The Upsilon Sigma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority held its monthly meeting of the ASCEND Program on February 11.  ASCEND, which stands for Achievement, Self-Awareness, Communication, Engagement, Networking and Developmental Skills, is a national initiative for all Alpha Kappa Alpha chapters, and it is the signature program of the organization’s international president, Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson.

Teens from Marlboro County High School attended a strategy and teambuilding workshop on Saturday.  Led by program chair, Shaquite Pegues, the students created a “cooperation contract”, in which they outlined what they expected out of their peers and mentors in the program and what expectations they set for themselves in the program.  Once each contract items was discussed and agreed upon the students, the contract was signed by all in attendance.

The teens then participated in a craft project to create license plates that depicted who they were as individuals.  This activity served as an icebreaker and allowed students to express their values, beliefs and hobbies.  

The last activity for the workshop was a human knot team building challenge between the chapter and mentors.  Starting in a circle, participants connected hands with two other people in the group to form a human knot. As a team they then tried to unravel the “human knot” by untangling themselves without breaking the chain of hands.  The participants found the activity challenging but once completed reflected on the necessary skills needed to succeed.  The students emphasized how clear communication, trust and patience were all necessary for the group to complete the task.  

Immediately following the workshop, the ASCEND program participants joined the Upsilon Sigma Omega Chapter at their “Paint the Alley Pink” Go Red Bowl-A-Thon at Southgate Bowling Center in Florence, SC.  

The ASCEND program is open to high school students of any background who are interested in learning more about preparing for college and being global citizens.  Applications for the A.S.C.E.N.D. program are still being accepted.  If you know a high school student that is interested in participating, please contact the program chairman Ms. Shaquite Pegues at shaquite.pegues@gmail.com or contact the Upsilon Sigma Omega Chapter’s Facebook page at http://fb.me/aka29512 for more information.