Contact: Lynn Whalen, 217-786-2219
SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College’s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society sponsored recent projects to positively impact both the college and community.
Over the past six weeks, PTK members collected 245 items for the LLCC Food Pantry and raised over $1,700 as part of Operation Full Belly. The project’s goal was to restock the college’s pantry with food and hygiene items as well as educate students on the services available to them. PTK also collaborated with LLCC Student Life and TRIO Student Support Services to assemble Thanksgiving-themed meal bags full of shelf-stable side dishes. Thirteen bags were prepared and delivered to students, with an additional seven students receiving grocery gift cards to purchase meals of their choosing.
In its community project, PTK sponsored a Legacy of Life organ donation day Nov. 15 in conjunction with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Life Goes On project. PTK members signed up new organ donors in LLCC’s A. Lincoln Commons from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. An evening presentation emceed by Emily Reynolds of Hillsboro, PTK vice president for scholarship, featured remarks from Larry and Vivian Lefferts, parents of the late John Lefferts, whose organs impacted 37 lives across the country; living organ donor Kenzie Dowding, who donated a kidney to her friend; and Damarius Blanks of Life Goes On.
Phi Theta Kappa is advised by Dr. Claire Gordon, professor of communication. The honor society is open to LLCC full-time students who maintain a 3.5 grade point average or above.
Phi Theta Kappa is the foremost honor society recognizing academic excellence in two-year college students. Its goals include promoting scholarship, leadership, fellowship and service. Benefits of membership include access to Phi Theta Kappa scholarships. LLCC’s chapter is recognized as a five-star chapter, the highest designation, and has a strong history of service projects benefiting both the college and community.