Mayor Steve Benjamin dubbed Jan. 5 "Kappa Alpha Psi Day" in honor of his former fraternity's centennial.
"As mayor of Columbia and a Kappa myself, I am proud to honor and celebrate 100 years of dedicated service to this community and to the spirit of excellence everywhere," Benjamin said.
The mayor, who graduated from USC in 1991 and the USC School of Law in 1994, said "Kappa Alpha Psi has had a significant and positive influence on my life and the lives of young black men across the nation and the world."
Kappa Alpha Psi has four chapters in Columbia, including Zeta Epsilon at USC.
"I believe Steve Benjamin is showing great representation of not only my fraternity and my chapter but my race as well," said Steven Magazine, Polemarch of Zeta Epsilon and a third-year integrated information technology student.
Magazine added that Benjamin is "a great representation of what my fraternity is built upon: achievement in every human endeavor and serving the community."
Benjamin visited the regular 7:30 p.m. meeting of the Columbia Alumni Chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi, where he made the announcement. The fraternity later celebrated at Wild Wing Cafe.
Alpha Kappa Psi charity events in recent years have included organizing food drives, partnering with St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and providing scholarships for young men.