Jill Bouchard- Officer at Large (Central Maine Community College)

Julie Larkin- Southern Vice President (Manchester Community College) 

Congratulations to both of you!

The Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program provides new Phi Theta Kappa members with financial resources to help defray educational expenses while enrolled at a two-year college. The program also provides opportunities and encourages students to assume leadership roles by participating in Society programs.

“The Leaders of Promise Scholarship funds provided represent an investment in human potential,” explained Rod A. Risley, Phi Theta Kappa Executive Director. “Our objective is to provide the resources and programs that will result in the emergence of strong moral servant leaders.”
The 2008 Leaders of Promise Scholarship recipient From New England is:

Solomon Nkhalamba, Southern Maine Community College, Maine

To view the complete list Click Here

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Serving as a Regional Officer is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in your region by assisting chapters in achieving their goals, training others and more fully developing your leadership skills.

To apply, please send a letter of interest to the Regional Coordinator, Michelle Brinck by August 11^th. The Regional Advisory Board will select the finalists by August 20^th and the announcement of new officers will be made by August 29^th.

For the past couple of years, communication has been an issue of continued improvement and refinement and this year we have decided our focus would be on finding ways to utilize the tools we have more effectively.

The final outcome of this discussion was the following two regional goals for the year.

1. Personally Reach Chapter Members
2. Raise Awareness of All Chapter Members to the Regions Presence and its Programming.

We look forward to personally connecting and speaking with your chapter leadership and its membership in the coming year.

On June 29, Pope Benedict XVI of the Roman Catholic Church and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of the Eastern Orthodox Church united at the Vatican for a single Mass, at which both delivered the homily, blessings, and recitation of the Nicene Creed. At their side was Father Aimilianos, an alumnus of the Alpha Nu Upsilon chapter at Hesser College and member of the Eastern Orthodox delegation, who participated in the service by reading from the Gospels.

Attendees at the 2007 New England Regional Convention in Newport, Rhode Island will remember Father Aimilianos giving a well-received keynote speech on the importance of religious unity and cooperation. Due to his deep-rooted belief in bringing together people of differing beliefs, participating in this historic joint service of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church was an even greater honor for Father Aimilianos. As Merideth notes, “For the past several decades, the two Churches have been working to improve communication between them and begin to have a united vision.” This meeting marked yet another major step in improving the relationship.

We congratulate our friend Father Aimilianos on all of his accomplishments, for representing the New England Region as well as he does, and for embodying the Hallmarks of Phi Theta Kappa as he strives to bring more unity and understanding to the world.

For more information on Father Aimilianos, click here. A news article about the meeting can be found here.

Father Aimilianos (far right) reading from the Gospels as Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I (left) and Pope Benedict XVI (right) preside over the Mass

The two leaders, with Father Aimilianos behind Pope Benedict’s staff

The joint delegation exiting from the Mass, with Father Aimilianos in black at the top

Gerard F. Boucher accepted membership in the Alpha Zeta Theta chapter at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Massachusetts this April and graduated in May. He was previously named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges and participated in the honors program at Quinsigamond, from which he also received the 2008 Human Services Department Award. He will be attending Clark University in Worcester this fall.

Aaron J. Dowden accepted membership in the Alpha Upsilon Alpha chapter at Manchester (CT) Community College in 2005. He previously served as Officer-at-Large and webmaster for his chapter and is currently webmaster for the New England Region. A double-major in Physics and English, Aaron worked as a math tutor, is the outgoing treasurer for the MCC Student Senate and a student representative on the College Senate. He will be attending the University of Rochester this fall.

Grady Fox, 2007 - 2008 president of the Beta Lambda Rho chapter at York County Community College in Wells, Maine, was a member of the All-Maine Community College Academic First Team. A non-traditional student who majors in Digital Media, he was named YCCC’s Student of the Year and served as editor of YCCC’s student newspaper. Originally from Ohio, Fox is the first Jack Kent Cooke recipient from the Maine Community College System. He will attend Emerson College in Boston in fall 2009.

J. Ashley Odell, the 2007 - 2008 New England Region President, is also a member of the Alpha Upsilon Alpha chapter at Manchester (CT) Community College. In addition to receiving the Jack Kent Cooke, she is a 2008 Guistwhite Scholar, All-USA Community College Academic First Team Member, and New Century Scholar, as well as Student Trustee for the Connecticut Community Colleges. She will major in Critical Social Thought at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts this fall.

Sarah Vazquez is a member of the Alpha Xi Omega chapter at Holyoke Community College. A Liberal Arts major, she was the student speaker at Holyoke’s commencement ceremony in May and was an active member of the Human Services Club and volunteer for children with developmental disabilities. Vazquez will also be attending Mount Holyoke College this fall, where she will be majoring in Philosophy through the Frances Perkins Scholars Program for non-traditional students.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation awards scholarships valued at $30,000 (USD) per year for three years and receives approximately 1,000 nominations annually, making it the largest and most competitive transfer scholarship in the United States. Each award, which is used in addition to financial aid, can be used to cover tuition, living expenses, required fees, and books for the final two to three years of the baccalaureate degree.