Freshman Emma Murphy bought a cupcake after she participated in the date auction. The proceeds from the auction and the bake sale will go to Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Chandra F. Pleasant scholarship.
The University of Memphis’ Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter hosted a Valentine’s carnival Tuesday to raise money for their sorority’s scholarship.
The Chandra F. Pleasant scholarship is awarded by AKA in honor of Chandra Pleasant, who was a U of M student and AKA member when she died in 1989. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a minority female who holds at least a 3.0 GPA. The scholarship will be awarded at AKA’s banquet later this spring.
The University Center’s Beale Room floor was covered in red and pink balloons, and the tables were decorated for the holiday with red tablecloths and Valentine’s ornamentation.
Students attending were both undergraduate and graduate students from AKA, other sororities, fraternities and other student organizations.
“We wanted a mixture of people,†said Traci Braden, the carnival’s organizer. Alexis Gregory, AKA’s chair, had the idea for the event. She said the event has been planned for a month, and the idea was her own.
Alpha Kappa Alpha raised money for their Chandra F. Pleasant scholarship Tuesday in the University Center through a Valentine’s Day Carnival. Monia Sanders, a junior studying alternative medicine, volunteered to work the bake sale.
“I wanted people to get in the Valentine’s Day spirit and help people find love,†said Gregory.
Pink lemonade and chocolate were served as refreshments for all who attended. There was a hugging and kissing booth that a few people took advantage of. However, there were not enough seats for all who attended.
To raise money, they had a bake sale and date auction. Fourteen students, both men and women were bid on in the auction. Bids ranged from $1 to $50.
Each student came up and gave a brief description about why they should be bid on. After each auction, pictures were taken of the couples.
Emma Murphy, a member of Sigma Kappa, was the first to be bid on in the date auction. She said that her philanthropy chair was contacted about the event and asked her if she would be interested. She said she liked the idea, and it excited her.
“[The carnival] is a good idea to support everybody, other sororities and organizations,†said Murphy
