Alpha Mu Chi, NTCC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, attended the 2019 Texas Honors Institute held at Tyler Junior College July 26-28. A total of 267 Phi Theta Kappa members from across the state of Texas attended the event. Representing Alpha Mu Chi at the event were four chapter officers, (Courtney Baldwin, Mercedes Collins, Jazmin Garcia, Tonya Hammonds), the District III Vice-President of the Texas Region (Jacob Lambie), an alumnus who serves as the Associate VP for Programming for the Texas Region (Isaac Burris), and the chapter’s lead advisor (Melissa Fulgham).
As the District III VP, Jacob Lambie helped plan and coordinate the event, which had a Harry Potter inspired theme, “Transforming Perspectives.” During the three-day Institute, Lambie and his fellow regional officers did an excellent job introducing speakers, running the various sessions, and overseeing fellowship activities such as a dance, Quidditch match, door decorating and trivia contests. Attendees listened to inspirational world class speakers such as Darius Frasure (Minnie Piper Professor and published poet/hip-hop artist), Global historian Jon Wilson, Harvard trained historian Dr. Melissa Burrage who shared her recent book on classical music and xenophobia in World War I America, Rwandan genocide refugee and Director at One Million Orphans Jeanne Celestine Lakin, and nationally renowned leadership speaker Dr. Kozhi Makai. Attendees also met in small seminar groups to discuss the ideas heard in general session and collaborate on projects.
Jacob commented “I am very honored and fortunate to have been able to help put on this event. The regional officer team put in months of work to make everything happen and it was breathtaking to watch everything finally fall into place to make a great conference for Texas.”
Several educational workshops were offered during the three-day Institute. Four Alpha Mu Chi members (Baldwin, Collins, Garcia, Hammonds) presented a workshop with a Phi Theta Kappa alumnus and representative from the University of Texas at Dallas (Lori Skillstead) on the topic of scholarships.
Mercedes Collins and Tonya Hammonds were recognized as Five Star Members.
Melissa Fulgham served as a seminar leader.
Members also participated in the door decorating contest and represented District III in the Quidditch match.
Mercedes commented “Attending the Texas Honors Institute was a blast. It might have made everyone sleep deprived, but meeting and connecting to new people was well worth it. I'm am very thankful to the regional vice-presidents and president along with everyone else who put so much work into making THI possible.”
At the end of the conference, the Dr. Mary Hood STAR Scholarships were given out and Alpha Mu Chi members took a record breaking five scholarships.
Tonya noted that the “Texas Honors Institute was a transformative experience made extra special by our amazing Regional Officer team and everyone behind the scenes.”
“Engaged, excited, and thoughtful, this group represented NTCC well at the event. We had one member serving as a regional officer, on stage before hundreds leading the event; four members who presented a workshop before a standing-room only crowd; an alumnus helping to run things behind the scenes; members networking and fellowshipping all weekend long, culminating in a dramatic chapter record of Texas STAR scholarship wins. It is such an honor and blessing to work with the wonderful students who are part of Phi Theta Kappa and see them work hard and succeed,” Melissa Fulgham.
For learn more about the Alpha Mu Chi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa on the NTCC campus, contact lead advisor Dr. Melissa Fulgham at mfulgham@ntcc.eduor (903) 434-8253. To learn more about Phi Theta Kappa, the world’s oldest, largest, and most prestigious honor society for two-year colleges, founded in 1918 and currently in the United States and ten other nations, check out www.ptk.org.
