Elections

In addition to recognizing the accomplishments of our many chapters and members throughout the year, our Hallmark Awards Banquet will also feature the unveiling of the 2010-2011 New England Region officer team. On Saturday during lunch, chapters will be able to vote for the candidates they believe are most suited for these special offices.

The candidates were asked to submit a 250-word statement in response to the prompt “What Phi Theta Kappa Means to Me.” At the convention, they will each deliver a brief speech about our outgoing Honors Study Topic, “The Paradox of Affluence: Choices, Challenges & Consequences.”

Please use this page to learn more about the candidates in advance. If you have any questions about regional elections, contact the Elections Committee chair, Michelle Nickerson.

 

REGIONAL PRESIDENT CANDIDATES

There are two candidates for Regional President. Each chapter will have one vote for their preferred candidate.

Name: Sonja Durik
Chapter: Alpha Iota Nu
College: Norwalk Community College
Hometown: Darien, Connecticut
Major: Accounting

Statement:
Phi Theta Kappa means a tremendous amount to me. The organization represents for me not just a proof of my excellent academic standing, but a lifestyle that helps me create a successful professional future. This is a key step on my ladder to help get me where I want to be in life.

Furthermore, Phi Theta Kappa develops great qualities for the group members. The volunteering that this organization offers improves teamwork and leadership skills. Through group meetings and decisions it grows responsibilities and the integrity of the members. It represents a lifestyle for students turning them into successful, intelligent, and leaders within their profession.

In addition to the wonderful attributes of being a Phi Theta Kappa member, it would be an honor for me to become the regional President of the association. Ultimately, it would be the greatest and most important role so far in my life and I welcome the responsibilities and challenges that come with it.

As regional President of the society I plan to create more opportunities for the group to volunteer to help out the community, not only with fundraisers, but with just lending a helping hand. Also, I plan to create study groups where existing members of the society can mentor other students as well as assist each other with their education. It is a great way to build friendships, teamwork, and share ideas amongst the students. The leadership that I bring to the table will make this happen and I look forward to this wonderful opportunity.

 
Name: Julie Larkin
Chapter: Alpha Upsilon Alpha
College: Manchester Community College
Hometown: East Hartford, Connecticut
Major: General Studies

Statement:
Phi Theta Kappa provides recognition, encouragement and opportunity for enormous personal growth to college students who are committed to academic excellence. The organization helps us students achieve scholastic success while strengthening our skills in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Fellowship.

Phi Theta Kappa builds confidence in students and provides direction that we might not otherwise acquire. The organization offers us numerous educational workshops at conferences and conventions, where we are presented with various outlets to strengthen leadership skills. It also encourages us to be better students and leaders while helping us become more engaged with our campuses and communities.

It gives us motivation and connections to go forward and change the world, and it offers opportunities for travel throughout the nation, which increases our exposure for fellowship with other regions.

I want to serve as the New England Region President in order to assist my fellow officers and all of the chapters in the region to develop additional opportunities to engage in all four Hallmarks, connecting them together. I also want to raise awareness of the organization, not only in the region, but across the nation.

 

CENTRAL VICE PRESIDENT CANDIDATE

There is one candidate for Central Vice President. Each chapter will have one vote to elect or not elect the candidate.

Name: Jeremy Schaub
Chapter: Alpha Upsilon Mu
College: Cape Cod Community College
Hometown: Harwichport, Massachusetts
Major: Liberal Arts

Statement:
Phi Theta Kappa has diverse meaning for the thousands of members from around the globe. To me the most important aspects of the Honor Society are challenge and connections. As we challenge ourselves with the Hallmarks of Scholarship and Leadership something special blooms from the experience, opportunity. By challenging ourselves to learn more, we can use this new found knowledge to lead and help others accept this worthy challenge for themselves. This is how connections and strong ties are formed between the members of Phi Theta Kappa. It is these connections that come from the Hallmarks of Service and Fellowship which allow individuals to grow beyond personal goals and achieve more.

I began my community college experience with the goal of a brighter future. With dedication and hard work I hoped to open up doors of opportunity. One event had more of an impact then all of the others; the connection with other positive Phi Theta Kappa members. It was the support and encouragement from others that led me to open more doors of opportunity. The more members I reached out to and the more connections I made, the stronger my passions and confidence became. This is the significance I discovered in Phi Theta Kappa and what I would use to promote the Honor Society. To offer the same support to any students that needs assistance in opening doors that stand in the way of their potential.

 

SOUTHERN VICE PRESIDENT CANDIDATE

There is one candidate for Southern Vice President. Each chapter will have one vote to elect or not elect the candidate.

Name: Nicholas Sanborn
Chapter: Alpha Upsilon Alpha
College: Manchester Community College
Hometown: Moodus, Connecticut
Major: Liberal Arts

Statement:
Time is a blessing more precious than anything tangible. Beyond all else one’s use of their time dictates who they are and who they become. Phi Theta Kappa represents to me the opportunity to surround myself with community members dedicated to donating their time for the good of those less fortunate, scholars who choose to go above and beyond in the pursuit of knowledge, and life-long friends from all different walks of life. Aside from the opportunity to further my education and pursue a degree in Psychology, I am able to dedicate much of my time to activities of my choice. As a regional officer of Phi Theta Kappa I would work to help the Connecticut and Rhode Island chapters expand and continue to find new ways to serve the community. I would follow and encourage prospective and current members to follow Phi Theta Kappa’s Hallmarks of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Fellowship. Helping others is the greatest gift one can give, not only to the recipients but to oneself as well, and I humbly accept any opportunity to do so in pursuit of bettering myself and those around me. Benjamin Franklin said, “You may delay, but time will not.” This opportunity represents to me a promise to maintain the high standards I set for myself, to further develop the qualities of a leader, and to dedicate my service and time to this worthy cause.

 

OFFICER-AT-LARGE CANDIDATE

There is one candidate for Officer-at-Large. Each chapter will have one vote to elect or not elect the candidate.

Name: Patricia Douglass
Chapter: Alpha Phi Xi
College: Central Maine Community College
Hometown: Minot, Maine
Major: Accounting

Statement:
As I read the invitational letter to join Phi Theta Kappa, I had no idea what it stood for. Yes, it was something that recognized me for my academic achievements but I still did not know the magnitude it would bring to me later. I decided this was an opportunity to recognize my own accomplishments so I sent in the money and was inducted on October 22, 2008 (another important date in my life).

Since being inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, I have had the chance to attend several leadership conferences. I have more courage and assertiveness than I did in the past. I feel now I have something to give back to my school and community. This inspired me to want to do more for my school, community, and myself. So, when officer elections were open for my chapter, I ran for treasurer. Phi Theta Kappa has been opening doors of opportunities for me ever since.

Phi Theta Kappa means an everlasting experience I will take with me throughout the remainder of my life. Since I have been inducted into this wonderful family, I have grown in so many ways. I have experienced so much more than I could have realized. I feel my knowledge and wisdom would be a benefit to the region because I am an older, non-traditional student. I am a voice of my peers. I have found that Phi Theta Kappa has aided me in my everyday life decisions. As a regional officer, this is what I would express to all others; the long lasting values that being in Phi Theta Kappa has to offer.