Phi Theta Kappa wraps up outstanding year

† † †There are two words that†best describe Northeast Teas Community College?s Phi Theta Kappa chapter: hard†working.

† † †That hard work paid off this†past school year as the local chapter received numerous awards, including†Outstanding Student Organization at NTCC.

† † †?We are a very busy chapter.†The students do a lot of service projects,? said Dr. Melissa Weinbrenner, an NTCC†history professor who serves as the advisor for Phi Theta Kappa?s Alpha Mu Chi†chapter at NTCC.

† † †One notable accomplishment†is the chapter?s involvement in the Titus County Cares Backpack Program.

† † †?We started working on that†project three years ago and they?ve asked us to do more and more campuses each†year because our members are so reliable,? Dr. Weinbrenner said. ?I?m so proud†of them for that.?

† † †The mission of Phi Theta†Kappa, an international honor society for two-year colleges, is to build†servant leaders and to develop scholarships opportunities for its members.

† † † Dr. Weinbrenner, who has†taken the Alpha Mu Chi chapter from a 0-star chapter to a 5-star chapter in the†five years she has been the advisor, has a personal stake in her students?†accomplishments because she was a Phi Theta Kappa student when she attended†Tyler Junior College.

† † †?I understand what Phi Theta†Kappa can do for these students. My parents didn?t have any money and I went†all the way through to my PhD. When you don?t have money, scholarships are all the†more critical, so that?s been my goal as an advisor,? Dr. Weinbrenner said. ?I†seek out opportunities for the students to go as far as possible in their†education. I know how important that is, so all the work we do as a chapter, I†hope, translates into success for them in their careers and helping them get†scholarships down the road.?

† † †Dr. Weinbrenner?s passion†for the chapter, fueled by her personal story, led to her being named one of 30†Distinguished Advisors out of 1,300 chapter advisors in the U.S. and eight†other countries as well as Most Distinguished Advisor for the Phi Theta Kappa†Texas Region.

† † †While she?s honored to have†received those awards, she?s most proud of her students? accomplishments,†including Freshman Isaac Burris, who will serve as the Texas Region District†III vice president this year. As part of his appointment, Burris will take a major†leadership role in planning and presiding over three regional meetings and four†district meetings and will be asked to speak at the district?s induction†ceremonies at 18 college campuses.

† † †?Phi Theta Kappa believes in†student empowerment, so the students are very involved in the planning process,?†Dr. Weinbrenner said. ?This is my joy as an advisor. I get to see students take†on these positions, service projects and scholarship writing. They do this. I†just facilitate.?