AN URGENT RISE TO ACTION: Alpha Rho Chapter Alumni Launches $500,000 Campaign To Provide Gap+ Last Mile scholarships For Morehouse College Students Impacted By Federal Funding Cuts
- APCAA Staff
- 20 hours ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 15 minutes ago
Bro. Rev. Otis Moss Jr. Provides Essential Campaign Focus And Brotherhood Appeal As Alpha Rho Chapter Responds To Challenge From New Morehouse College President F. DuBois Bowman '92
APCAA Staff
The Alpha Rho Chapter Alumni Association (APCAA) proudly announces the launch of its Second Century Scholarship Campaign, a bold and necessary initiative designed to safeguard the educational futures of Morehouse College students in the face of looming financial challenges.
With federal grant and loan programs for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) potentially facing significant reductions, this new campaign aims to provide critical gap and last-mile scholar awards, ensuring that no promising student is forced to pause or abandon their Morehouse journey due to financial shortfalls. The campaign is a proactive response to a shifting higher education funding landscape and a reaffirmation of the APCAA’s enduring commitment to Morehouse excellence.
With some 824 members worldwide, Alpha Rho Men have established the "Gold standard" for affinity group fundraising for the college — but APCAA's Second Century Scholarship Campaign is not just a fund — it is a legacy. Since 2014, APCAA has raised more than $2.8 million through initiatives such as the 90th Anniversary Fund, APCAA Endowed Fund, Centennial Campaign, MLK Jr. Chapel Cherishing Campaign, and various member-endowed funds.
These efforts have consistently addressed education-related concerns with targeted, impactful philanthropy.
ADAPTING A GRASSROOTS STRATEGY FROM
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT LEGEND BRO. REV. OTIS MOSS JR.
Blending the “call to action” spirit embodied by legendary civil rights leaders such as Bro. Rev. Otis Moss, Jr. in the 1960s with today’s “rise to action” mantra embraced by APCAA is both a symbolic and strategic alignment of values across generations. Bro. Moss, who helped mobilize voices for justice during one of America’s most turbulent eras, understood the power of collective responsibility and purposeful action. By invoking that same ethos in the current moment, APCAA channels a legacy of leadership into a tangible framework for sustaining Morehouse College’s future. This approach resonates deeply because it ties the courage of the past to the opportunities of today, reminding alumni and supporters that advocacy, sacrifice, and unity remain as vital now as they were then.
In rallying around Morehouse College President Dr. F. DuBois Bowman, APCAA’s strategy not only honors the enduring lessons of leaders like Moss but also demonstrates how the Brotherhood is evolving to meet the demands of a new century.
Bro. Moss’s endorsement of the 2nd Century Scholarship Campaign, along with his recorded messaging to inspire alumni participation, provides a powerful continuity that bridges generations of Morehouse Men. His voice, revered and trusted, amplifies the urgency of giving and elevates the campaign’s credibility, while APCAA’s “rise to action” call makes it clear that the time to invest is now.
Together, this intergenerational strategy creates a strong moral and institutional imperative: to equip Morehouse College with the resources it needs, and to ensure that deserving students are not denied access to its legacy of excellence because of financial barriers.
ALPHA RHO'S LEGACY IN DELIVERING SCHOLARSHIP SOLUTIONS FOR MOREHOUSE COLLEGE UNDERGRADUATES
Since 2023, the Alpha Rho Chapter Alumni Association (APCAA) has advanced the BOLD Scholarship Campaign with remarkable momentum, positioning it as one of the chapter’s most impactful initiatives to date. Building upon its legacy of alumni giving and collective brotherhood, APCAA has expanded the reach of the campaign to secure resources dedicated to removing financial barriers for incoming students.
“As we mark our 10th Anniversary, APCAA is sharpening its scholarship strategy to ensure that we not only respond to today’s needs but anticipate tomorrow’s challenges,” said Bro. BMaynard Scarborough, President of the Alpha Rho Chapter Alumni Association. “In an HBCU landscape that is becoming increasingly complex — where shifts in federal policy and funding priorities threaten to narrow pathways for access — we are evolving our approach to create financial workarounds that protect opportunity for Morehouse men. Our charge is clear: to remove barriers, sustain excellence, and keep the door to Morehouse open for every deserving young man, regardless of the obstacles set before him.”
