Iowa Region Raises Funds for Guam Chapter to be Represented at International Convention
Jackson, MS- With help from Phi Theta Kappa's Iowa Region, Guam Community
College chapter officer Mari Galeno can now attend the 2006 International
Convention in Seattle, Washington. A team of Iowa Regional Officers spent
the summer of 2005 raising funds so that an international student could
attend the upcoming 2006 Convention.
After facilitating an
International Convention Educational Forum with Guam Community College
advisor Eric Chong, Iowa Regional Coordinator Nancy Woods realized how
it expensive it is for Guam members to travel to Phi Theta Kappa events - for
example, Guam is 5,666 miles from Seattle. "When I found out a plane ticket
from Guam to Seattle would cost $1,500, I knew we had to help," said Woods.
"So I presented the idea to my Regional Officers who became really excited
about the project."
The Iowa Regional Officers - Jessica Arends,
Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny Campus; Laura Holm, Hawkeye
Community College; Melissa Magin, Des Moines Area Community College,
Boone Campus; and James Sturgeon, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids
Campus - started a campaign with "Got Guam" t-shirts and "I Love Guam" bumper
stickers, beginning at the International Leadership Conference at the
Center for Excellence, Phi Theta Kappa International Headquarters in
Jackson, Mississippi. "Jackson was our first big kick-off," said Woods.
After word got out about their plan, many chapters in the Iowa
Region began to contribute to the cause. Bake sales and raffles were just
some of the fund-raisers held by Iowa chapters but Woods says most of the
funds came from donations from other campuses, mostly the colleges' presidents.
"A huge thank you needs to be given to Rob Denson, Des Moines Area Community
College president, for donating $500," said Woods.
Woods is
not the only one who is thankful. Mari Galeno is appreciative of the Iowa
Region's effort. "It is really hard for us to participate in Phi Theta Kappa's
international events because of Guam's location and financial matters.
Words can't explain how grateful I am to the Iowa Region for giving me the
chance to attend the Convention in Seattle. I can't wait to meet them and
thank them personally," said Galeno.
In December Chong presented
Galeno with a $1,500 check from the Iowa Regional Officers to aid in travel
expenses to International Convention. But Woods says they're still not
done. "We are actually in Phase Two of our project. Phase One was raising
the funds for the plane ticket, but now we need to raise money to support Mari's
accommodations and food expenses," said Woods.
Phi Theta Kappa,
the largest honor society for higher education, has more than 1.5 million
members at 1,200 community colleges in all 50 states, U.S. territories,
Canada and Germany. Every year Phi Theta Kappa hosts the International
Convention that draws more than 3,500 of its members from all areas of the
country and abroad.
