National Pan-Hellenic Council Marks 25 Years at UCO

The University of Central Oklahoma’s National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is celebrating 25 years of promoting unity, leadership, and legacy among its Divine Nine historically Black fraternities and sororities. 

The “Divine Nine” are historically Black fraternities and sororities founded on the values of scholarship, service, and unity. UCO currently has seven of the nine organizations active on campus: 

Shanice Hopkins, the president of NPHC and a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., joined Greek life in 2023 and became president this August. She said her motivation came from the impact Greek life had on her college experience.

“I came into college not knowing anything about Greek life. I saw all the benefits that come with Greek life. I got so many opportunities,” said Hopkins. 

NPHC is currently at an all-time high in membership, sitting between 60 to 65 people, which is the largest number in the council’s history at UCO.

“We keep growing our orgs, which we have this year has been the biggest number of members in NPHC that we have seen since we’ve been chartered,” said Andrea Coleman, president-elect and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 

One major event NPHC hosts is their annual Stroll Off. The events were once a major part of UCO’s campus culture, especially in the early 2000s. However, after several chapters went inactive in 2020, the tradition faded for nearly two decades. NPHC officially brought the event back last year, marking its first return to campus in 20 years and continuing again this fall as part of the 25th anniversary celebration.

As UCO’s NPHC celebrates 25 years on campus with record membership and renewed traditions, the council looks ahead to the next 25 years, continuing to uplift the campus community and build on its foundation of scholarship, service, and unity to create a legacy that will guide future generations of Divine Nine leaders.