The brothers of Alpha Tau Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity keep the tradition of the annual Rock-A-Thon alive. The brothers kept a rocking chair rocking outside of the Student Union morning, noon and night from Oct. 7 to Oct. 11 in honor of The Reginald White Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The brothers took shifts in rocking the chair in honor of their brother Reginald Vincent White, whose life was lost on a cave exploration in 1977. The brother was with a group of people when three fell in the water. White heroically jumped in to save them, knowing he could not swim himself.

According to J’lani Pryce, an Alpha Tau brother, he was successful in saving all three people, even though he didn’t know how to swim. The rocking is for tradition and for the betterment of the community and oneself.

“To my knowledge, he was the type of person to take the shirt off his back and give his last to any. He was friends with everyone,” Pryce stated.

The brothers faced elements that they could not control but had the support of The University of Akron behind them. Both the faculty and students on campus gave support in donations of money for the scholarship, along with nonperishable goods.

Random students and faculty stopped by to talk or give hot chocolate to the brothers throughout the day and night. These random acts of kindness helped show the brothers what they are doing is worth it.

“When you want to give up, the incentive to do it for someone else makes us strive,” Price said.

The brothers have so far collected a little over $300. The chapter’s alumni then match what the brothers collected for the scholarship. The nonperishable goods that were collected are being donated to Haven of Rest Ministries.

The annual Rock-A-Thon funds the memorial scholarship in honor of Reginald White and is given to upcoming freshmen who meet the criteria for the scholarship.

Some of the recipients in the past who have received the scholarship have joined the brothers of Alpha Tau Fraternity and have gone on to achieve great things, according to Keith Cole, a brother of Alpha Tau for four years.

“It’s one of those things I hate but love. It gets tough through the night out there, but to see the new freshmen and what they do is worth it,” Cole said.

The brothers of the Alpha Tau rock yearly not just in memory, but to keep the tradition of the significance behind the rocking of the chair. The brothers want to test their abilities to the fullest by braving any element that nature might throw at them. The brothers did not give up and kept the chair rocking for five days consistently. It’s the value of tradition and the value
of oneself.

For more information on the criteria for The Reginald White Memorial Scholarship Fund please contact the Alpha Tau Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.