PTK New Program - Peer Mentor Positions Available

Dear PTK members,


A new program is looking for Peer mentors. If you fit the criteria and
are interested, please contact Dr. Payal Doctor
(pdoctor@lagcc.cuny.edu).


CREAR Futuros, which means “To Create Futures” in Spanish is a pilot
retention program we will initiate at LaGuardia Community College in
Fall 2013 supported in part by the Lumina Foundation. CREAR (College
Readiness, Achievement and Retention) activities will center on Latino
Student Success intervention strategies.

CREAR Peer Mentors – High performing upper class men and women will be
trained to mentor entering Latino freshmen as part of the pilot CREAR
Futuros Scholars Program.  Prospective peer mentors will be required to
be:  a) working towards a degree at LaGuardia, b) enrolled full-time (at
least 12 credits) in the current semester and plan to enroll full-time
next semester, c) have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2, d) have earned
at least 24 college credits and e) have addressed any remedial needs by
fall of 2013, f) fill out an application form, and g) pass an interview.
 Cultural and language competency will be a vital aspect of
mentor-mentee pairings.

All CREAR Peer Mentors will complete a Leadership Training and
Development course in order to understand their role as a mentor as well
as college transition challenges. They will have 20 students to engage
in person or electronically during the course of the year. The student’s
weekly time commitment is 15 hours for which they will receive a monthly
stipend.

Thank You!

Unforgettable

By Desiree Rivera

Attending the 95^th Annual International PTK Convention has by far been the most rewarding experience as a member of the Alpha Theta Phi chapter.  The International Convention is an experience that cannot truly be explained or understood until one experiences it for their self.   There are more opportunities available to students than they will ever be able to imagine prior to their arrival at the convention.  First and foremost, there is an opportunity to bond with other members and advisors within individual chapters. This bonding allowed for everyone to get to know one another on a more personal level.  We gained a deeper understanding of each other not only as Phi Theta Kappans, but also as individuals that contribute to our collective chapter dynamic. 

Networking is another key element of the convention and the opportunities to connect with fellow PTK scholars and professionals are endless.  Aside from its exciting social aspects the convention is designed to empower Phi Theta Kappans through the words of keynote speakers during general sessions and presenters of educational forums.  Students are encouraged to attend as many educational forums as possible, which are implemented to provide students with useful tools and tips that can be used in future endeavors.  In order to gain the most out of the forums, students are given the freedom to choose to attend the forums that they find most interesting.  In doing so, Phi Theta Kappans can take their newfound knowledge and practically apply it in their lives. 

The overall experience of the International Convention is not solely based around socializing and learning. Students are given exposure to travel and are given the chance to explore cities that they most likely have never been before.  This year’s convention was held in beautiful San Jose, California.  From the tall palm trees, to the warm sunny days, and cool evenings, every minute spent in this city was enjoyable.  Exploring the streets of downtown San Jose leaves much to be desired for students who wish to travel the world.  It is through travel that we are able to make to connections to the cultures and ways of life of others, creating more knowledgeable and well-rounded individuals.  Attending the convention in San Jose was an epic experience that will certainly never be forgotten.

Phi Theta Kappa - An Experience Like No Other!

By Ange Akproh

During the weekend of April 4-7, 2013, my chapter Alpha Theta Phi had the honor of participating to the international conference of Phi Theta Kappa, which was held in San Jose California.

I, in addition to five of members of our chapter had the opportunity to attend this conference to and have a personal feel of what it is to be a part of this amazing experience. Also, one of our remarkable members was selected to join us on this trip, which was supervised by our chapter advisor, Dr. Doctor.

My personal experience during this conference was more than what I expected. Unlike the Regional Conference, which I also had the opportunity to attend, the international conference hosted more than 300 chapters coming from every state the United States in addition to several chapters coming from outside countries such as Germany.  The conference was very well organized in a very striking way that created a learning environment which provided the attendees with an amazing experience that they will never forget.

During the conference, I attended several workshops that taught me many tips on how to be an accomplished leader. The workshop that most impacted me was the one about college applications and how it relates to success in life. During this workshop, the panel of several Phi Theta Kappa members who shared their personal experience while transferring from their community college into a top four-year institution. Many of them did not know what their lives would be like when they started attending college. Mostly because of financial issues they were facing in their families, they had no other choice but to attend community colleges. Even though they were all brilliant scholars, many limitations stopped them from realizing their dreams to attend Ivy League schools. They went through their community college years without hopes of ever having their story told as “overachievers”. Then came the time they had to transition into four-year schools. The thought of the application process was scary to most of them because of their financial boundaries. Motivated by other advisors and professors, they decided to still postulate for the top schools and eventually got accepted at schools such as Cornell University, Stanford University, and New York University. The secret they said, was to “tell your story”. Among all applicants, they were the ones that got accepted because they were able to convey their message to the admission officers at those schools. They impacted each reader by sharing their limitations, their aspirations, and their life as a whole. “It is not about telling the decision makers what they want to know, but what you want them to know that is special about you”. For some, this could mean sharing their family issues, their financial difficulties, or the lessons they learnt in life for others. But no matter what it is, that’s what would favor an acceptance into your dream school, grant you a scholarship, or even a job because it would be a description of who you are. 

