Phi Theta Kappa 2009 Convention Highlights
Phi Theta Kappa's 2009 Convention concluded Saturday night in Grapevine,
Texas, with the announcement of the Most Distinguished Chapter for 2009
and the installation of the 2009-2010
International Officers.
Chosen to lead the Society
for 2009-2010 are:
International President, Edgar Romero,
LaGuardia Community College, New York;
International Vice
President for Division I, Nicky Singer, Raritan Valley Community
College, New Jersey;
International Vice President for Division
II, Rebekah Danielson, St. Johns River Community College, Florida;
International
Vice President for Division III, Thomas D. Aguilar, Illinois Central
College, Illinois;
International Vice President for Division
IV, Monika Groomes, Estrella Mountain Community College, Arizona.
Groomes was also chosen by her fellow candidates to receive the Orlowski
Award.
The Beta Lambda Delta Chapter from Jefferson
State College in Alabama won Most Distinguished Chapter honors for the
second consecutive year.
Finalists to Most Distinguished
Chapter were:
First Finalist, Kappa Alpha Chapter,
Holmes Community College, Goodman Campus, Mississippi.
Second
Finalist, Beta Theta Kappa Chapter, Butte College, California
Third
Finalist, Beta Gamma Epsilon Chapter, Stark State College, Ohio
Fourth
Finalist, Alpha Alpha Theta Chapter, Cecil College, Maryland
Fifth
Finalist, Alpha Psi Tau Chapter, Ozarks Technical Community College,
Missouri.
A complete list of 2009 Hallmark Awards results,
including the Top 100 Chapters, is available
online.
Phi Theta Kappa Executive Director Rod
Risley received the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award. The late Anthony
"Tony" Sadberry, a former National Officer and member of the Board
of Directors and a Foundation Trustee, was also named a Distinguished Alumnus.
Dan
Bailey, advisor at Ashland Community and Technical College in Kentucky,
was elected Advisor Representative to the Phi Theta Kappa Board of Directors.
Billy
Wilson, advisor at Holmes Community College, Goodman Campus, in Mississippi,
was elected Secretary of the Association of Chapter Advisors.
Chosen
to receive 2009 Mosal Awards were advisors Dan Bailey, Ashland
Community and Technical College, Kentucky; and Gigi Delk, Tyler
Junior College, Texas. Mosal Awards include stipends of $5,000 each for
personal professional development.
During the Convention
it was announced that Phi Theta Kappa has met the match for the Hites Scholarship
Challenge, which will create a $1 million scholarship endowment. Ray Hites,
speaking for the Hites Family Community College Scholarship Foundation,
announced that a second Hites Challenge will be established.
During
Phi Theta Kappa's first-ever Honors in Action Academy, some 500 members
and advisors participated in a clean-up and beautification project with
Keep Grapevine Beautiful. Watch the website for photos and media coverage,
coming soon!
Convention attendees also heard keynote addresses
from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Dr. Fareed Zakaria, followed by special
Educational Forums to discuss issues and ideas presented and to provide
direction for developing Honors
in Action projects.
Phi Theta Kappa's 2010 Convention
will be held April 8-10 in Orlando, Florida, and the theme will be Celebrating
Honors in Action. Visit the 2010
Convention website for more information, and watch the website
for new additions during the coming year.
