Students in MCC’s Alpha Theta Iota chapter of Phi Theta Kappa took a yellow brick journey this academic year and already have come back from Oz with nine awards.
The College’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society swept the awards at this year’s state convention, taking first in all of the nine categories that were entered but one, in which they came in a close second. MCC was among 59 chapters qualified to compete.
“The students were thrilled. I’m thrilled. This is an exceptional honor,” said Jodi Oriel, program manager, Campus Center, who received the New York Region’s Distinguished Advisor Award.
Alpha Theta Iota received the distinguished chapter award at the Phi Theta Kappa New York Region Convention last week after taking first place in the fellowship, leadership, scholarship and service hallmark awards as well as for the visual arts, literary achievement and distinguished advisor awards. The chapter took second for the yearbook award.
The awards recognize the students’ commitment to setting and achieving goals that benefit the College and the community. “What they did was so much more important than any piece of paper,” said Lynn Bartholome, English/Philosophy professor, who advised the students on this year’s honors topic: Popular Culture: Shaping and Reflecting Who We Are.
For Alpha Theta Iota officers, the awards process began during the summer session. “I encouraged the students to think about what legacy they wanted to leave behind and how they could develop programs and services relevant to the four Phi Theta Kappa hallmarks,” Oriel said.
Officers are: Deborah Blonsky, president; Laura Darnieder, vice president of scholarship; Leroy Gamble, vice president of Damon City Campus; Stephanie Poulter, vice president of fellowship; Robyn Collins, vice president of publicity/promotions; Grace M. Guarino, New York regional historian; Katie Oechsle, vice president of leadership; Elizabeth (Molly) Wilson, vice president of leadership; Sarah Romashko, vice president of service; Lisa Heininger, vice president of service; and Amanda Wood, vice president.
The 10 officers decided to work from a theme within Popular Culture, choosing the Wizard of Oz. As they brainstormed ideas, a pattern emerged: each of the hallmark categories represents one of the four main movie characters. The fellowship that Dorothy builds with her friends, the cowardly lion’s courage to lead, the Tinman’s heart of service and the Scarecrow’s brain for scholarship.
The officers then created ideas that fit within each category and, through the fall and spring semesters, worked with the membership to develop and achieve their goals.
For example, Alpha Theta Iota spent countless hours organizing a bowling tournament to raise money to rehabilitate rooms within the Hope Lodge. With more than $1,000 the students brought their artistic touch to the Hope Lodge, which provides free accommodations to cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, and created a popular culture-themed room.
For the leadership hallmark award, students submitted an essay that described their successful activities. “One of our first stops along our Yellow Brick Road to find our courage,” states the essay, “was a student leadership retreat which used a rope course and other activities to help us learn to trust each other and solve problems as a group.” Alpha Theta Iota members also reached out to other groups, including a presentation given at the Western Conference.
Students also developed the Voice Your Vote program during last fall’s presidential election and collaborated with other College clubs. They helped motivate ninth grade honors’ students to attend college. They sponsored the Stress Free Zone during finals week. As written in their hallmark essay, “Just as Dorothy’s fellowship made their way to the Emerald City one step at a time, Alpha Theta Iota journeyed to their goal one project at a time.”
To view one of the essays that the students wrote as part of their winning entries, please see attached.
<<Hope essay.doc>>
The chapter will attend the international convention next month, when hallmark awards will be given to Phi Theta Kappa chapters around the world.
Dianne E McConkey
Public Affairs
03/16/2005 |