Sorority Spotlight

Kiara Rondon Contributor

On Sunday, April 14, students and faculty members had the opportunity to attend Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated’s 13th annual cancer banquet to show support for and gain more knowledge of Childhood Cancer.

Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated (OPBSI) is a non-profit organization that serves and educates people of diverse backgrounds through sisterhood, leadership, and guidance. As positive role models, they promote unity of all cultures, focus on the empowerment of women and raise the standards of excel- lence in one’s academic, so- cial, and personal endeavors. The Epsilon chapter of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated has been empowering women for 20 years at Long Island University: Post Cam- pus. These women focus on bringing our campus and community together by pro- moting awareness on issues that affect our society.

The Epsilon Chapter hosts an annual cancer ban- quet to advocate and bring awareness; the night commemorated childhood cancer. Sponsorships, individual donations and proceeds were donated to The Cancer Center for Kids at Winthrop University Hospital located in Mineola. The Winthrop’s Cancer Center for Kids is the largest outpatient facility for treating children with cancer and blood disorders in Nassau County.

“Malcolm McDaniel, a senior Speech Pathology major, said, “I loved attending the cancer banquet and seeing Epsilon chapter sisters, old and new, come together for a great cause.”

Senior, Childhood Edu- cation major, Kristy Neimeyer, agreed, “ I absolutely loved the cancer banquet. I think it’s a great way for students to dress up and become aware of an important cause while supporting our student leaders.”

Cathy Shimmel, a nurse at the center spoke diligently about the programs efforts to treat patients. Shimmel stated, “Patients can receive transfusions, infusions, chemotherapy treatments, or even procedures under anes- thesia in a safe and comforting environment…and then go home to sleep in their own beds at night.” Shimmel closed her speech with a heartfelt story of a patient who wanted a Princess Barbie.

The child wanted to feel like a Barbie, but could not relate to the toy, due to hair loss from chemotherapy. The program then organized a partnership to distribute “Bald Princess Barbies.”

The evening was filled with wonderful entertain- ment addressing the devastation of children with cancer. Performers included R.A.W. (Rebellious Assertive Writers) members of Lambda Sigma Upsilon Fraternity, Incorporated who shared personal poems of a mother loosing her child and contemporary dances by Post Concert Dance Company.

According to the American Cancer Society, a total of 1,660,290 new cancer cases and 580,350 cancer deaths are projected to occur in the United States in 2013. The Epsilon Chapter of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated would like to thank all who attended and supported the event.

Crystal Lopez, a sister of the Epsilon chapter of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, said, “We are very happy with the turnout. We hope to get more students involved and look forward to new ways to execute our purpose.”