June 1998
Phi Theta Kappa member named Florida's Student of the Year
Editor's Note: Phi Theta Kappan Teresa Womble, a former candidate for International Office, was recently named Florida Student of the Year by Florida Leader magazine. The annual competition recognizes outstanding college students who support themselves through school by work and scholarships, demonstrate superior academic commitment, and eagerly volunteer their time and efforts in community and campus service. The Top 20 students receive statewide media attention and more than $35,000 in scholarships and prizes. The following article is reprinted by permission from Florida Leader.
Although she now says being a leader on campus "fits me as comfortably as a glove," Teresa Womble never imagined the impact she could have as a nontraditional student. A 46-year-old mother of three and grandmother of nine, Womble says although she works alongside much younger students, she approaches leading them from a peer perspective.
Phi Theta Kappa brings long lost sisters together
For many of us the reality of family means knowing our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, extended family and friends. No matter how far apart we are geographically, we are linked together as a family by experiences from childhood to old age. A family history binds us as a unit.
Now imagine having chapters missing from your family's history book. For more than thirty years missing chapters have been part of Phi Theta Kappan Brenda Workman's family story. Brenda is one of four children born to a young couple in California.
Less than a year after Workman's youngest sister Judi was born, the children's mother gave Judi up for adoption. Judi was adopted by a California couple who later moved to Indiana. "My dad left my mom with four babies," said Workman. "My grandfather wanted a better life for her [Judi] and thought that was too many for one mother to handle. It broke her heart."
