Giving to enable the future
The Beta Alpha Omega Alumni Chapter has established scholarships which are awarded yearly to Graduating Seniors from area Northern Virginia High Schools.
About the Beta Alpha Omega (BAO) Chapter and Northern Virginia I.O.T.A.S. Foundation
The Beta Alpha Omega Alumni (BAO) chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. has proudly served the greater Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Fredericksburg-Stafford, and Prince William Counties since July 16, 2006. BAO has been recognized for its commitment and dedication to helping these communities. The Northern Virginia I.O.T.A.S Foundation is the non-profit affiliate of the BAO Chapter whose mission is to improve the physical, economic, and communal well-being of communities in Northern VA through various programs. The Foundation is proud to partner with the BAO Chapter to provide scholarship opportunities for students in the Northern VA area.
Scholarship #1
The Command Sergeant Major Karl Roberts Sr. Scholarship
About Command Sergeant Major Karl Roberts, Sr. Scholarship:
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Named after Brother Karl Roberts Senior - a Life Member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. who was initiated at the Alpha Omicron Omega graduate chapter in the fall of 2001. The scholarship is named in honor of Bro. Roberts’ legacy of public service and commitment to IOTA and his country. CSM Roberts served in the United States Army for over 32 years,
having earned the rank of Command Sergeant Major and receiving over 25 medals, including one for the Defense Meritorious Service (Peacetime) and the Bronze Star (Combat). Brother Karl Roberts, Sr. assisted in the chartering of numerous military chapters of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. and he served as the Gulf Coast Regional Polaris (2009 –
2013), National Sergeant-At-Arms (2009 – 2013), and the National Director of Military Affairs (2005 – 2009). Brother Karl Roberts, Sr. was a dedicated brother of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. up until his passing on October 21, 2013, where he joined the great Alpha Iota Omega chapter. The scholarship is exclusively for males who are class of 2026 graduating high school seniors that exhibit academic excellence in the classroom and within their community.
Scholarship #2
The Chief Darryl C. Smith
Scholarship
About Chief Darryl C. Smith, Sr. (Retired) Scholarship
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Named after Brother Darryl C. Smith Senior - a dedicated member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. who chartered the Eta Chapter at Virginia State University in 1970. The scholarship is so named in honor of Bro. Smith’s lifelong legacy of public
service, involvement with the community as a youth sports coach, and his academic support for children and immigrants as the co-founder of Herndon’s Vecinos Unidos (Neighbors United). Bro. Smith was a trailblazer in the Town of Herndon
when he was hired as the first African American police officer in 1973, and the first African American elected to Town Council in 2004. He later served as Herndon’s Vice Mayor from 2004-2006. Bro. Smith served nine years as Chief of Police in Purcellville before retiring in 2015. Bro. Smith was a dedicated brother of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. up until
his passing on April 26, 2020, where he joined the great Alpha Iota Omega chapter. The scholarship is exclusively for male, senior, class of 2026 high school graduates who are attending a community college in the Fall 2026 semester.
Past Scholarship Award Recipients
2014:
Chanan Fore Demery
Potomac Senior High School
2015:
Denzel Goodlin
Potomac Senior High School
Chase McGrail
Forest Park Senior High School
2016:
Brett Goerl
Patriot Senior High School
Robert Woodcox Jr.
Potomac Senior High School
2017:
Jason Adams
Forest Park Senior High School
Kirk Peterson
Freedom Senior High School
2018
Troy Mitchell
Potomac Senior High School
Phillip Jones
Osborne Park High School
2019:
Sasan Faraj
Patriot Senior High School
Marcus Gray
Forest Park High School
2020:
Eric Sledge
Stonewall Jackson High School
2021:
Jevon Wilson
Colonial Forge High School
Kenan Austin
Colonial Forge High School
2022
Sean Caceres
South Lakes High School
Roberto Maldonado III
Patriot Senior High School
Jaden Annan
Herndon High School
2023
Alexander Scott
South Lakes High School
Daniel Ogun
South Lakes High School
Thomas Basta
James Robinson Secondary School