STLCC-Meramec recognized at the International festival in Orlando, Fla., receiving four awards.
Shane Rice
– News Editor –
Xi Lambda, the Phi Theta Kappa chapter at STLCC-Meramec, was recognized with four awards at the international festival last month in Orlando, Fla.
The chapter was honored the Distinguished Chapter Award based on their contributions for the society’s hallmarks of leadership, scholarship, service and fellowship, Jessica Thurston, secretary and treasurer for Xi Lambda, said.
Thurston said the award was given to 25 of more than 1,200 chapters of Phi Theta Kappa internationally.
Marina Allen, president of Xi Lambda, received the Distinguished Chapter President award for her efforts in several programs, including a battery recycling project, in which the chapter recycled more than 350 pounds of batteries, and the organization of the regional conference held last year in Potosi, Mo.
“I’m glad I was able to receive this award, but the help of the vice presidents and members of Phi Theta Kappa are the only reason I believe it was possible,” Allen said. “We’re here to help each other rise and inspire, and I believe we were able to do that.”
James Egan, vice president of leadership for Xi Lambda, received a Distinguished Chapter Officer Award for various contributions to Xi Lambda, including his efforts in helping to organize Civics Week, a campus event that studied education, health care, the environment and the Constitution.
“The idea behind Civics Week was to give the Meramec community a chance to see how they can advocate as citizens for more responsible social change,” said Egan.
Both the Distinguished Chapter President and Distinguished Chapter Officer Awards are given out to 30 members nationwide.
Phi Theta Kappa encourages its scholars to become involved in the society’s hallmarks of fellowship, scholarship, service and leadership. Xi Lambda Vice President of Communications Vincent Hayden accepted the Leadership Hallmark Award on behalf of the chapter.
“It’s important that we facilitate others’ leadership potential. We give [members] a platform to try on leadership. Success in the leadership hallmark means we were successful in giving our membership leadership opportunities,” Egan said.
Allen said the international conference was a wonderful experience and that the main point of these conventions and award ceremonies is to help build leadership and scholarship skills, and to assist in deepening a person’s educational thinking.
“Every year, Phi Theta Kappa tries to get really engaging speakers that inspire members to think deeper,” Allen said.
This year, the keynote speakers at the conference included Rachel Maddow, MSNBC contributor, and Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent to CNN.
Maddow and Gupta were chosen in light of Phi Theta Kappa’s honors study topic, “The Democratization of Information: Power, Peril and Promise.”
“The chapter is exploring the power, the peril and the promise of media in efforts to make our society a better-informed audience of media and information consumption,” Egan said.
Egan said that one of the most memorable lessons he learned at the convention was said by Maddow. “I remember her saying, having a good job title is not as important as doing a good job.”
Phi Theta Kappa has been involved with many projects that have not only helped St. Louis communities, but have also inspired others to think deeper and live better.
Referencing Maddow’s keynote address, Egan said, “If you do what you love and you make it a point to inspire those around you to do what they love, then things just get done.”
