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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

MCC Chapter, Advisor Earn Phi Theta Kappa Regional Awards


MCC’s honor society chapter, Alpha Theta Iota, received a number of awards at the 24th annual New York regional Phi Theta Kappa convention in Syracuse on Feb. 26-28.

-- Most Distinguished Chapter award in the New York region for its work based on the society’s scholarship, leadership and service hallmarks. This past year, the chapter developed educational initiatives that focused on the society’s Honors Study Topic, “The Paradox of Affluence: Choices, Challenges and Consequences.”  The primary goal for the honors topic was to work with the Rochester City School District, helping to increase literacy levels and decrease high school dropout rates.

-- First place in the Yearbook and the Service Hallmark categories. The yearbook is a compilation of the chapter’s year in review describing the chapter’s goals and showcasing how the goals were accomplished. The Service Hallmark projects focused on increasing sustainability awareness on campus.  Chapter members designed and created an organic vegetable garden at MCC’s Richard M. Guon Child Care Center and helped plant more than 15,000 trees with other chapters in the New York region.

The chapter also earned the Pinnacle Award for increasing its membership by 35% this year and the Five Star award for
accomplishing all its goals set within the Five Star Development plan for 2009-2010.

Additionally, MCC student Breanna Bridges was elected to serve a one-year term as Phi Theta Kappa vice president of the New York’s Western District. Bridges, who is pursuing a liberal arts and sciences degree in biology, serves as vice president of membership for the MCC chapter.

And Jodi Oriel received the New York region’s Distinguished Advisor award. Oriel, who has served as Alpha Theta Iota adviser for 14 years, was recognized for her involvement in chapter activities on the local, regional and international level and for the support she provides to the growth experiences of chapter members. As advisor, Oriel helps chapter members set goals within the hallmarks of scholarship, service, leadership and fellowship. She also serves as MCC’s Campus Center assistant director.

Phi Theta Kappa is an international community college honor society with member chapters that include MCC’s Alpha Theta Iota. There are about 59 chapters in the New York region.

Hency Yuen-Eng
College and Community Relations
03/12/2010