Frederick Woman Gives Back Through Alum Sorority

When Felicia Turner was growing up in Gloucester, Va., and needed scholarships to help her through college and on to a career in social service, she received an offer for help.

Turner, a Frederick resident who works in Montgomery County, said she feels obligated to give back to children growing up in similar circumstances.

"I feel like I owe," she said.

As a junior at Virginia State University, Turner joined Delta Sigma Theta, a sorority focusing on public service. She has maintained ties to the group for more than three decades.

About five years ago, Turner and others started a Frederick County alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, of which she is president. The group provides mentoring and educational support to area children, mostly high school students. They are not just high academic achievers, but have also overcome obstacles to get where they are, she said.

During the first few years of providing scholarships, Delta Sigma Theta gave out about $4,000. Last year, the figure jumped to about $12,000, Turner said.

The group's Delta Youth Days brings students to the seat of county government to get a sense of what civic participation really means, she said. Delta Youth Days at County Government is scheduled for April 1.

The sorority is involved with the Leading Ladies at Tuscarora High School, and the group has grown over time from 30 student participants to almost 80, Turner said.

Last spring, the group visited Hood College, where they met with financial aid representatives and sat in on college classes, she said.

"They left the school with their chests stuck out," Turner said.

The sorority group has taken Frederick County children on a tour of the county's 911 call center, the elections board and tutors students on everything from etiquette to interviewing techniques, she said.

Turner also belongs to the Frederick County Human Relations Commission and is the superintendent for Sunday school at her church, First Missionary Baptist in Frederick .

Her commitments leave little spare time, but engagement with the community seemed a foregone conclusion.

"If somebody ought to do something, why not you?" she asked.

Copyright 2009 The Frederick News-Post. All rights reserved.