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The Crier


Attention all Professionals in the Carolinas Region: mark your calendars for a thrilling opportunity you wouldn't want to miss! The Carolinas Region Leadership Conference is on the horizon, scheduled from October 4th to 6th at Trident Technical College in their prestigious Nursing & Science Building.

Here's a sneak peek into the captivating events lined up for the conference: Tentative Agenda


Early Registration Deadline

Hurry! The early registration deadline is fast approaching on August 30th. Secure your spot now to access this incredible learning and networking experience. Registration form. Remember if you are still working throught the appoval paperwork, you can still register before early registration ends and you have until the day of the conference to pay (online, or via check mailed, or brought with you to the conference.


Transfer Fair

We have an exciting Transfer Fair planned for the Leadership Conference on Saturday morning from 9:30 am to 11:00 am. Here is a sneak peak at some of the colleges and Universities that will be in attendance:


Basic Sponsors:

  • Columbia College

  • College of Charleston

Silver Sponsors


Gold Sponsors

Alumni Scholarships Opportunity


Calling all members! Don't miss the chance to apply for our Alumni Scholarships. The deadline for applications is September 1st. Remember, you can't win if you don't apply! Here is a link to the Applications.


Embrace Growth and Networking


Regional HIA Project Theme 8: Fables, Folklore, and Fairytales


In what ways do messages shared through fables, folklore, and fairytales influence and reflect culture?


From the peaks of the Appalachians, where specters are said to roam, to the jagged coastline with its historical ports and forts, the Carolinas Region is a patchwork of colorful stories and tales. Messages shared through fables, folklore, and fairytales reflect and influence culture in various ways. Deeply ingrained in cultural traditions and passed down through generations, these stories play a significant role in shaping collective values, identities, and perceptions within societies. Take, for instance, the enduring power of fairy tales. As explored by Bettelheim, these narratives delve into universal human experiences and anxieties, such as fear, love, betrayal, and redemption. Through their timeless stories, fairy tales entertain and offer insights into the values and concerns of the cultures from which they emerge. Whether it is the courage of Cinderella or the wisdom of the Three Little Pigs, these tales provide a lens through which societal norms and ideals can be examined.


Similarly, folklore and fables carry profound cultural significance; Hallett and Karasek’s research demonstrates how these stories both shape and are shaped by cultural values, norms, and beliefs. Embedded within their plots, characters, and settings are moral lessons, societal taboos, and cultural norms that reflect the ethos of a community or civilization. Whether it is the cautionary tale of the Boy Who Cried Wolf or the mythological exploits of Greek heroes, folklore and fables serve as repositories of cultural wisdom, passed down from one generation to the next.


Additionally, the adaptability of these narratives across different contexts speaks to their enduring relevance. Tatar’s analysis of the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales illustrates how these stories have been interpreted and reimagined across historical and cultural landscapes. The evolution of these tales reflects changing attitudes towards gender, class, morality, and other socio-cultural factors, highlighting the dynamic relationship between storytelling and cultural values. Similarly, Bjerre’s exploration of Southern Gothic literature demonstrates how stories can reflect regional identities and social issues in a specific cultural context. By blending elements of traditional Gothic fiction with Southern culture and history, Southern Gothic literature mirrors the complexities of the American South, exploring themes of decay, the grotesque, and social unrest.


Finally, fables, folklore, and fairytales are not merely stories—they are mirrors that reflect a culture’s values, identities, and perceptions. Through their narratives, art, and physical expression, these tales shape our understanding of the world and our place within it. As we continue to tell and retell these timeless stories, we perpetuate the cultural legacy that binds us together, ensuring that our collective wisdom endures for future generations. Just as culture influences folklore, fables, and fairy tales, the opposite is true. With a greater awareness of our perception, a story influences who we are and who we may become. 


Helpful links:


Questions to ask:

  • What are some prominent local stories, pieces of art, history, or legends from our community? How do these stories reflect the cultural identity and values of our community? What are the underlying themes and messages behind these stories, and how do they resonate with our community members?

  • How can we collaborate with local historical societies or institutions to engage community members, including college students, in learning about and celebrating our local stories and legends?

  • How can we leverage our understanding of local stories and legends to inspire positive change and community engagement?


Project Options:

  • Research a local story, piece of art, history, or legend from your community, then create an event at your college or community that showcases the true meaning behind the underlying story.

