Seven members of Alpha Mu Chi, NTCC’s five-star, award-winning chapter of Phi Theta Kappa attended the Texas Honors Institute (THI) held at Tyler Junior College from July 14th through July 16th. The theme of the conference was “Play it forward, Change the World.”
Our newest member Esperanza Mendoza Lemus commented, “In a short time, I met some of the most inspirational and impactful people of my life. I got to listen to interesting stories from guest speakers and learned something from every one of them! I also made amazing friends and got to enjoy my last night playing the blindfolded version of Hide and Seek. It was hilarious and a night I will always remember!”
The guest speakers featured at THI included magician and speaker Anthony Dempsey, Professor Carla Fanning, who spoke on the use of play as a stress management technique, Jazz/Ragtime concert pianist Ethan Uslan, and award-winning ESPN journalist Jay Harris. During his talk, Harris shared the importance of “rerouting,” which he implemented throughout his own professional journey as he progressed from a student leader to his career on ESPN.
The lessons personified by our guest speakers were most memorable for our current Vice President Ruby Ferretiz who commented, “My experience at THI was filled with fun general sessions, where I learned about others as well as myself. I learned that I am valuable in life and I define my own values through experiences and decisions. I learned that my opinion matters and that an educated opinion creates an impact. I enjoyed my three-day stay, and if given the chance, would do it again!”
During the countless UNO and Loteria games, hours dancing, and time spent with their seminar groups, members of Alpha Mu Chi were able to make new friends from all over the Texas Region and reunite with old ones. The time spent with the seminar groups became a journey of personal growth and connection. Our chapter engaged in meaningful discussions, shared experiences, and supported one another, allowing us to forge connections within these groups that became a pillar of strength, fostering a profound sense of belonging and unity.
As Vice President of Communications, Victoria Matiz unsurprisingly enjoyed the fellowship and communications aspect of the convention. Matiz commented, “THI was definitely worth attending! I met a large group of diverse and like-minded members who found camaraderie in Phi Theta Kappa, so it was definitely comforting.”
As our past Chapter President and current co-advisor, Fatima Fuentes also enjoyed her time at Texas Honors Institute. Notably, she reunited with old friends and had a chance to relive her own memories of past conventions she has attended. Fuentes commented on the “comfort and creativity” of this year’s THI, as speakers' themes ranged from stress management and professional rerouting to magic and ragtag piano. She recalled how fun and exciting the experience was for her as she bonded with members of the chapter and created new memories.
Our current Texas District III Vice President Monserrat Rivero-Sanchez made the comment, “During this past weekend, I attended my first conference as the District Three Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa in the Texas Region. The coordinators, officers and I started planning everything in May, working hard and hosting weekly meetings that lasted hours as we tried to put all our ideas and visions into one conference. Being a Regional Officer is a lot more work when you have other responsibilities going on at the same time. Sometimes I wondered, ‘Why am I here?’ But when I actually see the ideas that I expressed in planning put a smile on my friends’ faces and become a reality, I realize that this is the reason why I am here doing what I do, because all those long hours of work are worth it. When I see everybody having a blast and learning how to grow and do better, my heart is filled with joy! This past weekend, I was able to see all the attendees for who they were. We all shared ideas and many explained how their chapters worked together to accomplish their goals. I loved it! I am happy serving others, and happiest seeing my friends going up on the stage to be recognized for their hard work like Michelle did this past weekend!”
As Rivero-Sanchez emphasized, transforming the visions of district officers into reality requires months of intensive planning and preparation ahead of time. PTK District officers also spend a significant amount of time practicing for public speaking and award officiating at these events. The Texas STAR scholarship, for instance, is given out at the end of the event. Michelle Calderon received the Dr. Mary Hood STAR Scholarship, the highest award given. Aubrey Watkins received a STAR Scholarship.
The Dr. Mary Hood STAR Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship that recognizes the student with the highest scoring application among those who applied for the Summer 2023 Texas STAR scholarships. The scholarship is available to Phi Theta Kappa members throughout the state of Texas and is awarded on the last day of the Texas Honors Institute.
As last year’s active Chapter Vice President and Texas STAR recipient, Raul Leija was also excited to see Michelle Calderon and Aubrey win scholarships, as he recalled his own experiences with the Texas STAR scholarship just last year. He highlighted how nerve-racking the process could be for students. Leija also commented that he was able to use his experiences with Phi Theta Kappa from last year to “help members who were new to PTK” throughout the convention. He noted that he wanted to help members and guests “better understand what it meant to be a PTK member.”
As active chapter Treasurer, Michelle Calderon was “excited to attend THI again this year and reunite with old friends while also looking forward to making new ones!” Calderon
continued by saying that “the activities and events hosted by Phi Theta Kappa serve as a fantastic introduction to showcase what PTK is all about and foster strong bonds among new members. These trips are carefully curated, brimming with engaging activities and featuring brilliant speakers, all of which contribute to creating unforgettable memories.”
Calderon also commented on her reception of the coveted Dr. Mary Hood STAR Scholarship. “This year, I was overjoyed to receive the prestigious award, an honor that filled me with immense pride. Representing Alpha Mu Chi on stage was a moment I will cherish forever, and it further solidified the sense of belonging and purpose within our chapter.”
Michelle continued by saying, “These experiences reaffirm the value and impact of being a part of Phi Theta Kappa. The shared enthusiasm during these gatherings exemplifies the essence of our organization, and I am grateful for the lifelong friendships and memories it has provided me."
In addition to winning two STAR scholarships, the Alpha Mu Chi chapter was also one of three chapters to receive a Spring Honors in Action Grant. This is a competitive grant that will help Alpha Mu Chi implement their Honors in Action Project throughout the school year.
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s four hallmarks, Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Fellowship help members develop skills to benefit themselves, their college, and their community. For more information on Alpha Mu Chi, NTCC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, email ptk@ntcc.edu or contact Chapter President Monserrat Rivero Sanchez at mriverosanchez002@ntcc.edu or email our chapter advisors Dr. Matthew Lampert at mlampert@ntcc.edu and Melody Mott at mmott@ntcc.edu.
