ZKL Education Foundation to award $18,000 in scholarships during Black & Gold Ball on May 11

Five Des Moines-area high school students will receive a total of $18,000 in scholarships during the Zeta Kappa Lamda Education Foundation’s Black & Gold Scholarship Ball on May 11. The Zeta Kappa Lambda (ZKL) chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. formed the foundation to support its youth programs and scholarship, according to the website.

The black-tie event, which features dinner and entertainment, is the organization’s annual fundraiser. The ball will be held from 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at the Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel. The cost is $75.

The scholarship winners are:

College scholars: Ferdinand Alobo, Nya Bottley and Jaren Obia

High school scholars: Pleyiwon Forfor and Paul Ouya

Phil Hall, the foundation’s executive director, said the organization operates mentoring programs, college tours and the college scholarship program for students in the greater Des Moines metro. He said the organization’s goal is to provide meaningful awards to the scholars, and students have discretion over how to spend the awards.

“You have to make the scholarship meaningful to a kid so that it actually reduces what they have to pay: tuition, board or whatever,” he said. 

The foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1995. About 12-15 volunteers work with the students.

“It’s strictly a labor of love for the people who do this — the brothers that show up for mentoring,” Hall said. “It’s all volunteer time.” 

And, it matters.

“I feel like we are making a difference,” said Hall. “The kids tell us that . . . and we can see some transformation in some of these kids, too. Just their attitude about school, setting goals and their behavior, dress, everything.”

The scholarships are awarded to “ethnically diverse” kids, he said. The recipients will accept their scholarships during the gala and give a short speech.

“Some of them may never have had that opportunity to speak in front of an audience, and so that’s an experience for them. We try to say that this might be the first of many, many times you have to do that,” he said.

Past scholarship recipients have primarily attended Iowa schools, but some have attended HBCU’s (historically Black colleges and universities). 

“We also want our employers that are sponsors to feel like this could be future talent for them,” Hall said. 

Some students who attend the organization’s college tours have never been on a college campus, so the group’s mentoring and other programming are needed, Hall said. 

The organization will also announce the 2024 Alpha Award of Merit honoree during the gala — the Des Moines NAACP. 

“The more people sitting at the gala, the more money goes into the fund,” to help future students, Hall said. 

Tickets are on sale until 11:59 p.m. on May 10. For more information, email info@zkl06.org. The organization accepts donations.