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Youth Programs & Scholarships
Delta GEMS
(Girls Aged 14-18)
Delta Debutantes Scholarship Program
(Junior & Senior Level High School Girls)
All adult (18+) volunteers must go through Risk Management Training, be interviewed by our Risk Management team, and pass a background check.
The following forms must be filled out by all youth program volunteers.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. formed the Delta Academy in order to expose eleven through fourteen year old girls to enrichment opportunities in the areas of math, science, computer education and non-traditional careers. Young ladies are selected for this program who might not otherwise be afforded this opportunity. The program’s tenets are scholarship, exemplified through exposure to the areas listed above; sisterhood through developing friendships with other participants including those persons leading the program; and service, through a variety of community activities.
This program allows the members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, to impact the future while not forgetting from whence we came. With the sorors’ involvement, we can ensure that the future of these girls will be even brighter.
Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy
Delta GEMS
A natural outgrowth and expansion for the continuation of the highly successful Dr. Betty Shabaaz Delta Academy: Catching the Dreams of Tomorrow, Delta Gems was created to catch the dreams of African American at-risk, adolescent girls aged 14-18. Delta GEMS provides the frame work to actualize those dreams through the performance of specific tasks that develop a CAN DO attitude.
The goals for Delta GEMS are:
To instill the need to excel academically;
To provide tools that enable girls to sharpen and
enhance their skills to achieve high levels of academic success;
To assist girls in proper goal setting and
planning for their futures high school and beyond;
To create compassionate, caring, and community minded young women by actively involving them in service learning and community service opportunities.
The Delta GEMS program offers a road map for college and career planning conducts activities that provide opportunities for self-reflection and individual growth. Delta GEMS, like Delta Academy, is implemented by chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Delta Debutante Scholarship
1961- The First Debutante Scholarship Program began
450+ Lexington area high school
Juniors & Seniors
$750,000+ awarded in scholarships
Debutante Scholarship Program Criteria - 2023-2024
Female applicants must be a current high school Junior or Senior within the Lexington or Central Kentucky area;
Must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher;
Must be active in school, community service, or church-based activities;
Must complete and submit a neatly-printed application packet that includes the following by the official deadline date:
One (1) official school transcript (with seal)
Two (2) letters of recommendation from a teacher, high school counselor, religious leader, or mentor (no family members).