Greek Day at Gary Comer College Prep

Gary Comer staff pose for a group photo on Greek Day. All of them are wearing their Greek Life swag. Many are making the sign for their sorority or fraternity with their arms.

Published On: July 30th, 2024Categories: 2024, Campus Life, Equity at Noble, Gary Comer College Prep, Gary Comer Middle School, Staff

There’s no doubt that the Divine Nine sororities and fraternities have a big impact on Noble Schools. Several of our staff members—from first-year teachers to senior network leaders (including our CEO Constance Jones, our Head of Strategy & Equity Jennifer Davis, and our CFO Nikita White!)—are members, along with several of our alumni.

You can see that influence in our schools every day of the school year—but none more than Greek Day at Gary Comer College Prep (GCCP). This previous school semester was the third time that Tanya Buchanan, a Noble parent and teacher-at-large at GCCP, has thrown the big day-long event that invites several Divine Nine members to come to campus and speak to our middle schoolers at GCCP. This year was the first time high schoolers were also included in the day’s activities!

We sat down with Buchanan to hear more about the day and why it’s important to her. Check it out:

Q: How did Greek Day start, how has it evolved, and what is the significance of it?

A: As a founding parent of the middle school with two children in the first two classes to graduate, I wanted to contribute to preparing students for their matriculation journey. I always wanted to have a Greek Day since 2011, but that dream was not realized until 2017.

Noble’s mission is about preparing students for college and beyond and that was my ‘Ah-ha!’ moment. Our Black and Brown students and children need as much positive exposure and experiences as possible. I remember talking with a fellow colleague, Coach Dunlap— my co-founder for OneComer Greek Day and a member of Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity Inc.— that we should have a Greek Day for the middle school. He agreed that “it sounded like a winner.”

Today, Greek Day has grown from a few hours of presenters speaking to 6-8th grade students with food and music to a OneComer 6-12th grade event with a full-day curriculum of presenters, Q&A sessions, student ambassadors, food, music, games, and stroll. One of the most fulfilling moments is seeing students fully invested in the event.

This reality could not be accomplished without my Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. sorors, Divine Nine brothers and sisters, and OneComer and Noble faculty. THANK YOU. A mind is a terrible thing to waste, and at OneComer, we don’t take that for granted.

Two young Black women stand at the front of a middle school classroom. They are wearing blue and white Zeta Phi Beta sorority swag.

Two Zeta Phi Beta sisters speak to Gary Comer middle schoolers.

Q: What is most exciting for you when planning this event?

A: The most exciting part of planning this event is the buy-in from students who have previously experienced this event. Students make frequent requests and inquiries about the event, including:

Will a person of a particular profession come and speak with them?

Will a teacher who is a member of the Divine Nine stroll?

How can I be selected as a Student Ambassador?

Q: Why is it important to you to bring Greek Life to middle school students?

A: I have always been a proponent of sharing information and experiences to help students become their “best self.” Students in 6-8th grade are in that sweet spot: They thirst for knowledge and start diving into the realm of developing strategies, programs, vision boards, etc, for their lives. Being a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. has given me so many opportunities in life. It has taught me how to navigate through life’s challenges and how to believe in myself. I know that I not only have a sisterhood but other Divine Nine sorors and fraternity brothers in my global network. Students should at least be knowledgeable of that opportunity.

Mr. Hampton, assistant dean of culture, and Mr. Brady, 6th-grade history, repping the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Q: How did your experience in your sorority help you get to where you are today?

A: Becoming a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. has helped me flourish in my life’s journey. I am never alone and can reach out to a soror who is willing to help me. It matters not if I personally know them as our sisterhood expands globally.

I can vividly recall moving to the East Coast for my first major job in New Jersey after graduating from college. I knew no one out there, but I did have a sorority sister who was in my chapter from that area. My soror made certain I met her family, who took me in as their daughter and introduced me to other sorors. From then on, I met other Divine 9 members who made certain my journey was a home away from home.