This document provides strategies for Kentucky Phi Theta Kappa chapters to improve their Hallmark entries. It discusses setting goals and brainstorming ideas for projects related to the Hallmarks of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Fellowship. Specific tips are provided for composing entries for each Hallmark, such as focusing on 4 primary and 3 secondary examples. Chapters are encouraged to follow submission directions carefully to avoid disqualification. Resources from the Phi Theta Kappa website and contacts are listed for additional support.

1. Strategies For Improving Hallmark Entries Presented By: Kentucky Co-Regional Officer Team Alpha Xi Gamma Chapter

2. Mission Statement Phi Theta Kappa’s purpose is to first and foremost recognize scholarly achievement among two-year college students. In addition to this, members have opportunities for personal growth through involvement in a variety of programs centered on the Society Hallmarks of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Fellowship. Many Phi Theta Kappa programs also promote civic engagement, by encouraging participants to think of chapter programming in terms of its impact on the college campus and in the community.

3. Hallmarks Participation encourages excellence, reflects fairness, recognizes quality, and leads to enhanced student, advisor, and chapter development. Hallmark Program

4. Scholarship Programs primarily focus on educating chapter members, other chapters, the college’s student body and the community about important issues raised by the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Study Topic. Chapter programming related to the Scholarship Hallmark should also recognize and encourage the academic achievements of members, students and faculty.

5. Leadership Programs encourage chapters and members to assume roles as leaders in their chapters, colleges, and communities as well as on regional and/or international levels of the Society. In addition to assuming leadership positions, chapters are encouraged to foster the development of leadership skills among others through their programming.

6. Service Chapter initiatives related to the Service Hallmark should be primarily focused on the International Service Program. Other Service Hallmark activities include both service to the college and community outside the scope of the International Service Program, and activities that stress to others the value of and need for providing service.

7. Fellowship Phi Theta Kappa is truly a fellowship of scholars. As such, the hallmark of Fellowship is an intrinsic part of all Society programs. Chapters promote development among inactive chapters, facilitate communication between chapters and offer a balance of social and scholarly events

8. Honors in Action The use of two or more hallmarks, (plus Fellowship) in project planning and implementation. Scholarship begins with the Honors Study Topic. How can scholarship and leadership be combined in a single project? Scholarship and service?

9. Honors Study Topic The Paradox of Affluence: Choices, Challenges, and Consequences Paradox - a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true. Affluence - (a) an abundant flow or supply: Profusion. (b) an abundance of property: Wealth. PTK Honors Guide

10. Goal Setting Goals just don’t “happen” Set a common “vision” What do we want? Why do we want it? How do we intend to get it? When do we expect to finish?

11. Goal Setting Hardest part of Hallmark Award Entries Why? Extremely time consuming Turn over rate of chapter officers Project changes throughout year Hard to determine year’s projects and programs Not enough experience Constantly adapting to circumstances Not kept on record

12. Brainstorming Begin with ideas from the group Do NOT discount good opportunities: Even though it may not be a good idea for the intended project, do not discount it You may reuse ideas at a later date to broaden your projects Once it is on the board, the “idea” does not belong to any one person Once all ideas are noted, then begin to decide whether it is an opportunity or not. Next, decide if the proposed idea is suitable for the project at hand. ALWAYS keep the extra ideas for future use!!

13. Be S.MA.R.T.E.R. SIMPLE:Clear, simple, specific goals give people an unmistakable vision of what needs to be done. MEASURABLE:Establish how progress will be determined. ACCOUNTABLE:Someone must be responsible for achieving the goal. Gives a sense of purpose to the goal. REALISTIC: Both in terms of being meaningful and affordable. Goals without meaning are considered unrealistic. TIMELY: Each element of action that must occur to achieve the goal should have a deadline established. EXTENDING: Don’t forget your timeline! Set milestone dates for different tasks and stages of the goal. REWRDING AND RECOGNITION:Participation in a project is more likely when members are rewarded and/or recognized for their efforts.

14. Planning an Event Share a “vision”. Your team must determine what accomplishments would lead to your vision. Participation creates a sense of ownership and a feeling of common destiny among those who help set the goals. Group wisdom can help eliminate impractical ideas. Examples: Your community has a food pantry that services a lot of families in your area. Your community has recently been affected by a severe ice storm or tornado.

15. Journaling For all Hallmarks, record such components as The strategic planning process and goal setting for Honors in Action activities How the current Honors Study Topic relates to the project Responsibilities and assignments for individuals and committees Milestones achieved and feedback for improving the project as it progresses Reactions from participants and reactions from those served or impacted How many people were involved or impacted and in what way

16. Composing Your Hallmark Primary Focuses Maximum of four examples Secondary Focuses Maximum of three examples Fellowship must be included in other three Hallmarks Need to know what results are of each example NEED TO SET GOALS

17. Scholarship Hallmark Primary Focus 2006-08 Honors Study Topic - Gold, Gods, and Glory: The Global Dynamics of Power Secondary Focus Recognizing and Encourage Scholarship - includes mentoring, tutoring, recognizing scholarship of faculty and students

18. Service Hallmark Primary Focus 2006-08 International Service Program – Operation Green: Improving Our Communities Secondary Focus Service projects not related to International Service Program – Society Civic Engagements,etc

19. Leadership Hallmark Primary Focus Leadership Positions and/or Roles – regional officer, campaign manager, head of college project, etc SecondaryFocus Promote Development of Leadership – members, students, community, and/or region, Phi Theta Kappa Leadership Development Studies Program

20. Submitting Your Hallmark Follow all directions thoroughly Margins are one inch Double spaced Questions before answers Send one copy No more than six pages per entry Arial 10 pt. font Disqualifications was the #1 reason chapters did not succeed in 2007 Hallmarks Awards Program

21. Hallmark Awards Administrator Awards Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award Administrator Award of Distinction State Community College Director Award of Distinction Member Awards Distinguished Chapter Member Award Distinguished Chapter President Award Distinguished Chapter Officer Award Advisor Awards Paragon Award for New Advisors Distinguished Advisor Award Chapter Awards Scholarship Hallmark Award Leadership Hallmark Award Service Hallmark Award Kentucky Regional Level Scrapbooking

22. Resources: Honors Study Guide http://www.ptk.org/honors/guide Phi Theta Kappa website http://www.ptk.org Phi Theta Kappans—we are all family!! Community leaders Community Action Coordinators

23. Contacts: Dean of Service Learning, Jennifer Stanford Jennifer.Stanford@ptk.org Dean of Academic Affairs and Honors Programs, Susan Edwards Susan.Edwards@ptk.org Dean of Leadership Development, Monika Byrd Monika.Byrd@ptk.org Kentucky Regional Coordinator, Margo Hamm Margo.Hamm@kctcs.edu

24. http://www.ptk.org/honors/guide/journaling_suggestions/