The Journey
A newsletter for chapter advisors, chapter officers, and regional officers.

Making Great Strides
Notable Members and Advisors
By Annie Schott

Pennies from Heaven

Lynda-Jeanne Batie, a Phi Theta Kappa member from the Community College of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, recently won the 2001 Howard R. Swearer Student Humanitarian Award, $1,500 given annually to five community and senior college students in recognition for their outstanding public service to help strengthen or sustain a service program of their design or choice. Batie was the only community college student to receive the 2001 award.

“The award is especially significant to me because the grant money is going to the Community College of Philadelphia Women’s Center to establish a program whereby the Center can assist student leaders with funding for attendance at various seminars, workshops, conventions, etc. The award is allowing me to reach my life’s goal: to leave the world a better place for having lived in it.” said Batie, who spent 10 years of her life in an abusive marriage.

Minnesota Members Hike for Hope

Minn-Wi-Kota Regional Coordinator and Society advisor at Rainy River Community College Barb Murray recently came back from the adventure of a lifetime - inspired by 2001 International Convention Speaker Stacy Allison, the first American woman to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Murray, her husband Bob, past chapter president James Shipley and incoming chapter president Bridgit Amstrup hiked the Superior Hiking Trail. The Trail winds and climbs through the forests, hills and cliffs next to Lake Superior from just north of Duluth to the Canadian border - a total of 235 miles.

“Jim, Bridgit and I all heard Stacy Allison at the 2001 International Convention in Denver and were really inspired by her,” said Murray. “Especially me, who had just turned 50 and was thinking ‘I can’t do this!’ When I saw how small she was and realized what she had to have carried up those mountains, I thought ‘If she can do that, I can do the Superior Hiking Trail!’

The group worked with the Friends Against Abuse, a domestic abuse program in International Falls, Minnesota, in honor of Allison’s past history of spousal abuse.

“We decided to call our trip the ‘Hike for Hope’ and used it as a fundraiser,” continued Murray. “We had individuals and businesses sponsor our cause. The Hike for Hope was the hardest physical work I have ever done in my life, but I really have a great feeling of accomplishment and it was great fun!” added Murray.

Boy Wonder

When he was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa in 1999, Evan Lane sounded like any other student at Eastern New Mexico University in Roswell, New Mexico - he was just a little shorter. Lane, who became a member of the Society at age 13, already had a 4.0 college GPA while the rest of his peers were still in the 7th grade.

Lane became an active member of Phi Theta Kappa, serving his chapter as Public Relations Officer.

“College classes are a lot different than Junior High,” said Lane. “You don’t have to worry about peer pressure or disciplinary issues. You can ask questions and nobody laughs at you!”

Lane, who transferred to the New Mexico Military Institute, is still working on his associate’s degree. “I would like to have a career in avionics or electronics,” said Lane. Right now, however, he’s careful to take things one step at a time.

Serving Science

Bruce Oldfield, a science instructor and Phi Theta Kappa advisor at Broome Community College in Binghamton, New York, was chosen by the National Science Foundation to travel to Washington, D.C., to review grants for the Foundation. “I was a reviewer of geoscience grant applications whose purpose is to improve undergraduate science education,” said Oldfield. “I loved it - it was quite an honor for me".

“If I had one piece of advice, it would be for Phi Theta Kappa advisors to pass the word to science educators to apply for grant money to improve undergraduate science education,” said Oldfield. “There is a lot of money out there and not a lot of applications.”

If you know a notable member or advisor, send your story to Publications Coordinator Annie Schott or call 601.957.2241, ext. 513.

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This page last modified -- Friday, 14-Nov-2003 11:00:20 CST (llm)