Phi Theta Kappans Carry Torch as Volunteers for Great American Cleanup Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society kicked off its 2009 International Convention with a volunteer effort to benefit the host city of Grapevine, Texas, on April 15. As part of the Honors in Action Academy prior to the International Convention, 500 Phi Theta Kappa college honor students and faculty advisors volunteered their time in a partnership effort with Keep America Beautiful affiliate Keep Grapevine Beautiful. Volunteers assisted with cleanup and beautification efforts at three sites in the Grapevine area including Rockledge Park, an Army Corp of Engineers property, and the shoreline of Lake Grapevine. Honors in Action projects integrate scholarly inquiry and research, leadership skills development and community service. “The teaching of servant leadership is central to the mission of Phi Theta Kappa, which sets us apart from nearly all other honor societies,” said Phi Theta Kappa’s Executive Director Rod A. Risley.
was able to plant the first Grapevine Community Garden with all of the produce going to the community’s “ecodisadvantaged.” “Members of Keep Grapevine Beautiful and Grapevine Parks and Recreation Department extend their greatest appreciation to this outstanding team of volunteers whose accomplishments were awesome,” said Tellin. “As Phi Theta Kappans we understand the importance of servant leadership,” said Dee Lauzon, Phi Theta Kappa’s 2008-2009 International Vice President for Division IV and a student at Lane Community College in Oregon. “We wanted to extend our learning to reach beyond our campuses to help a community still recovering from the 2007 floods.”
“ The teaching of servant leadership is central to the mission of Phi Theta Kappa, which sets us apart from nearly all other honor societies.” Ro d A. Ri sley, Phi Theta Kappa’s Executive Director
College honor students attending the Phi Theta Kappa Convention from around the world were also invited to bring flower, herb and vegetable seeds to beautify the Grapevine area and for Earth Week environmental activities in local elementary schools. All seeds were donated to Keep Grapevine Beautiful. Chapters not attending the Convention were encouraged to mail seeds to Keep Grapevine Beautiful for the effort. Mary Jo Tellin, executive director of Keep Grapevine Beautiful, reported that more than 500 volunteers worked 1,750 hours painting, landscaping, clearing debris and picking up 440 pounds of trash. She also reported that because of Phi Theta Kappa’s generous contribution of seeds, Keep Grapevine Beautiful, along with other community partners,
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, headquartered in Jackson, Miss., is the largest honor society in American higher education with 1,250 chapters on college campuses in all 50 states and in many nations throughout the world. It is estimated that 200,000 students participate in Phi Theta Kappa programs annually. Keep America Beautiful has been Phi Theta Kappa’s International Service Program partner of its “Operation Green: Improving Our Communities” program for the past four years with many chapters participating in Great American Cleanup events.
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