August 4, 2016
Alpha Mu Chi, the Northeast Texas Community College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, recently returned from the Texas Honors Institute, held at Stephen F. Austin State University. The Honors Institute is a chance for Phi Theta Kappa members from throughout the Texas Region to engage in intellectual discourse about this year's Honors Study Topic "How the World Works: Global Perspectives.?†
Members got the chance to listen to world class speakers in general sessions and then meet in small seminar groups to discuss the presentations. Presentations included topics such as Sony Tiwari's discussion of "Your Picasso is my Kanye: Life Lessons in Beauty and Vulgarity," Dr. Brian Robert Shmaefsky's exploration of "Panacea or Pandora's Box: The Role of Science in Society" and an interactive presentation by South African based group "The Drum Cafe."
The Texas Honors Institute also awards the Texas STAR Scholarships. Alpha Mu Chi member Emma Shaw received the Texas STAR Scholarship. Recipients are selected based on academic merit and leadership potential, as well as involvement with Phi Theta Kappa programming.
The Texas Honors Institute also awards the Texas STAR Scholarships. Alpha Mu Chi member Emma Shaw received the Texas STAR Scholarship. Recipients are selected based on academic merit and leadership potential, as well as involvement with Phi Theta Kappa programming.
Chapters from across the Texas Region submit yearbooks of their activities. This year, the Alpha Mu Chi chapter won first place for the first time. They have received second place several times, but were excited at this unprecedented victory. Ryan-Rose Mendoza served as lead editor for a team of officers who spent many hours over a three month period assembling the pictures and text for the yearbook. The theme was "Alpha Mu Chi in Wonderland" and used images from Alice in Wonderland to tell the story of the past year.
Other chapter involvement included Melissa Fulgham serving as a seminar leader and facilitator, a role she has taken on several times. Mary Smith, an alumni of Alpha Mu Chi and an internationally recognized member, had the chance to serve as a facilitator for the first time this year. Fulgham and Smith worked together to coordinate small group discussion of the ideas brought out in the general session.
The chapter was also specifically asked to participate in a workshop on scholarships. The chapter has had unusual success in that category so, at the request of the Texas Region, shared some of the tips and techniques which have worked. Fulgham, Smith, and Mendoza presented at that workshop.
Alumni and former Texas Regional officer Isaac Burris also served at the Institute working behind the scenes helping with the audio-visual technical aspects.
