Changing lives. Changing communities.
Project Graduation, a Phi Theta Kappa civic engagement initiative, has touched hundreds of thousands of lives in the five years since its adoption as an international chapter project - and we're celebrating with a brand new look and updated resources to make this year the best ever!
Over 440,000 food items and over 355,000 books: that is the impact that Phi Theta Kappa chapters have made in five short years. What began as one New Jersey community college's service project has grown into an international initiative, with over 500 chapters participating and thousands of books and food items donated to local community service organizations annually.
"This is really what makes Project Graduation unique," said Chapter Programs Coordinator Garon Tate, who administers the program at Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters. "The needs in a community are met by individuals within that same community. Our goal is that the availability of resources such as food and books within a community will eventually eliminate issues of hunger and low literacy levels altogether."
The idea behind Project Graduation was to create an opportunity where community college graduates could play a role in eliminating hunger and low literacy levels in their communities. "This civic engagement opportunity could be the first in what we hope will be a lifetime of service for these college graduates," Tate continued.
Project Graduation emphasizes individual responsibility, by allowing participants to take a very personal approach to improving their communities. For many chapters, that is a key reason for continuing involvement in the program. Preston Schmidt, 2006-07 International Vice President - Division III, agrees. "I like working with Project Graduation because it's more hands-on than some community service projects. When you bring donations to your local community relief organizations, you can actually see the impact that your chapter is making in the lives of those in need."
In order for chapters to implement Project Graduation effectively with minimal effort, Headquarters offers a variety of program resources. In 2007, participating chapters will see a fresh look for these materials, as well as new resources designed to maximize the impact of each Project Graduation event.
As in past years, chapters enrolling in the program will automatically receive a packet of printed resources, including the redesigned Project Graduation Planning Guide and posters. New for 2007, coordinating table tents will also be included in each Project Graduation packet. The posters and table tents can be placed around campus to advertise your event, and both offer plenty of space for your chapter to promote the date, time, location and the type of items you are collecting.
The Project Graduation website at www.projectgraduation.org also boasts a variety of resources for chapters. Here you'll find downloadable versions of the posters and Planning Guide, promotional resources including press release and media advisory templates, and a new Project Graduation calendar to help chapters keep up with dates and deadlines as their event approaches.
The new and redesigned promotional pieces, however, are not the only program enhancements; this year, chapters will find it easier to update collection numbers on the Project Graduation Success Form. Chapters may now submit the Success Form and later log back in to easily make changes to their collection numbers. This is especially useful for chapters who collect items throughout the year, rather than only at graduation. If more donations come in after the Success Form is submitted, simply log back in and update the form.
Chapters may get involved by completing the Enrollment Form at www.projectgraduation.org. For questions, email project.graduation@ptk.org or call 601.984.3555.
Learn more about Project Graduation by attending an Educational Forum or visiting the Programs Plaza in the Academic Martketplace at the Phi Theta Kappa International Convention.
