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Pi Phi Chapter - 3301 Statesville Avenue - Charlotte, NC 28206 - 704.373.1971

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Kenneth "Tito" Koonce

Brother Kenneth "Tito" Koonce was initiated into Lambda Kappa (Intermediate) Chapter, Durham, NC,
April 15, 1978. He is a Life Member (1994) and received his 25 year pin in 2004, at the 73rd Grand
Conclave in St. Louis, MO. This "Omega Man of the Year" is an Eagle of North Carolina Central
University where he is a member of the National Alumni Association. He was born the first of five
children in Kinston, NC. Brother Koonce has been active with Pi Phi Chapter since 1991.

Comedy and step team comes to mind when the name “Tito” rings out. Brother Koonce has
coordinated Pi Phi’s monthly comedy show, that is held at the fraternity house, since its inception.
This month the show will celebrate its 10th year anniversary of performances. Brother Tito serves as
emcee, performs during each show and secures nationally known and local comics to perform for
the public crowd. He has coordinated comedy shows for other chapters in the Sixth District as well.
The Step Master, as he is sometimes called, has coordinated Pi Phi Chapter’s award winning step
team, which participates in the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.’s graduate chapter step competition
held every two years. The step team has presented exhibitions for various organizations around
Charlotte.

In Pi Phi, Brother Koonce, has served as the 1st Vice Basileus and as Program Committee Chairman,
where he instituted new programming such as “The Pi Phi Film Fest”, using the
computer/digital/video screen equipment to host Sunday evening short films and classic full feature
films. Under his leadership this committee capped the year off with a fashion show, held during
Achievement Week. “The Styles & Hues of the Ques” showcased brothers and their Omega kids
modeling current fashions.

Brother Koonce has served the Sixth District on various committees making significant impact to the
district. Some committees include but are not limited to: Omega Day-NC/SC Committee, Reclamation
Committee, Retention Committee, Undergraduate Committee, and Undergraduate Advisors (Ad Hoc).
Brother Koonce’s passion is working with youths. This commitment to youths is demonstrated
through his volunteering – as a non-paid counselor for the Sixth District Boys Camp and as a Big
Brother with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, serving as a mentor to two Black male students at Walter G.
Byers Elementary School over the last two years.

He also served as member of the C.W. Williams Health Center 5K Committee which conducted the
‘Compassionate Care for the Uninsured’ 5K Race/1 Mile Walk. The event was established to bring
awareness to the growing health care needs of the uninsured population and to raise awareness of
healthy life styles to avoid obesity, diabetes and other preventable health issues to the Charlotte-
Mecklenburg County, NC community. He is an Organ and Bone Marrow National Donor as well as
being registered with the American Red Cross and the Community Blood Center as a blood donor.
His personal commitment to health demonstrates his passion for humankind.

Brother Koonce, a member of the Assemblies of Christ Church Ministries, in High Point, NC, has
served on the Trustee Board, the Men’s Breakfast Sundays and the Men’s Christian Book Study group
and as Coordinator of the ‘boys To MEN’ youth mentorship program. At Assemblies of Christ Church,
he assisted the church in hosting the Interfaith Hospitality Network, where the church was set up as
living quarters to house the homeless of High Point for a week.

When asked “What does being the Omega Man of the Year means to you?” he believes two things,
both instilled while on line 30 years ago. He says “I have been working hard for Omega & my work is
not done; and “I have been, I am and will continue to be, a Bridge Builder, within & without this great
fraternity of ours.” Brother Koonce describes Brother Dr. Melvin Pinn, Sr., the omega man he
admires most, as a quintessential Omega man, bar none.

Brother Koonce is employed with Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation as the Recreation
Coordinator/Supervisor, and spends his free time as Freelance Comedy Show Promoter. This proud
Eagle from NCCU is exemplary not only of Omega’s Cardinal Principles and high standards but the
high standards set by Omega’s fine men of year recipients who precede him. Brother Koonce is the
proud father of Kimberly Chanel Koonce, his daughter.

Recently brother Koonce was recognized by the North Carolina Recreation and Parks Association as
the recipient of the 2009 statewide “Meritorious Service in Athletics” award at this year’s Athletic
Directors’ Workshop in Atlantic Beach, N.C. Nominated by his co-workers in the athletic services
section of Park and Recreation, Ken was recognized for his longtime commitment to the provision of
quality youth and adult athletic programs in the county and also for his service to the state
organization. Ken currently coordinates in-house youth sports programs for the county, including the
popular Junior Bobcats youth basketball program; serves at the department’s liaison to the National
Alliance for Youth Sports; and sits on the Statewide Athletic Committee’s board as western sectional
representative.

Congratulations Brother Koonce!