Phi Theta Kappa Students Collect More than 1,900 Items
Columbia State Community College’s Beta Kappa Theta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Participated in the Honor Society’s Project Graduation-Feed a Body. Feed a Mind. which took place from April through the beginning of May.
The mission of Project Graduation is to battle the social issues of hunger and low literacy rates by collecting non-perishable food items and books during college commencement season. The items are distributed to those in need through community relief agencies and literacy organizations.
“Project Graduation is significant because we are able to involve the entire college campus, including students, faculty and staff to support local charities,” said Lacy Benns, Associate Professor of Speech and PTK advisor at Columbia State. “The theme for Project Graduation is ‘Feed a Body, Feed a Mind.’ It focuses on helping the less fortunate with their immediate needs but also helping to promote education as well.”
PTK members distributed collection boxes in various locations on the Columbia Campus and the Lawrenceburg Campus during April. Columbia State’s graduating class of 2010 was asked to bring items to graduation rehearsal on May 10, the final day of the project. The students collected approximately 1,485 food items and 432 children’s books.
The items collected will go to The Family Center in Maury County and to God’s Storehouse in Lawrenceburg. The Family Center, a non-profit child abuse prevention agency, services the community through a variety of programs from parent education classes to case management services. God's Storehouse, located in Lawrenceburg, is a non-profit organization that collects and distributes food to those in need.
Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee’s first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.