Work Hard, In PTK We Celebrate Harder!

By Moreen Tonny

San Jose, California! One of the most exciting cities in the United States. We often associate California to the great city of Los Angeles, San Francisco, the famous Silicon Valley, nice beaches, lot of fun and unforgettable memories. Did I mention celebrities??? Of course, there are a lot of celebrities to meet and countless things to do and places to visit! Well I did not go to L.A. nor visited sunny beaches but I was in the gorgeous San Jose Convention Center for PTK 95^th annual convention. If you wonder whether we know how to celebrate as Phi Theta Kappans, this was the confirmation. PTK 95^th annual convention was a BLAST!!!

Students from all over the US and other countries represented their states, regions and chapters in San Jose this year. From April 3^rd through April 7^th I witnessed the greatness of PTK as a leading honor society in higher education internationally. I took enormous pride in seeing how grandiosely the organization celebrated its members’ achievement.

As an active member and officer I knew the benefits of joining PTK but I had never imagined experiencing what I did with PTK in San Jose that weekend. Every corner of the convention center was an opportunity to start exciting conversations either about our honors topics or just a quick chat about our hometowns. Day and night the intersection between South Market street and San Carlos street was just like Time Square here in NYC; excited and joyful young people were constantly walking in large or small group. The convention t-shirts were worn by almost every participant making the surrounding area feels like ours!

If there is something that thrilled me to the point of giving me goose bumps was the energy and effort putting into making the event unique. From the parade of flags of every territory where PTK has chapters, to the inspirational speeches delivered by each guest and not to forget the decorations, I enjoyed every bit of my membership in PTK.

I know I mentioned celebrities… and guess who was there? People whose work and determination have totally change how us -human beings from both genders- view competition. Their work and contribution to our culture were, just like our achievements, were acclaimed. Billy Jean Kings and Geoffrey Colvin shared with the participants what it really takes to be very competitive in this world, and ultimately what being competitive really encompasses. Billy Jean Kings was a pioneer in paving the way for women in the sports arena. Although women had the talent, the inequalities were so overwhelming that making it to the top like men was not even conceivable.  On the other hand listening to Geoffrey Colvin talking about how talent is too often overrated in competitive game was an interesting way to approach the debate around our Honor In Action project The Culture of Competition.

I could go on with the list of fun things and unforgettable memories that I brought back with me to New York but I believe that no words can say or would be enough to express what I experienced during PTK’s 95^th annual conference. I personally urge every member to be involved as such as they can and to take advantage of every single tool and resources PTK offers. They are for us to succeed and to give the organization a reason to celebrate! As they usually “hard work always pays off”. I say PTK MEMBERS WORK HARD YET CELEBRATE HARDER!!!

Experience Of a Lifetime

By Hassaan Chaudhary

As a Community College student, I feel privileged and honored to attend 2013 PTK International Convention where I got the opportunity to represent my college along with my other five members. The event was held at San Jose, California from April 3-7, 2013. Phi Theta Kappa organizes such beautiful occasions to honor students’ hard work and dedication they have displayed throughout the year on their campuses. This particular conference was on a large-scale as compared to the other two PTK events (Leadership and Regional). Our odyssey to the convention was a hectic one as we had to travel several miles from New York City to San Jose via plane. But the journey went smoothly and serenely and we reached to our destination point without any hassle.

On the very first day of the event, I met with a lot of people and talked to them about PTK and other things. I also attended numerous educational sessions where I got this golden and rare opportunity to learn about different topics (starting from tolerance, civility to team-building). I was quite ebullient when I heard about these sessions. I always wanted to participate in such candid discussions and conversations. On the other hand, I received a big surprise when I entered into the main hall to attend our first General Session of the event. I was just flabbergasted to see the size of the crowd and the magnitude of the event. That’s where I like PTK the most. It provides you with those moments you have never experienced in your whole life. It provides you with those networking and leadership opportunities one can hardly get in a four-year institution. Anyway, without wasting any time, I started to chat with different PTK members. I wanted to know about their perspective on this event. Almost everyone was excited and elated. The same cycle repeats for two days. In the morning, I used to attend the educational forums while in the evening, we all (as a group) had to participate in General Sessions. More than 1,300 Phi Theta Kappa Chapters and 4,000 members have participated in the event.

The most satisfying moment was when our fellow Laguardia members Svetlana and Moreen won the awards of ‘Most Distinguished Member’ and ‘Most Distinguished Officer’ respectively. They really deserved each accolade. Both these shining PTK members were nominated for the awards and achieved them during the Hallmark Ceremony. Unlike in Regional Conference, we did not receive more awards. However, it was expected as the competition was tough. Towards the end, a dance party was organized for all of the participants to enjoy the moment. Many students decided to take part in it. I could hardly dance. So, I humbly declined the request (of my friends) to dance with them. We were scheduled to leave from San Jose on April 7th. We were exhausted and it was visible from our faces. However, it was an experience I could never forget. The convention definitely outnumbered our expectations. We thoroughly enjoyed it. I really would like to thank Phi Theta Kappa for giving me this wonderful opportunity. I strongly urge all my PTK members to actively participate in our meetings and get a unique chance to visit to the PTK International Convention.