
Hampton
Middle
School
has
always
had
close
ties
to
the
Pi
Lambda
Lambda
(PLL)
chapter
of
Omega
Psi
Phi,
the
first
international
fraternal
organization
founded
on
the
campus
of
a
historically
Black
college.
Hampton
Middle's
namesake,
Dr.
George
M.
Hampton,
is
the
oldest
living
member
of
the
chapter.
When
the
COVID-19
virus
canceled
this
year's
traditional
back-to-school
supply
drive
and
backpack
give-away
for
students
at
Hampton,
the
brothers
of
Omega
Psi
Phi
found
new
ways
to
support
Hampton
students.
"This
year
the
chapter
donated
flash
drives
for
each
student
at
a
cost
of
$2,000,"
said
chapter
president,
Jeffrey
W.
Allen.
"Because
a large
number
of
our
students
are
using
school-issued
devices
for
virtual
learning,
we
thought
it
would
be
an
awesome
idea
to
give
students
flash
drives
to
save
their
work,"
added
Rachel
Preston,
assistant
principal
at
the
school.
The
PLL
chapter
operates
a
non-profit
affiliate
known
as
the
George
M.
Hampton
Foundation.
"The
Foundation
also
made
its
annual
donation
of
$2,000
that
supported
the
purchase
of
online
programs,
school
supplies,
and
access
to
technology,"
said
Allen.
In
a
letter
sent
to
the
Foundation
by
Hampton
Principal
Jehovanni
Mitchell,
she
acknowledged
the
technology
goals
for
the
donation.
"The
amount
of
quality
instructional
time
is
one
of
the
most
powerful
variables
in
determining
student
learning,"
Mitchell
said,
adding,
"To
increase
access
to
the
internet
and
make
up
the
loss
of
instruction
[from
the
spring,]
George
Hampton
Middle
School
would
like
to
provide
MiFi
wireless
routers
[to
students]
for
internet
access."
A
new
donation,
announced
just
recently
by
PLL,
will
support
arts
education
at
the
school.
"This
organization's
foundation
has
just
pledged
a
$7,000
donation
to
purchase
ukuleles
for
the
music
department,"
said
Preston.
Allen
stated
that
the
donations
are
an
ongoing
commitment
by
the
PLL
chapter
to
support
the
students
at
Hampton.
"We
have
continued
every
year
providing
donations
from
the
chapter
and
the
foundation,
as
well
as
providing
student
mentoring
through
our
Omega
U
program,"
Allen
said,
adding
that
he
hopes
the
donations
"will
benefit
and
enhance
the
lives
for
as
many
students
as
possible."
"It
is
so
important
to
partner
with
community
organizations
because
we
want
our
students
and
parents
to
know
that
we
are
a
family,"
said
Preston.
"Working
together
and
pooling
our
resources
allows
us
to
service
so
many
more
families,"
she
added,
also
stating,
"We
are
thankful
that
our
school's
namesake,
George
M.
Hampton,
is
a
member
of
Omega
Psi
Phi
Fraternity,
Inc.
This
really
created
a
bond
between
their
organization
and
our
school."