Hallmark Awards Resources
Sample of a 2004 Fellowship Hallmark Award - Winning Essay
Nu Chi Chapter
Chipola College
Marianna, Florida
"Come Together": Translating the Humanity of Our Communities
On August 15, 1965, New York's Shea Stadium was overtaken by the most popular band ever to hit the states. Their appearance in front of over 55,000 fans was the first ever to be held in a stadium of any size and broke world records in terms of attendance and gross revenue. The Beatles were huge. Their lyrics reflected a generation and became synonymous with the ideals of an era. Just as the Beatles' music transcribed the emotion of a people, Nu Chi strives to translate the humanity of a community. The concert at Shea Stadium lives on in our memories and hearts because the music unified those people in that moment. That goal of unity and power is not unlike Nu Chi's goal to bring voices together and create a movement for the betterment of the world. We are striving to become the ambassadors of a vision. The Beatles paved the way for the music world as we know it; and in parallel to their achievement, our chapter is steadily trying to bring together fellow citizens so that we too may influence the beat of our generation.
The objective from the beginning has been to fulfill "A Day in the Life: The 20/20 Challenge," a comprehensive endeavor focusing on fusing people with common passions to commit at least 24 hours a semester to public service. Furthermore, the campaign challenges neighborhoods to collectively perform 20,000 hours of service and raise $20,000 to donate to charitable causes. In light of this goal, Nu Chi members have attempted to bridge efforts between those on our campus, in our community, and around the nation. Presenting "The 20/20 Challenge" to college orientation classes was one of the first steps in realizing our purpose. Joining forces with other clubs on campus, such as Phi Beta Lambda, afforded us another opportunity to fulfill the Challenge by raising funds and enlisting the help of others to support non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. The collaboration has produced a bond that continues to thrive.
Nu Chi's hand in college activities is based on the idea that Phi Theta Kappa begins with the aspirations and passions of students. Implementing programs of support has been vital to our chapter, and we have used our resources to start a Returning Students Assistance Program, which has enabled us to help those who attempt to seamlessly reenter the college system. One of the most successful campus undertakings has been the "Action or Apathy" Campaign. This movement, centered on the goal of raising awareness of legislative issues, continues to help students realize the power of their opinions and encourages them to fulfill their civic responsibilities. Voter registration packets were distributed to any faculty, staff, or students ready and willing to actively voice their opinions, and to date, Nu Chi has registered over 125 people. These activities and programs keep us tied to our college; they help remind classmates that though our focus may progress to more complicated tempos, the college remains the root of the rhythm of Phi Theta Kappa.
Reaching beyond our campus is essential to fulfill "The 20/20 Challenge" and allows us to establish a line of communication between Nu Chi and our neighbors, local schools, and civic organizations. Creating a mentoring program at the McLane Center, a local community center for underprivileged children, has allowed Phi Theta Kappans to become active members in the lives of more than 50 children in our area. By working with them weekly and holding community festivals, we have had the chance to teach fundamental values and help them learn health and wellness objectives that could dramatically change their existence. Similarly, the Chipola Regional Honors Coalition has aided our quest to maintain connections with local schools. The coalition, a network of representatives from 11 high school honors societies, has enabled Nu Chi to support them as they participate more actively in the community; one such high school was able to assist Nu Chi in raising money for needy families and others contributed to Project Graduation activities. Furthermore, Nu Chi's Team in Training, volunteers who ran a marathon while raising funds for life saving research, worked with local high school Beta Clubs to organize change drives. Their efforts contributed to the $13,000 raised for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. These projects and campaigns create a harmony between college life and community involvement, which takes us one step further toward our "20/20" goal.
One of the most wide reaching goals Nu Chi embraced has been a campaign of commitment from citizens in all walks of life. Nu Chi's Organ Donation Campaign is a crusade to encourage citizens to register as organ donors. We have presented information to college students and local community members, and also to more than 100 Phi Theta Kappa chapters across our region and the nation.
Our chapter strives to build ties of goodwill with other chapters and to encourage them as they build their organization. We have met with chapter officers at Gulf Coast Community College to discuss ways to implement hallmark activities and have assisted Keiser College with induction ceremonies. We have built a relationship with our sister chapter at Guam Community College by sharing Organ Donation Campaign information and involving them in "The 20/20 Challenge." This bond has also made it possible for Nu Chi to host one Guam chapter member at the 2004 Phi Theta Kappa International Convention, an opportunity we hope will inspire them to further success.
Through the "20/20 Challenge" we have united thousands toward the hope of a better world. While donating over $31,000 directly to charities, Nu Chi has also raised over $33,000 in conjunction with other civic organizations. Sparking humanitarian interest was the goal of the Challege from conception, and participants have been able to spearhead projects, programs, and campaigns that unite people with a common melody.
Inspiring people toward a common good has been a priority to Nu Chi, and we believe that maintaining rhythm with our college, sustaining harmony with the community, and uniting the melody of our world will better allow us to unite a crowd as joyous as The Beatles' at Shea stadium. All too often we are left without an anthem, whether it be of hope or goodwill. So, in times of strife and confusion it is up to organizations like Phi Theta Kappa to unify our emotions and strike a chord in the humanity within us all. The concert at Shea Stadium was historic, not because four boys from Liverpool played instruments on a baseball field, but because over 55,000 people came together as one body and one soul dedicated to the beat of a generation. Our chapter is striving to replicate that excitement and share that same fever of dedication to the goal of a better world. We can only hope that we will be able to so poignantly capture the hearts and minds of our fellow man.
