College days swiftly pass
imbued with mem'ries fond
and the recollection slowly fades away...
- The Fraternity Hymn

The membership of the Iota Beta Chapter (IB) started out small, but continued to grow and thrive, reaching an average membership of 21 active Brothers each school year. The Chapter has always striven to hold high the light of Alpha Phi Alpha. The Chapter played an instrumental role in the lives of University students and residents of the Charlottesville/Abermarle communities. Below is a summary of the many programs and projects that Iota Beta has undertaken annually, between 1974 and 1992.

Programs & Projects:

	Go to High School, Go to College 

	Rev. Arthur J. Only Scholarship

	Upward Bound Program

	Day Care Santa Claus

	Bloomfield Center for the Handicapped

	Kluge Rehabilitation Center

	Ronald McDonald House

	Virginia Department of Transportation's 
        Adopt a Highway Program

	Charlottesville Housing Improvement Program (CHIP)

	Abermarle Housing Improvement Program (AHIP)

	American Lung Association

	Virginia Lung Association

	Muscular Dystrophy Drive

	Sponsor of Local Family at Thanksgiving

	West Haven Community Center

	Kemite Step Team

	University of Virginia Alumni Association Phonathon

        Black Student's Guide to Charlottesville

	The Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Service
	
        Madison House
	 
        Old Gold News
	
        Golden Angel Court

	Annual Fall Formal Blockshow

	The Annual Golden Affair

As Alumni of IB, we are proud of all of our endeavors to be "servants of all." We are especially proud of our efforts to uplift the youth of the community. In this spirit we maintained the "Rev. Arthur J. Only Scholarship," which is named after our former Chapter advisor who has entered the Omega Chapter. Since inception IB has recognized outstanding high school students in the Charlottesville/Abermarle community by awarding a $500 scholarship to help them with the cost of books and other incidentals. The students were selected on the basis of their cumulative GPA, community activities, and an application which included an essay.

"Go to High School, Go to College" was part of the Alpha national initiative in 1990 and 1991. IB Brothers went to local high schools to spread the message that an education was the best way to avoid the traps that so many young people face daily. We established a relationship with area high school youth and even brought them to the University to see for themselves what college life had to offer.

Also in the spirit of uplifting the youth, the Brothers became heavily involved in the West Haven Community Center in 1990. West Haven is a safe place for young Black children in Charlottesville to go after school and on weekends to engage in constructive activities that are both fun and educational. Although we held several organized service projects there on the weekends, Brothers loved working with the kids so much that many went on their own time after class during the week. This relationship ultimately led to the formation of the "Kemite Step Team." The kids loved to see us step, and we loved to perform for them. Some of the kids emulated the moves of the Brothers. Under the guidance of Bro. Michael Ellison (5-IB-S90) the Kemite Step Team was formed. The Kemites performed at the University's 1991 Spring Fling and received thunderous applause from the captivated audience. For our efforts on Grounds at UVA, our service to the Charlottesville/Abermarle community, and our mission to represent Alpha Phi Alpha to the fullest, we received the following recognition between 1974 and 1992:

Awards & Honors:

	Inter-Fraternity Council Service Award
	
	Annual Tradition of Brothers Living on "The Lawn"

	UVA Greek Man of the Year Award

	State & Regional Chapter of the Year

	State & Regional Best New College Brother

	Best Chapter Development

	VACAPAF Step Champions (1990-1992)

        Eastern Regional Step Champions (1990-1991)

	National Step Association (NSA) Step Champions (1991)

        Assisted in the Charter of the Iota Alpha Chapter 
        at George Mason University (Fairfax County, Virginia) 

Of all the awards listed above, there is no question that the Brothers hold the University of Virginia Inter-Fraternity Council Service Award in highest regard. IB made it a goal at the beginning of each school year to win that award, and this attitude paid-off as we brought it home an unprecedented 12 times in 18 years (1974-1992.)

The Brothers are also proud of the awards for our stepping-abilities. The Chapter had a long tradition of outstanding formal blockshows. Our step masters are legendary at the University of Virginia, throughout the fraternity, and even with other organizations! Iota Beta's most noted step-masters include Bros. Dwayne Brake (1-IB-S84), Marc "Coop" Cooper (7-IB-S86), Leonard Spady (5-IB-S88), and Michael Ellison (5-IB-S90.) Under the guidance of Bro. Leonard Spady, IB was able to transform its epic Blockshows into quick-hitting, routines for competition which resulted in the 1991 NSA National Step Championship.

Brothers have also served the University in the capacity of faculty, such as Bro. Allen Saunders (1-IB-F80) in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences' Minority Programs Office. Bro. Saunders was the Director for several years. Brothers have always upheld a tradition of leadership, in common with the history of Alpha Phi Alpha. IB Bros. have been leaders in Black Greek Affairs, Black Student Alliance, Young Democrats, National Society of Black Engineers, and Student Council. Outside of the University our Alumni have gone on to successfully represent the University of Virginia and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. in every walk of life. Our Alumni Bros., who form a tight-knit network in and of themselves, have endeavored to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects, teachers, preachers, business consultants, entrepreneurs, musicians, artists, actors, politicians, and community leaders. Many Bros. are also in the process of advancing their education on the graduate level, while pursuing Master's and Ph.D. degrees.