Names of Diamond, Pearl and Golden Sorors who reached the level between 2020 and 2025. A brief bio sketch may be included.
Names of IBTW from 2020 to 2025. Again, a very brief bio may be included.
Identify how the chapter reached out in sisterhood during 2020. How was it different from before the lockdown and finally if it continued, returned to pre-pandemic or how it was different. What programs actions carried over?
Names of Cluster Coordinators from your chapter from 2009 forward to 2025. (These were not fully recognized in previous history editions, and we want to correct that omission.)

There is also a sheet attached that may be completed by individual sorors with their personal reflections of the time during the pandemic and immediately after. Please submit everything by May 1, 2025.

Click here to Access the Form

This is a firm deadline. The History Update will be released at the 96th Mid-Western Regional Conference. This means that the writing and revisions must be completed by November 2025 so that the manuscript can be submitted to the printer for it to be ready for release. Also please know that depending on how much data we receive, every picture may not get published. Also know that we will edit for clarity and to keep the flow of the manuscript.

Contributions may be emailed to me at dagines6010@gmail.com (preferred) or if bulky sent by regular mail to:

Soror Delorise Gines

19th Mid-Western Regional Director

8605 Ward Parkway

Kansas City, MO 64114-2602

Thanks for your participation,

Soror Delorise A. Gines

19th Mid-Western Regional Director

History Buff and new Pearl Soror

Soror Lai Andrea "Dee" Granger

Mid-Western Region Monthly Sisterly Spotlight

This month’s Sisterly Spotlight is shining on Soror Lai Andrea “Dee” Granger of the Alpha Epsilon Omega Chapter! Soror Debra Horsechief shared these sentiments about Soror Dee:

“Lai Andrea Granger models exceptional sisterly behavior by always being present and actively participates in all activities with a smile. Lai Andrea beams with God’s love and joy and spreads happiness throughout the Mid-Western Region. She demonstrates a welcoming and inviting spirit to all. She ensures that everyone has a feeling of acceptance, involvement, and belonging. She listens attentively with no judgment. Dee always speaks positively about others. She is a very genuine, kind, faithful, sweet, and loving person. Dee is the definition of sisterly relations.”

Congratulations, Soror Lai Andrea!

Do you want to shine a light on a soror who may not always be publicly recognized but exemplifies kindness, compassion, care, and a nurturing spirit in all they do? If so, submit your nomination by completing the Sisterly Spotlight Form. Please ensure the form is fully completed before submission. The committee will carefully review all nominations for accuracy. Eligible names will be entered into a monthly lottery, and one soror will be selected each month. General members' names are welcomed, as well. The selected soror and her sisterly acts will be submitted to Madam Regional Director for approval before being celebrated on social media. While a soror may be nominated multiple times, she can win only once per year. Photos are highly encouraged but not required.

Key Deadline: All nominations must be submitted by the 15th of each month.

our ivies

soror mary Mcdonald

Soror Mary McDonald became an Ivy Beyond the Wall on March 15, 2025. A Golden Soror, Soror Mary was a member of the Kappa Chi Omega Chapter in Columbia, Missouri.

MID-WESTERN REGION kudos

Soror Angela King Taylor

Angela King Taylor Named Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

at The University of Missouri

Soror Angela King Taylor has been named the University of Missouri’s (MU) Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs after a national search.

King Taylor has served as an Interim Vice Chancellor since June 2023 and will begin the permanent role immediately. King Taylor began working at MU in 2021 as Associate Dean of Students and has focused on student engagement and well-being. As she steps into the role, King Taylor said she plans to focus on enhancing student belonging, co-curricular learning and retention through high-impact practices.

Soror Angela is a member of the Kappa Chi Omega Chapter in Columbia, Missouri.

Congratulations, Soror Angela!

Credit: https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/mu-names-new-vice-chancellor-for-student-affairs/article_35729296-f9df-11ef-b1ca-43580cc624a2.html

If you would like to be recognized for your special day, please complete this brief survey.

Birthday Link

MID-WESTERN REGION style

REGION SCARVES

Sorors, signature scarves representing the Mid-Western Region are available for purchase. The scarves can be purchased as a set for $65.00 or separately for $35.00.

Purchase here

SOCIAL MEDIA

Sorors, make sure to stop by and visit our Facebook page and Instagram to keep up with what's going on in the Mid-Western Region!

YAPP!

Please join us on the Mid-Western Region’s official app, YAPP to get the latest news on the region, chapters, and events in your area. See you on the app!

reminders

IBTW Submissions

To ensure we capture all sorors that have now become an Ivy Beyond the Wall, a submission link has been created for ease of reporting. Ivy Beyond the Wall submissions should be provided by the Chapter Basilei as soon as the chapter is notified. Forms will be accepted for all sorors who have become an Ivy Beyond the Wall from the end of the 2024 Mid-Western Regional Conference through the end of the year. Please use the following link.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse