December 15, 2003

Dear Friends,

In troubling and stressful times, we seek those things that bring comfort. For some, comfort might be found in a box of chocolates, a big bowl of ice cream, a steaming cup of coffee or cocoa. Others may find their escape by listening to a new CD or rereading a favorite book. For most, something as simple as good news can lift spirits. I invite you to escape with me for a few brief moments to a world of good news.

Ivy League Schools - "Looking for a few good transfer students"

We have now added the names of Ivy League schools such as Harvard, Cornell, Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania to our list of 600 senior institutions offering $35 million in Phi Theta Kappa scholarships. Two new colleges in North Dakota recently announced Phi Theta Kappa scholarships, which means that transfer scholarships are now offered in 50 states.

Extra!! Read all about it!

In separate articles, The Chronicle of Higher Education and USA TODAY collaborated with Phi Theta Kappa on stories of how highly selective admissions institutions are now aggressively seeking community college transfer students. Anecdotal data we have purported for years that community college transfer students perform as well if not better academically than the native four-year college students has been proven in research studies conducted across the country. Our opportunity now is to push open the doors wider at highly selective institutions to accept more transfer students and offer more scholarships.

"Cooking" up Scholarships

For the past two years, Phi Theta Kappa has been working in partnership with the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation in Virginia to encourage our members to apply for their $30,000 scholarships awarded for the completion of baccalaureate studies. Foundation officials have been so impressed by the quality of our members and have been so moved by their tremendous financial need that all Jack Kent Cooke funds for undergraduate scholarships will now be directed to community college transfer students. Up to 30 $30,000 scholarships are being offered in 2004. This funding makes it possible for some of our members to attend highly selective admissions institutions which are recruiting transfer students.

The good news makes you proud, I know. Take a sip of your coffee and let's move on to some more…

Conquering a dreaded disease

No, we haven't conquered cancer, but no student organization is doing more to help provide the resources to find the cure than is Phi Theta Kappa. As part of our study program this year, our chapters are studying health issues and policies. For our service program, Phi Theta Kappa collaborates with the American Cancer Society. Our students serve as volunteers to help those with cancer and to raise funds for research. This past November, the American Cancer Society (ACS) presented Phi Theta Kappa with their Nationwide Youth Involvement Award during their Youth Leadership Summit in Dallas. Phi Theta Kappa chapters raised $344,000 for cancer research, more than any other student organization, including those at senior institutions.

Broadcasting "Live from our studios in Jackson, Mississippi"

Three years ago, we began broadcasting live satellite seminars using Mississippi's Public Broadcasting Studios located near the Center for Excellence. International experts are flown to Jackson to present live seminars on Phi Theta Kappa's Honors Study Topic. These experts take questions from our live studio audience of high school and college students along with email and call-in questions from the viewing audience. This year, we broke all records with nearly 400 colleges downlinking the final broadcast, a debate on the legalization of marijuana. The broadcast garnered a great deal of local media attention. Some local audiences had several hundred participants.

But teacher, that doesn't compute!

Phi Theta Kappa has received a $568,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to improve curricula to better prepare those students who want someday to teach K-12 mathematics and science courses. The grant provides community college faculty with mentoring services to enhance their teacher preparation programs for future math and science teachers. Through a vigorous selection process, 18 community colleges are chosen to work intensively with experienced college faculty.

Remembering the child "left behind"

Graduation is a time for celebration. It is also a time for remembering those whose dreams have not been fulfilled. Many, for reasons they cannot control, may never know the joy of walking across a stage at graduation, hearing their name called, or hearing their family members cheer. Children cannot learn if they are undernourished and cannot read. Two years ago, with the help of Ford's College Grad Program, Phi Theta Kappa launched Project Graduation - Feed a Body, Feed a Mind. Phi Theta Kappa chapters led efforts to collect books and canned goods from all those attending commencement - graduates, family members, staff, and faculty. Food items collected are taken to food shelters and books are taken to reading centers. This past year, a total of 438 chapters in 48 states enrolled in Project Graduation, increasing enrollment by more than 200% over 2002. In 2003, a total of 56,708 non-perishable food items and 39,499 books were collected. Feed a Body… Feed a Mind.

You invited how many people for dinner?

Often during the summer, regional coordinators travel to the Center for Excellence with their regional officers to tour the facility and to receive program instruction from our staff. Well, we thought we would be smart and set aside one weekend for all regional officers who wanted to visit the Center. We expected about 30 or so. Instead, we welcomed nearly 90 regional officers and regional coordinators from as far away as Alaska to our first-ever Regional Officer Days. Let's just say we were a cozy fit in the Center's meeting rooms. The unbridled enthusiasm of the group had the copper rotunda nearly popping off the Center for Excellence roof. The program was a huge success and clearly will be an annual event. Highlights included a trip to Canton to Dr. Mosal's home and the first offices of the Society.

A Promise Kept!

It's working! This scholarship program is aimed at helping Phi Theta Kappa members with funds to complete their associate degrees while encouraging participation in Phi Theta Kappa chapter activities. The results are in and these scholarship recipients are assuming leadership roles in Phi Theta Kappa. In just three short years, Leaders of Promise Scholarship recipients (awarded when they first become members of Phi Theta Kappa) have become regional officers, international officer candidates, Guistwhite Scholars, All-USA Academic Team nominees and winners, and New Century Scholars. Presently, we have funding to offer 30 $1,000 scholarships.

More scholarships must be offered because the need is so vast and growing. Tuition at our community colleges increased on average 14% last year - closing the doors to many students. Rough data suggest that 40% of Phi Theta Kappa members are Pell Grant recipients. Today, Pell Grants pay for only 40% of institutional costs. When the Pell program first started, the grants paid for 80% of costs.

Phi Theta Kappa demonstrates a continual ability to make a difference in the lives of others. We make differences by doing lots of little things to help students. That is what we need from all our friends. A little help from many people, over time, leads to big things. Please help us keep the good news coming by supporting our scholarship programs.

Good News

Now, sit back and pour yourself another cup of coffee or hot cocoa and reflect on how Phi Theta Kappa lifts spirits and raises aspirations - not only for those who become members - but also for those who someday hope to become members. Now that, my friend, is good news.

Sincerely,

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This page last modified -- Wednesday, 07-Jan-2004 10:22:41 CST (cwe)