Founders Day: Celebrating Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa observes its birthday on Founders Day, November 19. Phi Theta Kappa was founded in 1918 by presidents of two-year colleges in Missouri. The founders were seeking to recognize scholastic achievement by their students, and to establish a common purpose and standard for honors organizations on their different campuses. The founders chose to model their new Society after the prestigious senior honor society, Phi Beta Kappa. The name Phi Theta Kappa was taken from the initial letters of the three Greek words meaning wisdom, aspiration and purity.
Eleven years later, Phi Theta Kappa was officially recognized by the American Association of Junior Colleges on November 19, the date now traditionally observed as the Society's Founders Day.
Here are suggested ways your chapter can observe Phi Theta Kappa Founders Day!
THE WRITE STUFF:
Write an op-ed article for your school or local newspaper. Schedule an editorial board meeting to discuss the importance of planning ahead for college. Also, talk about your community college experience and its opportunities for excellence, like Phi Theta Kappa.
Write an op-ed article for your school or local newspaper. Schedule an editorial board meeting to discuss the importance of planning ahead for college. Also, talk about your community college experience and its opportunities for excellence, like Phi Theta Kappa.
SWEET NOTES
At Garden City Community College the chapter prepares sweet notes of appreciation for the college faculty and distributes them on Founders Day. Note cards bearing the message, "You're worth a GRAND in our eyes" and a message of appreciation are attached to 100 GRAND candy bars. The chapter also uses the opportunity to share a brief history of Phi Theta Kappa with the faculty.
At Garden City Community College the chapter prepares sweet notes of appreciation for the college faculty and distributes them on Founders Day. Note cards bearing the message, "You're worth a GRAND in our eyes" and a message of appreciation are attached to 100 GRAND candy bars. The chapter also uses the opportunity to share a brief history of Phi Theta Kappa with the faculty.
SAY IT WITH A BASKET:
Send a flower or fruit basket to your college president's office with a note explaining the special significance of Founders Day. This will draw attention to the organization and what it does for the campus.
Send a flower or fruit basket to your college president's office with a note explaining the special significance of Founders Day. This will draw attention to the organization and what it does for the campus.
SHOW YOUR SCHOLARSHIP WITH THE HONORS SEMINAR SERIES
Use Phi Theta Kappa's Honors Seminar Series to celebrate our birthday and mission as a scholastic Honor Society. Take advantage of this opportunity to bring high school honor students to your campus. Invite any prospective members at the college to attend the Honors Seminar Series also, and let them see how many opportunities for honors education are available in Phi Theta Kappa.
Use Phi Theta Kappa's Honors Seminar Series to celebrate our birthday and mission as a scholastic Honor Society. Take advantage of this opportunity to bring high school honor students to your campus. Invite any prospective members at the college to attend the Honors Seminar Series also, and let them see how many opportunities for honors education are available in Phi Theta Kappa.
SHARE OUR HISTORY
The chapter at the Community College of Denver celebrates Founders Day by educating chapter members on Phi Theta Kappa's history and promoting Operation Green, their campus project for a sustainable environment and they top the meeting off with Phi Theta Kappa birthday cake.
The chapter at the Community College of Denver celebrates Founders Day by educating chapter members on Phi Theta Kappa's history and promoting Operation Green, their campus project for a sustainable environment and they top the meeting off with Phi Theta Kappa birthday cake.
HIGH SCHOOL OUTREACH:
Invite a local middle school or high school class to a special chapter meeting or campus event and speak to them about preparing for college. Be sure to explain how membership in Phi Theta Kappa could help them obtain transfer scholarships and give them an edge with prospective employers.
Invite a local middle school or high school class to a special chapter meeting or campus event and speak to them about preparing for college. Be sure to explain how membership in Phi Theta Kappa could help them obtain transfer scholarships and give them an edge with prospective employers.
