W&L Hosts Statewide National Pan-Hellenic Council Step Show Competition The Feb. 8 event celebrates the history and culture of NPHC organizations.

The Tau Zeta chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. performs the winning routine at the NPHC Step Show Competition in Oct. 2023.

The Class of 1994 Office of Inclusion and Engagement at Washington and Lee University will host the NPHC Step Show Competition on Feb. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Keller Theater in the Lenfest Center for the Arts. The event is open to the public, and doors open at 5:30 p.m.

The step show competition highlights the historical culture of W&L’s National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations and strengthens connections not only among NPHC members but also between NPHC groups and the larger campus community.

NPHC organizations are historically, but not exclusively, Black organizations, and are service-oriented and committed to building sisterhood and brotherhood among their members. They create space and opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds, bringing important visibility to under-represented communities on college campuses.

There are currently four NPHC organizations chartered at W&L: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., which shares a charter with James Madison University; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., which shares a charter with Roanoke College; and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), Alpha Phi Alpha (Alphas) and Phi Beta Sigma (Sigmas) are currently active on W&L’s campus.

This year’s program will feature NPHC organizations from W&L and across Virginia, highlighting the connection between chapters.

“As president of the W&L NPHC and a member of the Step Show Committee, I am thrilled about the event we’ve organized,” said Laura Murambadoro ’26. “This competition is a unique opportunity to share our culture and programming with the entire campus, offering a glimpse into the diverse councils of the Divine Nine. It not only highlights the history and impact of each organization but also fosters a spirit of competition. I am incredibly excited to see the performances and can’t wait to see the creativity each team brings to the show.”

Six organizations will be participating in this year’s competition: W&L’s Tau Zeta chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., W&L’s Beta Beta Nu chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., James Madison University’s Iota Alpha chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Virginia Tech’s Theta Iota chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Virginia Union University’s Zeta chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and Norfolk State University’s Delta Chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. Murambadoro and Jerzee Allentini ’25 will be emceeing the event, and judges include Lena Hill, W&L provost; Adrienne Jones, DeLaney Center postdoctoral fellow; Nasir Nichols, assistant athletic director of business operations at Virginia Military Institute and member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; and Allen Clay Jr., Rockbridge County resident and member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Tickets are available to purchase online and will be available to purchase at the door on Feb. 8. The cost is $5 for students with their university identification and $10 for the general public.

All proceeds will go to W&L’s NPHC organizations to support programming and future events.