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The Mu Delta Chapter of Kansas City Kansas Community College was named Phi Theta Kappa’s Most Distinguished Chapter at the 2002 International Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. “Mu Delta is number one!” We said these words in disbelief after the Hallmark Awards Gala at the 2002 International Convention. As the top five chapters were announced, our officers and advisors sat in the convention hall, feeling dejected. For the first time in several years, we were not named Distinguished Chapter of our region. We had won only one Hallmark Award at the International Convention, and we felt lucky to have also won a Distinguished Chapter Award. This had been a very different year for us. Throughout the year there had been foreshadowings of the Most Distinguished Chapter lying at the end of the yellow brick road. The first came long before the 2002 International Convention during the 2001-02 chapter officer campaign when, in her campaign speech, Erinn Bogner predicted, “It was the 84th International Convention in Nashville. Mu Delta claimed the seats closest to the stage. We sat together squeezing each other’s hands, with our eyes closed, silently praying. After what seemed like forever, (Executive Director) Rod Risley announced, ‘The Most Distinguished Chapter is. . .Mu Delta from Kansas City Kansas Community College!’” The second foreshadowing occurred at the 2001 Chapter Officers Retreat, when the officers wrote 13 goals for the upcoming year. The eighth was “Be #1.” The officers made plans for realizing 12 of the goals with no discussion of the eighth goal. I asked, “What about your goal to be #1?” The officers were quiet until one asked me, “What will we have to do to become #1?” “You will have to remain a steadfast team with each of you supporting the ideas of the others,” I said. “You will need to work together with each pulling equal weight. When you feel overwhelmed, each of you will know that the team will lighten your load. Criticism of one another is destructive, and it cannot be allowed. When decisions need to be made, they will be made as a team. Your strength comes from supporting and respecting one another equally. “Your first task will be to write a comprehensive plan of action for each hallmark.” As the planning began, I asked, “Is being #1 the most important goal of your year, or will you be able to say at the end that even without any awards you had a great time?” Unanimously, the officers agreed that enjoying one another and being a team was all they really needed. Throughout the summer, the officers planned projects that the membership later helped to implement. After all the projects were completed and the Hallmark Award entries submitted, the students didn’t mention their desire to be the Most Distinguished Chapter. Looking back on their year, the officers knew that they had completed quality projects and had done their best to present them. They expected to win some Hallmark Awards if nothing else. However, they left the Convention’s first session empty handed and the second and the third and the fourth. They were puzzled, dejected and very quiet. Before the Hallmark Awards Gala, two officers made dinner reservations for everyone. Then while everyone napped, these two created awards for each officer and the advisors and guests. These would be presented as a surprise at the dinner. During dinner, two of our officers made the award presentations saying, “Whether or not we are recognized for our quality work by Phi Theta Kappa, we recognize the value and quality of each person’s work.” At last, during the final evening the chapter began winning awards. However, until they heard Rod Risley utter the words, “Kansas City Kansas. . .” they did not believe they were going to realize their eighth goal. The videotape of them approaching the stage shows them crying and holding each other in a powerful rush of emotion. What they had dared to believe was possible had come true!
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