Speakers, Presentations Showcase "Paradox" for Honors Institute Participants
Phi Theta Kappa's Honors Institute concluded June 21, following a week
of presentations
devoted to the Honors
Study Topic, The Paradox of Affluence: Choices, Challenges,
and Consequences.
Phi Theta Kappa staff members Susan
Edwards, Monika Byrd and Jennifer Stanford gave a joint presentation on
The Phi Theta Kappa Experience - Putting Honors Into Action, and
followed with a roundtable discussion. Honors in Action projects are based
on the Honors Study Topic, and integrate two or more of the Society Hallmarks
of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Fellowship.
During
the Town Hall meeting, Honors Program Committee member Rob Carey moderated
audience comments on key issues related to the paradox of affluence, demonstrated
with film clips. Carey serves as advisor at Pima Community College in Arizona,
and is Chair of the Association of Chapter Advisors.
The Town
Hall meeting was the Modschiedler Lecture, honoring Dr. John Modschiedler,
former chapter advisor at College of DuPage in Illinois.
A Reader's
Theatre presentation of The Continental Divide demonstrated
the paradox of affluence through an account of two couples of differing
economic and social status, how they viewed wealth, and how wealth or the
lack of it affected their happiness.
Laura Taggert, founder
of the Reader's Theatre at Lone Star College-CyFair in Texas, directed
the production and joined Michelle Brown of CyFair and Honors Institute
participants Kenneth Kerr and Larry Polk as cast members. Kerr, a Faculty
Scholar, is advisor at Frederick Community College in Maryland. Polk,
Secretary of the Association of Chapter Advisors, is advisor at Richland
College in Texas.
The Reader's Theatre was presented as the
Blank Lecture. Professor Robert Blank, a former New York advisor, and former
New England/Middle States Regional Coordinators, served as the Honors
Institute Coordinator for many years.
Kappa Klatch, a longtime
Honors Institute tradition, featured participants using literature
and music - some original - to depict the paradox of affluence.
Kappa
Klatch was directed by Connie LaMarca-Frankel, Florida Regional Coordinator,
and Richard Rouillard, advisor at Oklahoma City Community College.
Kappa
Klatch participants included the Phi Theta Kappa International Officers;
Courtney Boddie, Janet Asay, Kim Rodrigues, David Sigmund, Robin Rich-Coates,
Katie Ulibarri, Bart Cline, Bobby Marshall, Melissa Leyva, Tejin Lakdawala,
David Kerr, Estee Dahan, Janna Walton, Michael Miller, Juan Calle, Antoinette
Castillo, Leo Savage, Antoinette Wilson, Connie Myers, Jennifer Wisdom,
Rikky Isaac, Jody Lee Duek, Rochelle Baker, Shasta Nelson, Johnna Atkinson-Bigelow,
Steve Uyeda, Rosalyn Eishen, Roger Ekins, Chasity Maldonado, Richard
Rouillard and Joe Millas.
Participants also raised more than
$3,800 for the Hites
Scholarship Challenge, through donations and pledges.
Free
time in San Francisco, and passes to many of the city's attractions, were
also enjoyed by participants.
Phi Theta Kappa's Honors Institute
was created in 1968 as part of the Society's 50th anniversary celebration.
