Out of this World Altruism

By Shirley Bruns, ITE Board Chairman

The International Teachers of Excellence program was established in 1961, making it the first International Altruistic project. It was considered both an altruistic project and a World Understanding project. The first scholar arrived in 1963 and 260 have followed.

How would you personally like to assist extraordinary young women educators improve the education in their countries?

Congratulations, you do. Each Alpha Delta Kappa member has $1.00 of her dues headed straight for this purpose. Chapters

help too. Every year, the International Teacher Education scholarship program serves up to seven scholars from various countries to attain their masters’ degrees and return home to make a difference in their world.

It doesn’t stop there. One of the highest altruistic outputs should be focusing on the members who agree to sponsor these awesome scholars. Students might come from tropical areas and arrive without winter wear. U.S. holidays might leave them alone unless a sponsor steps in. Being without transportation, trips to the grocery are appreciated. Sponsors invite them into our A∆K world. This might even begin at the airport when the young women arrive from their long journeys. It is expanded by having them visit chapters and larger meetings. This gives the students an idea of the size of the organization supporting them with $10,000 cash and caring each year. Beyond A∆K, these sponsors invite them into their personal families. Holiday and family tables may have an extra plate added.

“We’ve shared many meals, run errands and done a variety of activities around the city. We’ve enjoyed sharing each other’s cultures including numerous new food experiences.” Diane Thompson, WA, Alpha Delta, sponsor of Trang Hoang

How are these sponsors chosen? It begins with the selection of the university the student will attend. Then the word is shared through Headquarters that we need co-sponsors for the scholar. Questions arise such as: Do we have a chapter close to this university? Then we contact the State President to request sponsors. They will receive information from the ITE Board and Headquarters outlining their responsibilities. It might seem overwhelming at first, but after the sponsors meet the student, the cultural sharing and mutual admiration begin.

Some members have sponsored more than once. Some have sponsored and also served on the ITE Board. Bobbi Boyd, Sue Couper, Yolanda Gonzales, and Sherryl Longhofer are among them. Many sponsors have been instrumental in bringing scholars into chapter/state membership as Honorary Members. Since the policy was approved in 2019, we currently have three honorary ITE members with more in the planning stages. This is a wonderful way to share the student, the experience, and the altruism efforts.

“The organization has created an environment of care and support that is unmatched anywhere.” ~ROHINA SEDIQUI, AFGHANISTAN

“Every card, every dollar, every ‘We are so proud of you’ was a lift to me through my program.” Eli Ugarte, Chile, honorary member of CA Alpha Alpha

Many of the sponsors realize that they can do more for the student by sharing the experience, so they devise a method through their state president or regional IVP to delegate different months for different groups including the S/P/N’s. Contact information for the scholars is available on our website.

“The $10,000 is nothing to be scoffed at, however, the community that comes with the ITE scholarship was priceless and something that other scholarships do not offer.” Njeri Gachathi, Kenya.

ITE Student Enters Ph.D. Program

By Florence Van Dyke, PA Sustaining Member

ITE scholar Trang Pham, currently a Ph.D. Candidate at Pennsylvania State University, has been awarded acceptance into the Barbara L. Jackson Scholars Network. This two-year program provides formal networking, mentoring, and professional development for graduate students of color or minorities who intend to become professors of educational leadership. In November Trang virtually presented two of her papers at the UCEA (University Council of Educational Administrators) 2020 Graduate Student Summit.