  • Utilize visual media to share and celebrate your community’s culture and identity represented in art, history, or legends in your local area.

  • Work with a local historical society or other institution to preserve community stories, then educate your college or community about these stories.

  • Connect a past event (such as a festival, historical event, educational event, etc.) to a current local community issue and create and execute a service project/call to action, showing how it influenced the community’ issue.


Submit your Project once you've finished to the 2024 Carolinas Super Stars - Submission Form (cognitoforms.com)


Make a Difference in the Community


Enrich your experience by participating in the Carolinas Region Service Project Preparedness of Care, giving back to your local community, and making a positive impact beyond the college walls.


About The Region Service Project

These unexpected opportunities may come in the form of a crisis such as an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) or potentially fatal overdose. While these scenarios may seem extreme, they are witnessed far more commonly than expected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that “more than 100,000 individuals died from drug-involved overdoses between September 2021 and August 2022” (Stein, 2023). This is also true for cardiac arrests as the Education and Medical Journal states: “Cardiac arrest is a global public health concern as an estimated 3 million deaths occur worldwide every year because of it” (Htay, 2023).  


Lower-income populations are especially at risk for an OHCA but have a lower chance of survival. Fortunately, research has shown that proper preparation in the form of training can help change the way these crises are handled. For instance, a publication in the Current Psychology Journal states that CPR training given to high school students “reduced students’ anxiety about CPR and provided a positive change in their thoughts about intervening in an occurrence” (Koca, 2022). This is also congruent with Narcan administration training as a Study on the Efficacy of a Naloxone Training Program states: “Lack of education regarding the effects of naloxone in acute opioid overdose may further contribute to hesitation among bystanders to carry and use naloxone” (Beauchamp, 2021). 

Lower income population also benefit from Narcan administration training as The National Library of Medicine mentions: “Educational training on opioids, opioid overdose, and the use of naloxone was an effective adjunct to naloxone kit distribution to volunteers and clinicians caring for people experiencing homelessness” (Beauchamp, 2021). Through CPR and Narcan administration training, the bystander is better prepared to save a life.


Questions to consider:

  •  Which type of training would your community derive the most benefit from?

  •  What target population are you preparing to assist?

  •  What type of training is already offered by nearby organizations? 

  • Has a medical emergency ever been experienced by any members of the chapter? What was the response and how could greater preparation have improved the situation?

  • Are medical supplies easily accessed by your organization? Are there any nearby populations that lack these crucial supplies?


How to participate?

  • Complete an online or in-person training program on the administration of Naloxone (Narcan). 

  • Complete an online or in person CPR/ AED training course offered by a certified organization (such as American Red Cross, The American Heart Association, or the National CPR Foundation).

  • Fundraise for the American Red Cross.

  •  Hold a donation drive for medical supplies, assemble the supplies into small kits to donate and distribute a target population. 


Submit your Project once you've finished to the 2024 Carolinas Super Stars - Submission Form (cognitoforms.com)



Welcome Back

Hey there Carolinas Region! 🌟 Are you ready for an exhilarating academic journey ahead? Your Regional Leadership Team is here to kickstart this year with nothing but enthusiasm and energy, and we are beyond thrilled to have you all on board as we embark on this new semester together.


Embracing Growth and Opportunity


As we gear up for another fantastic academic year, our team is fully committed to providing you – our brilliant members – with top-notch leadership programming, support, and endless opportunities for personal and academic growth. We're here to help you shine as scholars, leaders, and changemakers within our community and beyond.


We want to remind you that our annual leadership conference is approaching quickly. This year’s conference will be held at Trident Technical College, in their Nursing & Science Building, 7000 Rivers Ave, North Charleston, SC 29406, on October 4-6, 2024. Here is the Tentative Agenda, and here is a link to the Registration form. Early Registration Ends on August 30th. Payment can be mailed or given to the Regional Coordinator, Sylvia Hayes, by the end of the conference.


Also, your Carolinas Region Leadership Team is offering a registration scholarship for the leadership conference. It will include the registration fee for 2 people. Registration includes all activities and meals listed on the agenda for the weekend. To apply, complete the Registration Scholarship Application. Scholarship applications are due by September 9th at 11:59 pm.


Join the Scholarly Adventure!


Scholarship

As college students and faculty members, we understand the importance of fostering a community that thrives on collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity. Together, we can make this academic year a truly memorable and enriching experience for all.


