The Delta Sigma Theta sorority took center ring at UCA’s annual homecoming step show Oct. 25, celebrating its 50th anniversary with a circus-themed performance that earned them the top prize of $1,500.

Three fraternities and three sororities from the National Pan-Hellenic Council competed in a stepping contest in the Farris Center, showcasing themed performances that featured rhythmic footwork, hand claps and chants as they vied for cash prizes and trophies.

The Lambda Upsilon Chapter’s routine featured sparkly red ringmaster jackets, high-energy cheers and a juggler.

“It’s just so exciting,” Jada Williams, president of the chapter and a senior exercise science major, said. “We got to bring home the win on our 50th anniversary. It’s honorable. It was very exciting, amazing.”

Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Theta Mu chapter placed second and received $1,000 for a performance inspired by the Black Entertainment Television Awards.

Kappa Alpha Psi’s Iota Gamma chapter placed third and received $500 for a heist-themed dance with its signature canes and petal throw.

Williams said Delta Sigma Theta had been practicing since September.

“We were just thinking, what can get the crowd engaged and keep them engaged?” she said. “Something different.”

Williams said the sorority’s energy and the crowd’s support is what set its performance apart from others.

“These Deltas finna have some fun this weekend,” she said.

Jada Simpson, chaplain and senior elementary education major said winning was “such a surreal feeling.”

“When you put your everything into practicing and preparing, seeing that hard work pay off is simply amazing,” she said. “What makes it even better is that even if we hadn’t won, we would have still felt like winners because we left it all on the stage and got to do it as sisters — and that is an unmatched feeling. We were immensely proud of ourselves no matter what, so winning was just icing on the cake.”

Simpson said although performing is fun, the sorority’s main focus is serving the community.

“While performing in step shows and social events are super fun, our goal as Deltas is to always serve our community,” Simpson said. “We always strive to have exceptional programs where other young adults can learn and serve alongside us, so the money will be used to help others.”

Simpson said, “There are just so many favorites that I could choose from, but the top one would be when we hit our cheerleader-style stunt and the crowd went crazy. We were working hard on getting our counts right and making sure we looked solid, so to see that come through where it counted and to see the crowd receive that was so rewarding.”

Beauti, Simpson’s mother, said she is an alumnae member of Delta Sigma Theta.

“It felt so good to be able to sit out and watch my daughter perform here at my alma mater because I graduated from UCA many years ago,” she said. “It just felt like a full-circle moment for me.”

She said, “She has worked so hard, and this was her first show, and then they won the show. It was just the tricks. I like the tricks that they did. It was so cool. Everything surprised me.”

Lekesha McAdoo said she was step master of the sorority from 1966 to 1967. 

“We won as well,” she said. “So, it was very nice to see Delta take home the number one prize.”

McAdoo said, “I was so excited because my daughter actually just pledged, so this was her line that was stepping. I was very excited to see the young ladies up there representing our sorority wonderfully.”

Ali McCray, a freshman linguistics major, said, “I went in not knowing a lot about what was going to happen. I think seeing the type of community that it created was the best part. The hard work all the sororities and fraternities put in for their performances and the different themes they all were able to create were so fun to watch.”

She said, “The alumni that were there, you could tell really enjoyed themselves, and that was very heartwarming to see.”