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Recently I was privileged to attend the 2012 Iowa Regional Convention.  After numerous travel delays due to weather and airline mechanical problems, I arrived in Carroll, IA, a little late and a bit weary.  I was soon re-energized by the excitement of the attendees, and was able to spend a couple of days with an enthusiastic group of nearly 100 members, officers, advisors and alumni.  We celebrated the region’s accomplishments during 2011 with the presentation of regional Hallmark Awards and Five Star Chapter Development Plan certificates, inducted several alumni members, and installed the 2012-2013 Iowa Regional Officer Team.  I was excited to have the opportunity to administer the oath of office to the newly-elected Regional Secretary.  Serving as a Regional Officer is a tremendous opportunity for members, giving them the ability to utilize their leadership skills, and develop new skills, to make a positive difference in their region.  I encourage every member who is interested in taking full advantage of the benefits and opportunities associated with Phi Theta Kappa membership to consider a run for Regional Office.  Congratulations to the 2012-2013 Iowa Regional Officer team, Regional Coordinator Sima Dabir and the Region’s Executive Board for the leadership they provide, and thanks to everyone in Iowa for their hospitality!

Installation of the 2012-2013 Iowa Regional Officer Team

2012-2013 Iowa Regional Officer takes the oath of office administered by Director of Chapter Relations West Williamson

Attendees of the Michigan Region Mini Honors Conference put their commitment to complete in writing.

I had the privilege of attending the Michigan Region Mini Honors Conference this fall.  Part of the conference program was a Commit to Completion event where attendees were encouraged to sign a banner committing to complete their associate degree or credential.  The banner which read “Michigan Region of Phi Theta Kappa Commits to Complete” was displayed in the atrium area of the College Center at St. Clair County Community College, the host college for the conference, for the duration of the conference.

To kick off the event St. Clair Professor Emeritus and Lambda Mu Chapter Advisor Tom Obee, former Coordinator for the region, shared his personal story of growing up on a peppermint farm in rural Michigan and his family’s commitment to ensure he had a quality education, starting at Port Huron Community College, now St. Clair County Community College. He challenged attendees to commit to complete; take advantage of resources available for completion, particularly those offered by Phi Theta Kappa; and become productive members of Society.

Regional Officer Hope Buell shared statistics related to college completion spoke about barriers that must be addressed to ensure students complete.  Over 100 members and advisors signed the banner, publicly committing to complete and support others in their quest to complete.  The region also raised funds to support scholarships for college completion.

Congratulations Michigan Region!  I was excited and honored to be a part of your event.

As we begin the fall semester, let’s not forget the significance of college faculty and staff in recognizing student success on our campuses.

Do they know the importance Phi Theta Kappa membership plays in that validation?  Do they know the significant honor membership brings to a first generation or returning student?  Are they aware of the benefits of membership -  connecting with other scholars through Honors in Action activities, developing their skills with the Five Star Competitive Edge professional development plan, or preparing for transfer with CollegeFish.org – and the role they play in assisting students toward college completion and successful transfer?  Not to mention the significant scholarships, unmatched by any other student organization, available to members to complete both their associate and baccalaureate degrees.

For many of our chapters, faculty and staff are an integral part of their efforts to raise awareness of Phi Theta Kappa and encourage eligible students to accept membership.  Successful chapters make sure they’re aware of the benefits of membership, let them know when they launch their membership campaigns, and recognize them for being a part of that process.

If your college’s faculty is a significant contributor to your chapter’s membership success, tell us how.  If you haven’t considered them as a resource, involve them this fall.  Speak about Phi Theta Kappa at your faculty convocation, invite them to your induction ceremonies or other chapter activities, ask them to encourage students to accept membership, or host a Faculty/Staff Appreciation event on campus.

Now more than ever we need successful students, and successful students need Phi Theta Kappa!  After all, when students achieve academically, and are recognized for that success, we all benefit.

