A large crowd gathered Friday evening at Webster Junior High School as the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Epsilon Rho Chapter hosted its annual Scholarship Gala, an evening celebrating Juneteenth, scholarship, and community achievement.
The program combined entertainment, recognition of student accomplishments, and the crowning of the 2026 Miss Juneteenth under the theme of honoring the past while investing in the future.
The evening opened with an inspirational meditation by Anthropos Ryan Pierce, who encouraged those in attendance to embrace their purpose.
“Stars don’t shine because they want to be seen; they shine because they are stars, that’s what they do,” Pierce said in closing.
Musical selections were performed throughout the program by vocalist Therah Newman.
One of the evening’s highlights was the presentation of the 22nd Miss Juneteenth and the recognition of past titleholders. Reigning Miss Juneteenth 2025 Zoey Phenix crowned Alaura Wafer as Miss Juneteenth 2026.
Also recognized during the pageant were first runner-up Arian Draper, second runner-up Gabrielle Johnson, and third runner-up J’Kyliah Scott.
Amanda Thomas shared a brief history of Juneteenth, noting that it became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021. She also reflected on the origins of the local celebration.
“Our Juneteenth celebration began with a group of ladies … as part of their community outreach program,” Thomas said. “It has been altered so much since its beginning, but it still serves as a great community celebration within our sorority.”
Following the coronation, attendees enjoyed a fashion show presented by OA Designs by Court, featuring original designs by Courtney Moore.
The program continued with recognition of Xinos, Kudos, and Heritage graduates, followed by recognition of past and current scholarship recipients.
This year’s scholarships were awarded to Nylani Whitaker and Joshua Omari Warren Davis in recognition of their academic accomplishments and future educational goals.
The evening concluded with a fellowship meal as guests enjoyed live music by saxophonist Dezmond Mitchell.
At the close of the event, members of the Epsilon Rho Chapter expressed their appreciation to the many volunteers, supporters, participants, and community members whose contributions helped make the gala a success.
The annual Scholarship Gala continues to serve as one of the chapter’s signature events, celebrating the significance of Juneteenth while recognizing educational excellence and encouraging the next generation of community leaders.
