Every year, each chapter within Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®. recognizes members who are considered exemplary in various categories of sisterhood, leadership, & professional accomplishment. These chapter members continue to promote themselves within and outside the chapter, in hopes of being recognized at the regional level during each annual regional conference.

This year, Central Region is Engineered in Excellence as we prepare for our 92nd Regional Conference in Indianapolis, IN. Phi Epsilon Omega Chapter is proud to recognize the following chapter members for being nominated for recognition in Central Region:

Carlette Johnson: Charmed for Service

This award is dedicated to a member who serves as the behind the scenes leader, showing service and sisterhood as an unsung heroine always answering the call of service and providing unwavering sisterliness and love to her chapter members and her community. 

Alicia Neal: Educator of the Year

This award recognizes a member who is a classroom teacher who has demonstrated outstanding services in education in the chapter. She goes above and beyond to provide a climate of innovation and creativity. 

Twin Konnections: Entrepreneur(s) of the Year

This award recognizes the success of a member(s) and their business achievements, contributions to the community, and involvement in their chapter, including leadership in their community and business field. 

Hareder McDowell: Outstanding Leadership

Hareder McDowell, serves in many leadership positions and none of them stop her service to her sorority. She jumped into leadership serving as the president and vice president of her undergraduate chapter over twenty years and has not slowed down. She lead many committees throughout her time as a member of Phi Epsilon Omega chapter and is currently serving as the 2^nd Vice President of PEO with a passionate responsibility of empowering others to attend and enjoy conferences. She serves as the step captain of the award-winning step team “Pulse” and prides herself on connecting her AKA resume with her real one, which is quite impressive. She currently sits as the only community psychologist in Chicago government, as the assistant city treasurer of Chicago and director of financial empowerment, a sitting board member on the Advisory Council of Black women and girls under congresswoman Robin Kelly. Soror Hareder is a two-time published author, a subject matter expert for Essence Magazine, an award-winning speaker and activist for Black women and girls. When she is not running her nonprofit P.R.E.T.TY, a Chicago Public Schools partner, she is running her dating company, MACNLOVE, with her husband, college sweetheart and district level appointed leader of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity Inc. or enjoying being a Chicago socialite. Soror Hareder is always happy to go first, lead first and confidently assist her chapter in anyway that positions them for excellence and style.

Leah Humphrey: Outstanding President

This award is presented to a member who has served in the capacity of chapter President. She has made the sacrifice of unwavering commitment and dedication to leading the chapter operations and serving its members and the community. 

Brittany Dino: Outstanding Sisterly Relations

Our outstanding sisterly Brittany has through the years hit the pink and green ground running when she was presented in the Phi Epsilon Omega shades of pink cotillion during her high school career, which of course led to her becoming a Charter Members legacy, that would soon begin to create a legacy of her own, and that she did! Soror Brittany has served in an executive committee position since her initiation which set the groundwork for her becoming the winner of the Outstanding leadership Award during our 89^th Central Regional conference and her regional appointment under the “Team Ready” administration. Soror Brittany is a committed and loving leader who currently serves as our Sisterly relations chair and she is a member of the award-winning PEO step team “PULSE”, all while being a loving wife of Mr. Matthew Dino & dog mommy!

Yolanda Talley: Silver Star of the Year

Yolonda Talley has served Phi Epsilon Omega chapter for 25 consecutive years, serving in various executive committee positions, chairing committees and being an outstanding mentor and leader within our chapter. She is the leader of her Alpha Kappa Alpha Legacy, opening the door for Sorors Ivy and Danielle Bonner. Yolonda is a humble giant that loves authentically and serves with positivity. She is a loving wife and educational leader we are grateful to call Soror! Soror Yolonda currently serves as are anti-pecunious grammateus & most recently performed with the award-winning PEO step team “PULSE” where she was the most appropriately serving as the “Silver Queen”.

Tamara McClain: Sister Through the Years

Our Tam has been the beaming reflection of poise and grace since she joined Phi Epsilon Omega. Serving as the 8^th  President of PEO and the inaugural chair and co-creator of the PEO leadership development program, Soror Tamara does not miss an opportunity to show Sorors exactly how to shine suavely. Soror Tamara had several regional leadership roles and currently serves on “Team Ready”. She continues to shine as our current membership committee chair who is committed to empowering membership through mentorship. She is a leading educator in Illinois and will celebrate 25 years of Marriage representing her commitment to the Phirst Phamily, to Howard McClain, member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. She is a loving mother of two amazing future legacies Taylor and Maya!

Shuntai Sykes: Sister of the Year

This award is presented to a member whose service, dedication, and commitment to the chapter, and its members reigned supreme over all others during the 2025 service year.

Dianne Bowden: Technology & Communications

Dianne has accepted the roll of Technology Chair during a transition period within Phi Epsilon Omega. With a recent interest and need in becoming more accessible at all times, Dianne supported the President's goal in transferring the chapter's data collection, communication, and engagement to Wild Apricot from a paper based system. She worked diligently to bring more attention to PEO's social media accounts and encouraged committee chairs to promote their activities by providing more current engagement opportunities. Initiated in PEO in 2014, Dianne has been dedicated to marketing and promotion for the chapter by making flyers for all committees and designing attire & themes for significant chapter events. Working in Human Resources at an steel manufacturing company and working the wife and mother of two life, Dianne enjoys the opportunities she receives to contribute to PEO's aesthetic.