A record number of inductees for the Kappa Alpha Chapter’s Spring 2011 Induction

I recently attended the Kappa Alpha Chapter Spring 2011 induction at Holmes Community College in MS along with Betsy Dowdle, Recognition Services Marketing Coordinator and Susan Edwards, Dean of Honors Programs.

The chapter inducted over 65 new members - a record number. College and chapter leaders incorporated a Community College Completion signing event as part of the traditional induction ceremony with all new inductees signing a pledge to graduate.

Before a packed auditorium of family, friends, and college faculty, college president Dr. Glenn Boyce spoke of the benefits of completing a degree and challenged inductees to obtain an associate degree or credential before transferring or seeking employment. He encouraged them to take advantage of the many benefits of membership, including Competitive Edge and CollegeFish.org, to prepare themselves for degree completion and a successful transfer to a senior institution.

Congratulations Spring 2011 Kappa Alpha inductees and future college completers!

During 2010, our organization has made a tremendous impact in the lives of deserving students. The Chapter Relations Managers have seen first-hand through their travels to nearly 200 college campuses in 21 regions this past year the good work that our dedicated Regional Coordinators, Chapter Advisors and officers are doing to provide the Phi Theta Kappa Experience on their campuses and in their regions.

We’ve met with advisors, provided training for chapter and regional officer teams, and spoken at induction ceremonies and regional events. We’ve made many new friends and become reacquainted with old ones.

In 2010, we recognized more than 125,000 students with membership in Phi Theta Kappa, more than in any previous year, and provided for them tremendous opportunities for personal growth and leadership development through Honors in Action programming and Five Star Competitive Edge. Working together we’ve impacted our campuses and communities. We’ve encouraged students to remain in college, complete their degree or credential, and through CollegeFish.org provided them access to the financial resources to transfer to a university.

As I reflect on 2010, I am proud of my Phi Theta Kappa membership, but even more proud to work with other scholars every day to make the world a better place. We have much to do in 2011, more students to recognize, an even bigger impact to have. But together we can do it.

Happy New Year everyone! We look forward to seeing you during our travels in 2011.

Iowa Regional Officers and Director of Chapter Relations West Williamson (far right) at former home of Dr. Margaret Mosal.

I spent a hot, muggy morning in Canton, Mississippi, with Iowa Regional Coordinator Nancy Woods and the Iowa Regional Officers last week, visiting significant sites in the history of our organization.

After its founding in Missouri, Phi Theta Kappa’s leadership became centered in Mississippi, my home state, as Dr. Margaret Mosal became Phi Theta Kappa’s first Executive Director some 75 years ago. We contemplated the tremendous growth of the organization and how it was accomplished. To me it’s due mostly to those who experienced Phi Theta Kappa and wanted others to have the same opportunity. It’s advocacy. Dr. Mosal had a vision of what Phi Theta Kappa could mean for others. I know what it did for me and advocate daily through my job for others to have that same opportunity. After our trip, the Iowa Regional Officers will do the same.

Phi Theta Kappa membership can be the single most important experience a student will have at a community college. It was for many of us. As we consider our mission of “recognizing and encouraging scholarship among two-year college students” we become more focused on making sure every eligible student knows what Phi Theta Kappa can do for them, and ensuring they have the same extraordinary opportunity we had to be a part of this fellowship of scholars. We do that through promoting membership acceptance, sharing the benefits of the Phi Theta Kappa Experience with others and raising awareness of the growth opportunities that come with that.

It was a good morning in Canton. Thanks Iowa for spending some time with me!

This week the Eta Omega Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa hosted the MS/LA Regional Summer Forum on their campus at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. A long-standing tradition for the chapter, they invited chapter leaders from throughout the MS/LA Region to attend the day long workshop free of charge. Those attending received information on Society programs and initiatives including the Honors Study Topic, Hallmark Awards, CollegeFish.org, Competitive Edge, and the Five Star Chapter Development Plan.