Remember, applications are currently open for Regional Officer positions. Students, if you are looking for an opportunity to develop leadership and professional skills further or are interested in serving our amazing community being a Regional Officer IS for you! Here is a link to the RO Application.


Exciting Updates Coming Your Way!


Updates

One of the most exciting updates on the horizon is the ongoing revamp of our regional webpage! 🚀 Our Headquarters team is hard at work to ensure that our online hub is not just a place for information but a vibrant space that resonates with your dynamic spirit and passion for learning. We can't wait for you to explore the revamped webpage and make it your go-to hub for all things related to our exciting community.


It is taking quite a while to have anything added at this time, so in the meantime we will be posting links here in our Blog posts and on our Facebook group, if you haven’t joined yet, please do.


Have you been looking for the Carolina Super Stars checklist? How about the Carolinas Region Super Star Requirements? Here is a link to those forms: 2024 Carolinas Super Stars and 2024 Carolinas Region Awards Program. Consider working on the Regional Service Project and Regional Honors in Action Project


Don’t forget deadlines for our Alumni Scholarships are just around the corner and you can’t win if you don’t apply! Get those applications submitted today! Here is a link to the Applications. Submission are due September 1st at 11:59 pm.


Finally, we want to remind you that no matter what challenges you face this semester, Phi Theta Kappa is here for you! Above all else, we are here to see you succeed.  Be it resources or any support we can offer, your Phi Theta Kappa community is just an email, a text, or a phone call away. Don’t hesitate to reach out…. We’d love to hear from you! 


Let's Connect!


Are you ready to dive into a world of leadership, growth, and endless possibilities? We invite you to join us on this incredible scholarly adventure. Make sure to keep an eye out for updates here on our blog, The Carolian Crier, exciting events, and opportunities that await you.


Stay connected, stay engaged, and most importantly, stay inspired as we embark on this journey together. Here's to a year filled with growth, learning, and leadership like never before!


With passion and excitement, Your Regional Leadership Team 🌟



The 2024 Summer Honors Institute, hosted at Clemson University, saw members, advisors, and alumni take on mock projects and annual training, make new connections, and reconnect old friends. This year members were randomly placed in teams that banded together to complete a condensed Honors in Action project, an impressive task in such a short period. Despite the sweltering heat and the challenges that presented along the way, Carolinas Region members managed to explore various themes under our new Honors Study Topic and present some fantastic project concepts. This exploration of The Power of Stories allowed members to dive deep into the process of research, development, and project write-up to help them gain insight and strategies they can share with their chapters in the coming year. In addition to exploration of the new Honors Study Topic, attendees enjoyed guest speakers: Sam Brown, Jayna Burch, and Philip White who imparted the lessons and wisdom gleaned through their personal stories.



As always, our amazing Alumni Association, Alpha Omega, provided expert guidance during our HIA explorations. They also facilitated the widely anticipated Readers Theater and Regional Debate. This year's debate saw members from a number of chapters square up around the topic and ended in a surprise draw between Team Pro and Team Con. Both events were highly enjoyed by both participants and attendees and remain a highlight of the Honors Institute experience. Alpha Omega also provided an excellent Merch Mart full of PTK swag, the proceeds of which go to fund upcoming Carolina's Region scholarships. Their contributions to this year's event stand as a testament to the tremendous impact our amazing Alumni Association has on our region. Alpha Omega: we love you; we appreciate you, and as always thank you for all that you do for us!



Reflecting on the overall experience your regional leadership team recognizes that we are always presented with opportunities to improve. The feedback of our members is vital to our continued efforts to grow as leaders and provide the best programming for our members possible. We want to thank everyone who has provided feedback about their experience the good and the not-so. We hear you, Carolinas! Your Regional Officers are looking forward to beginning our work for our next event.... coming very soon! With that said, if you have not had an opportunity to share your thoughts with us, please take a moment to fill out our feedback form here: Honors Institute Feedback Survey (cognitoforms.com).


You can also reach out to your leadership team by email at ptkcarolinas@gmail.com or to your Regional Vice President of Public Relations at cboiceptk@gmail.com. Thank you all to our members, advisors, guests, hosts, and leadership for making this year's Honors Institute an unforgettable learning experience.


Hope you all have a great summer break! Stay cool Carolinas!


Article By: Carol Boice - Regional Vice President of Public Relations



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