ABOUT GAMMA ZETA
The “Award Winning” Gamma Zeta Chapter of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. was chartered on April 26, 1956 in Newport News, Virginia. Seven strong, courageous women known as Georgia Bingham, Lillie Jones, Gladys Ford, Estelle Chapman, Francis Johns, Martha Thomas and Sophronia West felt a need to become a member of such a distinct organization. The goal was to establish a local chapter of professional business women in the area to carry out the objectives of Lola M. Parker, Founder of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. All of our charter members have been committed to the Omega Chapter of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Incorporated.
In October 2008, the Gamma Zeta Chapter implemented our Future Iota Leaders (FIL) Club for young men and women in the Hampton/Newport News area to instill in youth the importance of business, professionalism and leadership. The chapter offered tutoring through the FIL Club for all courses required for a standard diploma in the state of Virginia grades K-12 each Tuesday evening at New Found Joy Ministries, 2700 Build America Drive, Hampton, VA. Each year the chapter awards the Georgia R. Bingham IMAP scholarship to a high school teenage mother pursuing a degree at an accredited college or university as apart of the sorority’s IOTA Mother’s Assistance Program. Currently, the chapter has an active Future Iota Leaders program chaired by Soror Shenelle Jones Cardwell consisting of children of Sorors and from the Hampton community. At our 2nd Business & Education Luncheon we gave the first scholarship in honor of Soror Catherine Winston, to a Bethel High School graduate and Future Iota Leader , the Catherine Canady Winston Future Iota Leaders Book Scholarship.
The chapter has won numerous awards and recognition for our programming and implementation of the sorority’s projects. One of our most memorable achievements was receiving the National Outstanding Chapter Award (2017-18), National Outstanding Chapter President (2017-2018), and the National Youth Literary Award (2017-18), at our 90th Anniversary Convention. Since then we have continued our legacy, with Regional and National Recognition.
2023-2024 Sorority Year - 87th Eastern Region Conference
2nd Place Ruth Swann Youth Award
3rd Place Chapter Attendance Award
1st Place Evelyn D. Wilkey Youth Essay Award- Josiah D. Jones - Regional and National High School Winner
2022-2023 Sorority Year- 86th Eastern Region Conference
1st Place Dr. Evelyn Sears Peavy Chapter Achievement
1st Place Ruth Swann Youth Award
Outstanding Chapter President
3rd Place Chapter Attendance Award
Co-Host Chapter Award
2021-2022 Sorority Year - 85th Eastern Region Conference
1st Place Dr. Ruth Swann Youth Award
2nd Place Dr. Evelyn Sears Peevy Chapter Achievement
Evelyn D. Wilkey Youth Essay; Middle School, Shyah Snead
Evelyn D. Wilkey Youth Essay; High School, Jamien Snead
2020-2021 Soroity Year - 84th Regional Conference
1st Place Dr. Evelyn Sears Peavy Chapter Achievement
1st Place Ruth Swann Youth Award
Outstanding Chapter President
3rd Place Evelyn D. Wilkey Youth Essay; Middle School, Josiah Jones
Evelyn D. Wilkey Youth Essay; High School, Dreighton Cardwell
2019-2020 Sorority Year - 83rd Eastern Region Conference
2nd Place Dr Evelyn Sears Peavy Chapter Achievement
Evelyn D. Wilkey Youth Essay; Middle School, Alex Washburn
2022-2023 Sorority Year- 94th National Convention
Outstanding Regional Chapter Award
Outstanding Regional Chapter President Award
2020-2021 Sorority Year- 92nd National Convention
Outstanding Regional Chapter Award
Outstanding Regional Chapter President Award
CHAPTER OFFICERS
President- Dr. Linda Canady
Recording Secretary- Shenelle Jones-Cardwell - MSOL
Correspondence Secretary- Ericka Spratley
Financial Secretary- Catherine Winston
Treasurer- Diane Bowser
Dean of Intake- Karen Williams-Herod
Journalist- Shenelle Jones-Cardwell - MSOL
