More than 2,000 people assembled at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion on April 12 to watch the annual Divine Experience event hosted by the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), of which member organizations are called the “Divine Nine.”
Members of the College Panhellenic Council (CPH) and Interfraternity Council (IFC) executive boards attended to support the celebration of Divine Nine history and rapid growth on the University of Mississippi campus.
Greek life at UM plays a key role in the college experience for a large number of undergraduate students. There are 36 Greek organizations represented on campus between the IFC, CPH and NPHC.
The Divine Nine’s presence on campus became complete in November 2025 with the introduction of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. to UM.
Lindsey Cole, a junior biochemistry major from Laurel, Miss., currently serving as the president of the NPHC, further explained what the Divine Experience is.
“Several chapters … conduct the membership intake process during the semester,” Cole said. “Once they finish, we come back together and they present their new members.”
Seven of the nine chapters welcomed new members during the ceremony.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., took seven new members; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., took nine; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., took 11; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., took six; Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., took one; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., took eight and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., took 50 for a total of 92 new Divine Nine members.
“This is a way for (new members’) family, friends and anybody else to come and see all of the hard work that they’ve done by learning history, specialized steps and moves to create a great performance,” Cole said.
Many undergraduate students, alumni and families were in the crowd to support the new members, with around 2,300 total attendees at the event.
Notable figures in the crowd included former Ole Miss Basketball player Matthew Murrell, supporting his respective chapter Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and current Ole Miss Women’s Basketball head coach, Yollett McPhee-McCuin, supporting her respective chapter Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Courtlyn Taylor, a sophomore psychology and criminal justice double major from Jackson, Miss., is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and current vice president of membership services on the NPHC executive board.
Taylor highlighted the moment’s significance for the new members.
“(The new members) have worked so hard to be in our organizations through hours of community service, semesters of resume-building and letters of recommendation,” Taylor said.
Each organization performed a ritual that consisted of designated attires, reciting chapter history, formal greetings of other organizations and other dances and step routines.
However, new members were not the only thing presented at the Divine Experience.
The 2026 NPHC Scholarship, worth $600, was presented to ZyQuien Wells, a junior allied health studies major with minors in psychology and sociology. Wells is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Recently crowned Miss Black University Gariuna Williams presented the award. The scholarship is given annually to a NPHC member based on his or her application, academic performance, involvement on campus and outstanding character.
“(Wells) is an amazing student with a 4.0 (grade point average). He is amazing in chapter leadership, won the new member of the year in the FSL awards and is someone who represents NPHC well,” Cole said.
