The month of March is not ordinarily rush time to get new members for college sororities and fraternities, but the Lambda Mu Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority (AKA) has a special rush going on.

        The small chapter of 19 women at Miami University is rushing to help the national sorority mentor and tutor 20,000 at-risk schoolkids by the end of the year.

        Those are the goals set in the sorority's ONTRACK program, started three years ago. ONTRACK means organizing, nurturing, team-building, respecting, achieving which adds up to knowledge.

        AKA chapters nationwide are involved in the program.

        “We are mentoring and offering tutoring for a family of six children,” said Kristel Herzog, first vice president of the chapter.

        She said it has been more fun than work. Brenda Churchman, a single mother, and her six children, are like sorority members to the chapter.

        “We help the students with their classroom work, but we also involve the family in many activities and outings in this area,” Ms. Herzog said.

        It is not unusual to see the sorority members gather with Mrs. Churchman and her children, Shanta, 19; Tyeka, 18; Marquita, 17; Mary, 10; Keshia, 6; and the lone son, Keenan, 4, and head for a movie, a football game, a picnic or to church.

        “I love it,” Ms. Herzog said. “And I think it is going to have great benefit for the children.”

        Ms. Herzog said even though the program ends this year when the goal is reached, the chapter will continue working with the family.

        “They need black women to look up to. There aren't that many black women in this area. That is why we feel we should continue to network with them,” Ms. Herzog said.

        The chapter will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a banquet at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Shriver Center on the Miami University campus.

        “We are bringing Mrs. Churchman and four of the children to the banquet,” said Grace Daniels, a volunteer adviser to the chapter.

        Ms. Daniels, a member of the Sigma Omega graduate chapter of AKA, is a history teacher and chairman of the Special Education Department at Taft High School.

        “The chapter has been doing lots of work with the National Council of Negro Women, the NAACP and the United Negro College Fund,” Ms. Daniels said.
       • • • Students at McAuley High School in College Hill welcomed their grandparents to a Mass and brunch in the school cafeteria on St. Patrick's Day. A total of 447 grandparents attended.

        Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.

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