Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl

by Bro. Yaseen Muhammad feature and photos

January 25, 2025, STONECREST, GA - On the frigid morning of January 25, 2025, a warming light emanates from Arabia High School in Stonecrest, GA. It is the 39th annual “Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl,” and the Brothers of Kappa Alpha Alpha (KAA) Graduate Chapter proudly march into the school’s hallways to help with this year’s reading competition.

At first glance, the school’s parking lot suggests there’s a state-wide championship game- or maybe (even) a graduation. Cars and minivans overflow into unmarked asphalt, plus all available grass.  On this Saturday morning, such casual assumptions are incorrect.

Today’s crowd has gathered to support Dekalb County’s brightest minds in a trivia-based game of reading comprehension and sheer discipline.

The Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl organizes students to face-off with other teams at their respective grade levels: elementary, middle, and high school. Actual teams are comprised of 5 students and a faculty coach.  

Armed with hand-held buzzers, students rush to respond and correctly answer questions based on pre-selected readings. At the end of four rounds, the teams with the most correct answers...win 1st place. There is a winner for each grade-level.

Guided by Scholarship, there is no mystery why Omega Psi Phi’s KAA is amid this year’s marquee literacy event. Assigned to Classroom C, Omega Men moderate trivia questions, keep time, and tally final scores. Cheerful Brothers provide hallway directions and give encouragement.

Hours of stiff competition and literary prowess (finally) culminates into the competition-wide awards ceremony. Students, parents, and faculty pack into the school’s auditorium and awaited the highly anticipated results.  How refreshing to see Our youth captivated by such endeavors. 

Finally, 2025’s winning teams are announced for the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl. Trophies are held high, and parents rush to embrace their champions. One can already hear the chatter of “wait till next year” spur throughout the crowd. God willing, Kappa Alpha Alpha which is currently lead by Brothers: Basileus Tim Roberson, Vice Basileus Clint Raines, and Social Action Chair Bodae Vogt, will meet next year’s competitors at the school’s front door. 

(Special thanks to the incomparable Helen Ruffin for starting this event in 1986. Her legacy endures. For more information, please visit “https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/hrrb/”.)