START A TRADITION:
The chapter at Richland College, Dallas, Texas, celebrates Founders Day in conjunction with Faculty Appreciation Week. The chapter provides coffee, pastries and fresh fruit to the faculty during the week. The chapter emails student messages of thanks and appreciation to the faculty. The chapter concludes the celebration by inviting the Excellence in Teaching Award Winner to become an Honorary Member of the chapter and speak at our Spring Induction Ceremony.
The chapter at Richland College, Dallas, Texas, celebrates Founders Day in conjunction with Faculty Appreciation Week. The chapter provides coffee, pastries and fresh fruit to the faculty during the week. The chapter emails student messages of thanks and appreciation to the faculty. The chapter concludes the celebration by inviting the Excellence in Teaching Award Winner to become an Honorary Member of the chapter and speak at our Spring Induction Ceremony.
AN APPLE A DAY:Provide a shiny red or golden apple for all faculty members in appreciation of their contribution to academic excellence. Attach a note explaining the significance of the date.
CELEBRATE AND SAMPLE
What's a celebration without cake? The chapter at Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs invites all students and faculty to join them for cake to celebrate Phi Theta Kappa's founding. Guests also have the opportunity to sample what Phi Theta Kappa is all about through the chapter's update on recent accomplishments and an opportunity to view the Honors Seminar videos.
What's a celebration without cake? The chapter at Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs invites all students and faculty to join them for cake to celebrate Phi Theta Kappa's founding. Guests also have the opportunity to sample what Phi Theta Kappa is all about through the chapter's update on recent accomplishments and an opportunity to view the Honors Seminar videos.
FASHION STATEMENT:Declare November 19 Phi Theta Kappa Day on campus. Ask all members to wear their Phi Theta Kappa t-shirts, hats, pins, and other apparel to school. Visit Recognitions Online for the latest in Society apparel and accessories.
MAKE YOUR MARK:
Honor Founders Day by honoring your own Phi Theta Kappa chapter, advisors, college president, chartering officers or alumni chapter with the purchase of a commemorative brick. Bricks naming your honorees will become a permanent part of the Alpha Courtyard at the Center for Excellence in Jackson, Mississippi. Bricks may be purchased by using the Alpha Courtyard Order Form, or calling 601.984.3504 ext 3577.
Honor Founders Day by honoring your own Phi Theta Kappa chapter, advisors, college president, chartering officers or alumni chapter with the purchase of a commemorative brick. Bricks naming your honorees will become a permanent part of the Alpha Courtyard at the Center for Excellence in Jackson, Mississippi. Bricks may be purchased by using the Alpha Courtyard Order Form, or calling 601.984.3504 ext 3577.
FLY THE FLAGS:
Hang banners in your school or on your campus announcing Phi Theta Kappa Founders Day. Take your exhibit into the community by utilizing display spaces at your local library, mall kiosks or in storefront windows.
Hang banners in your school or on your campus announcing Phi Theta Kappa Founders Day. Take your exhibit into the community by utilizing display spaces at your local library, mall kiosks or in storefront windows.
VISIBILITY COUNTS:Set up a campus booth for the entire week of Founders Day and distribute information about Phi Theta Kappa, benefits of membership, scholarship programs, Annual Convention and the Honors Institute. Consider incorporating the Phi Theta Kappa's promotional posters, promotional slide show and Member Benefits Brochures into your into your visibility campaign.
COLLEGE NIGHTS:
Sponsor a special College Night on campus aimed at recruiting returning adult students. Work with local churches, civic clubs, social service organizations and the media to publicize the event. Be sure that financial aid and scholarship personnel attend, and emphasize special services (such as on-campus daycare and night classes) for adult students. Be sure to provide childcare for the event itself.
Sponsor a special College Night on campus aimed at recruiting returning adult students. Work with local churches, civic clubs, social service organizations and the media to publicize the event. Be sure that financial aid and scholarship personnel attend, and emphasize special services (such as on-campus daycare and night classes) for adult students. Be sure to provide childcare for the event itself.