I was excited to speak to the group about the Society’s newest member benefit, Competitive Edge – a personal and professional development plan for members. Presenters for other topics included Dean of Honors Programs Susan Edwards, Senior College Relations Manager Christin Grissom, and MS/LA Regional Coordinator Amy Wolgamott. The day was full of fun, fellowship and learning!

Chapters in the region are extremely engaged, and much of their success in implementing Society programs is due to chapters sponsoring events like this to share ideas, brainstorm and plan. Through their participation chapter officers learned how best to take advantage of their Phi Theta Kappa Experience, as well as how to share that Experience with others in their home chapters. Thanks Eta Omega for including me in an awesome event!

Last week Headquarters staff members Lea Ann Bethany, Melissa Price, and I had the privilege of attending the spring induction for the Kappa Alpha Chapter at Holmes Community College in Mississippi, my alma mater. Kappa Alpha was the First Finalist to the Most Distinguished Chapter in the 2009 Hallmark Awards.

The ceremony was a model for how to involve faculty and administrators in recognizing the achievements of new Phi Theta Kappa inductees. Not only was the ceremony attended by family members of inductees, but a number of faculty and staff were present, including the President, Vice Presidents, and Department Heads, all to encourage and support the students.

The formal ceremony included a reading of each inductee’s name, as well as the traditional membership oath, and candle lighting, and signing the Chapter Record book. Two faculty members were inducted as Honorary members in recognition of their significant long-time support of the chapter.

In his keynote address, President Dr. Glenn Boyce challenged the nearly sixty inductees to take advantage of all of the opportunities available to Phi Theta Kappa members, not just the scholarships, calling Phi Theta Kappa a “world class organization.”

Inviting college administrators to participate in induction ceremonies, and honoring faculty and staff who support the chapter are great ways to involve faculty with your chapter. Supportive faculty can help share the Phi Theta Kappa Experience by encouraging eligible students to take advantage of the benefits and opportunities of membership.

Congratulations Kappa Alpha advisors and chapter officers for setting a fine example for recognizing new Phi Theta Kappa members!

During October I attended Regional Leadership Conferences in two outstanding Phi Theta Kappa Regions, Iowa and Middle States.

It was rainy and cool when I was in Iowa, but the region was red hot. The conference planners, Coordinator Nancy Woods and the host chapter at Hawkeye Community College, planned an awesome event including lots of fun activities, but a strong educational program focusing on Honors in Action.

The region set aside an entire day where the regional officers led the members through activities related to planning and executing effective Honors in Action projects, while the chapter advisors spent time networking, strategizing, and learning about regional and international initiatives. My hat’s off to Nancy and the region’s advisors for their dedication to their chapters and members. I was truly inspired by their desire to see their members succeed and their focus on providing more opportunities in terms of recognition and scholarships.

Later in the month, I spent a weekend in Maryland for the Middle States Regional Leadership Conference. While it was another rainy weekend, it was the height of the fall color, and the red, orange, and brown tones of the foliage was absolutely breathtaking. Even though it was the first regional event the chapter has hosted, the chapter at Howard Community College planned an outstanding program. One session entitled “Doing the Leadership Dance” allowed attendees to consider their leadership styles as related to dances, including the waltz, tango, and others…and we danced (or tried to).

On both of these trips I was able to visit with representatives from Senior Institutions in the areas that offer transfer scholarships for Phi Theta Kappa members. In fact, Iowa State University even sponsored lunch and provided a book on leadership to each attendee at the Iowa conference. The university offers substantial scholarships to Phi Theta Kappa transfers, and enrolls several hundred each year. All of the transfer admissions representatives I met with spoke highly of our members and their performance upon transfer. How fortunate we are that more and more Senior Institutions are recognizing the quality of Phi Theta Kappa members, and reaching out to them with unprecedented opportunities and scholarship funding!

I am reminded that we need to continue pushing forward in our charge to ensure that every eligible student knows about these opportunities. Phi Theta Kappa is an investment in a student’s future, and we must make sure that all students who earn membership make the investment by accepting it!