By setting ambitious targets and mobilizing both long-standing and newly engaged members, the BOLD Scholarship Campaign has not only strengthened the chapter’s philanthropic culture but has also underscored APCAA’s commitment to sustaining Morehouse College’s tradition of excellence. The campaign’s growth demonstrates how alumni-led vision can drive tangible results, providing a bridge between the chapter’s centennial celebrations and its 10th anniversary milestone.
The campaign’s success has become a decisive factor in shaping the educational journey of prospective Morehouse men. For many incoming freshmen, the availability of BOLD Scholarship support has directly determined their ability to enroll and begin their collegiate careers at the College. The scholarship has thus become more than a financial resource — it is a strategic intervention that safeguards opportunity, equity, and access at a critical moment in a young man’s academic life. Through the BOLD Scholarship Campaign, APCAA has affirmed its role not just as a steward of Alpha Rho’s history but as an active architect of Morehouse’s future.
2ND CENTURY SCHOLARSHIP CAMPAIGN HONORS PAST LEADERSHIP DONORS AS WE BUILD NEW PATHS TO STUDENT SUCCESS
To honor the extraordinary leadership and philanthropy that has powered previous campaigns, the Second Century Scholarship Campaign introduces distinguished donor levels named for five influential Alpha Rho brothers: E. David Ballard II (Fall 1974), Darrell L. Crapps (Fall 1987), Gordon D. Greenwood (Spring 1984), Gregory T. Burrell (Spring 1987), and James S. Brown (Fall 2013). These namesake society levels celebrate the enduring vision and generosity of these alumni while inspiring a new generation of brothers to give with purpose and pride.
As part of the 10th Anniversary celebration, APCAA is honoring campaign donors with premium gifts that both fuel the scholarship mission and commemorate this milestone in the chapter’s history. Supporters will have the opportunity to claim one of only 100 limited-edition Black Granite Bricks, sourced from the same Zimbabwean quarry that produced the distinguished Alpha Rho 90th Anniversary Memorial Obelisk — an enduring symbol of strength and legacy.
In addition, APCAA is introducing the first-ever Alpha Rho Chapter Brotherhood ChapBadge, a finely crafted emblem engraved with each brother’s personalized APID number, making it a timeless keepsake of belonging and pride.
Together, these gifts blend the power of giving with tangible symbols of heritage, ensuring that every donor’s contribution is forever linked to the advancement of scholarships and the celebration of Alpha Rho’s alumni legacy.
As a federally recognized 501(c)(3) public charity, the APCAA ensures that 100% of all contributions are tax-deductible, offering donors both confidence and benefit in their giving. The Second Century Scholarship Campaign stands as a "rise to action" — for Alpha Rho brothers, friends of Morehouse, and supporters of Black educational empowerment everywhere — to invest in the minds and futures that will shape the next hundred years.
The new campaign builds upon our legacy, reinforcing APCAA's position as a leader in alumni-driven support for Morehouse College and its students. Together, we will continue to rise to the challenge and continue a legacy of excellence, equity, and brotherhood.
Here's a look back on all that we've accomplished since 1924 ... with a special emphasis on the first 10 years of APCAA:
![APCAA Readies Second Century Scholarship Campaign For Morehouse College Students With Endorsement Collab With Rev. Bro. Otis Moss Jr. [Fall 1955]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f6124a_33df836e7483421dad0b2647cf2c10fa~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1055,h_583,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/f6124a_33df836e7483421dad0b2647cf2c10fa~mv2.jpg)
![APCAA Readies Second Century Scholarship Campaign For Morehouse College Students With Endorsement Collab With Rev. Bro. Otis Moss Jr. [Fall 1955]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f6124a_33df836e7483421dad0b2647cf2c10fa~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_152,h_84,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/f6124a_33df836e7483421dad0b2647cf2c10fa~mv2.jpg)
