Monse Rivero-Sanchez served as the lead editor for the Phi Theta Kappa chapter’s entry in the Honors Case Study Challenge. Phi Theta Kappa’s Case Study Challenge emphasizes the importance of scholar-leaders following current events. It also encourages the use of newspapers of varying viewpoints.
The chapter entry, entitled “Mañana Sounds Better Than Tomorrow: Bilingual Deportation Stories,” compared English language and Spanish language news articles and how they discussed deportation stories. This year’s chapter entry was unique compared to chapter entries in previous years as it took a deeper dive into bilingual communication, reflective of a PTK chapter at a Hispanic Serving Institution such as NTCC. The case study analysis found that English language articles between Jan 1 and Nov 1, 2024 tended to be filled with numbers and data, making prolific use of charts and graphs. In contrast, Spanish language news articles between Jan 1 and Nov 1, 2024 tended to contain more human-interest stories and be filled with more names and anecdotes. The case study challenge also pointed out the small, but growing, number of Spanish language news agencies in the United States. Monse, former PTK chapter president, now serves as the Division II International Vice President for Phi Theta Kappa.
The chapter received one of the 2024 Honorable Mentions and will be recognized in the Parade of Scholars on Saturday, April 5, during the Hallmark Awards Gala at PTK Catalyst 2025 in Kansas City.
