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February/March
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Phi Theta Kappa’s first Satellite Seminar Series, held in the fall of 2001, was an overwhelming success. More than 220 two-year colleges subscribed to this series on the topic, “Customs, Traditions, and Celebrations: The Human Drive for Community,” and many of these colleges sponsored seminars and invited high school students to participate. The activities developed from these seminars have been some of the most successful Honors Study Topic activities in the Society’s history. They led to several first-time campus seminars, several first-time honors courses, and to broad-based community outreach programs. Due to the positive response from so many of you, Phi Theta Kappa, in conjunction with the National Collegiate Honors Council, is currently in the process of planning for the next Satellite Series in the fall of 2002. There will be five exciting new presentations on the 2002-04 Honors Study Topic, “The Dimensions and Directions of Health: Choices in the Maze.” In addition to satellite seminar activities, other successful projects have taken place across the country. At Macon State College in Macon, Georgia, the Phi Theta Kappa chapter hosted a presentation on the history of Macon and the significance of customs, traditions, and celebrations in the development of their community. Chapter officers sent letters of invitation to faculty members asking them to bring their classes to the interactive presentation. The Georgia chapter also coordinated its tenth annual film/lecture program, this year featuring a look at our honors topic as reflected in the film, The Fountainhead. The chapter along with the college sponsored a study of the “Old Verities of the Old South” through a live performance by John Maxwell as William Faulkner, the Nobel Laureate. Phi Theta Kappans at Fresno City College in California had a cultural potluck Christmas dinner in which members brought popular dishes from their widely varied cultural backgrounds. The College’s Honors Colloquium features a variety of activities and student presentations on the Honors Study Topic, and several students have also made presentations in other settings. One recent presentation was entitled “Winter Celebrations of Various Cultures.” The presentation described the celebrations of Hispanic, Islamic, Jewish, and Chinese cultures, with special emphases on Christmas, Ramadan, Hanukkah and the Chinese New Year. The chapter of Owensboro Community College in Owensboro, Kentucky, worked with the Student Government Association to produce a “Fall Fling” on the Honors Study Topic. Each campus organization selected a different culture and sold representative foods. Each group wore the costumes of its selected culture/country and provided information about past and present customs, traditions and celebrations. In LaJunta, Colorado, Phi Theta Kappa members at Otero Junior College held a “Celebration of Community.” Members and guests enjoyed a potluck supper, consisting of dishes from various ethnic groups, and even provided recipes for the dishes to the participants. As the members ate, they enjoyed a presentation by Dr. Leo Maslov, Otero’s first Fulbright Scholar in Residence. Dr. Maslov came to the college from the east coast of Russia. The chapter of Southern Maine Community College in South Portland has organized several activities to promote “the human drive for a better community.” Working with other community organizations, businesses, law enforcement and senior citizen groups, the chapter has provided many services to the needy and worked to promote unity and healing after the September 11 tragedy through such activities as initiating a relief fund and distributing red, white, and blue ribbons. Chapter members also read stories to children in the community, sponsor Honors Topic movie and discussion nights (with food) on campus, and hold a faculty lecture series on Honors Topic issues. Food and clothing drives have been part of the chapter’s “Let’s Make a Difference” emphasis. Sponsoring field trips for young students to such places as the local aquaculture lab is also part of their comprehensive program. For more information on the Honors Study Topic, contact Director of Honors Programs Billy Wilson at 601.984.3551.
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