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Columbus State Community College

Alpha Rho Epsilon
Columbus State Community College
Columbus, Ohio

Leadership Hallmark Essay 2000-2001

How did Alpha Rho Epsilon, with a culturally and ethnically diverse membership, develop a group of strong leaders? First, we discovered each member's perception of leadership. Then we enhanced and broadened their views by giving them opportunities in which to participate and strengthen their leadership qualities.

This year, our members were encouraged to serve on various college, chapter, and community committees. Each committee was arranged to improve Alpha Rho Epsilon's member outlook.

 

Focus and Context

We asked ourselves, what is our vision? What do we believe in? What is our purpose? We answered with our participation on College Council, the College Sexual Harassment Board and Student Conduct Hearings.

A direct way to improve college policy for students is to participate in the college's governance committee, College Council. Two members participated on College Council, making suggestions for implementation of methods to improve college operations for administration, faculty, staff, and students.

When a student becomes a perpetrator or victim of an impropriety or harassment, sexual or otherwise, four Alpha Rho Epsilon members become part of the hearing process. Our involvement in the hearings educated, strengthened, empowered, and protected the college.

On occasion, a student may commit a conduct violation. Several of our members took on the leadership role of sitting on the Student Conduct Hearing Committee to hear and resolve disputes between students and instructors. Our participation reinforced the seriousness of a college education that promotes an atmosphere conducive to learning.

 

Responsible for Choices

We realized that life accumulates and that at times it is choice more often than chance that determines our circumstances. Not everyone makes healthy choices. We will not blame the world if we make a poor choice. Instead, we learn from our experiences to make better choices.

In harmony with that goal, our members tutored children at local elementary schools to provide a positive role model. We offered peer tutoring at Columbus State Community College to those facing challenges in their course work. Members volunteered at Wings, a women's empowerment conference.

Our presence and assistance at these events promoted responsibility, confidence, and an avenue to make positive choices.

 

Authenticity

Genuine leadership comes from within and is based on truth, honesty, integrity, and trust. We must realize who we are and learn our personal behavior. Most importantly, we must stay consistent with our values and principles.

Our Fellowship Committee affirmed that goal by encouraging member participation in planning and attending receptions, outings, and developing Hallmark essays. New member orientations acquainted new inductees with the benefits of Phi Theta Kappa membership. This orientation allowed all members to interact and learn from one another.

 

Passion and Commitment

We have become energized by a love for what we do.

This passion and commitment is displayed in the awards banquet we hold to present exemplary members with certificates and plaques for their outstanding leadership in the community and on campus. These banquets encourage all toward greater membership participation.

Our officers and members established the Five-Star Membership Program Revision Committee to make the program easier for members to understand and to make it more comparable to the four Hallmarks. In this way more members were able to take initiative in proposing new events and were rewarded in relation to their level of participation.

Creating successful events such as Caps and Gowns, Pennies for Scholarship, and the Parking Space Raffle allowed Alpha Rho Epsilon to raise money for our activities in the four Hallmark areas.

As we used our creative energies to fuel our minds toward positive goals rather than waste our resources on negativity, we excelled in leadership.

 

Spirit and Meaning

Alpha Rho Epsilon committed each member to be mindful of the purpose of our chapter and to achieve, not for individual glory or reward, but to seek within for personal fulfillment. The chapter encouraged members to partake in events that nourished and enriched their spirit and gave them meaning.

The Latino and Heritage Festivals were opportunities our members used to fulfill a desire to encourage minority attendance at Columbus State Community College. Members served as mentors for the Youth Science Summer Camp in the YES Mentor Program and to area fourth grade students at the Center of Science and Industry in the Science School 2000 Project.

The old adage, "It's better to give than to receive," rang true for our members during the Founder's Day Faculty Thank You when we delivered trays of cookies with notes thanking the campus departments that were instrumental in Alpha Rho Epsilon's success.

One of the most rewarding events of the year was Alpha Rho Epsilon's collaboration with the Ohio Youth Advocate Program, Wish Tree, to provide holiday gifts to area foster children. The chapter office was overflowing with gifts, a testament to the giving spirit of the campus and community.

 

If one had to give a title to the accomplishments of Alpha Rho Epsilon's leadership efforts this year, it would have to be Helen Keller's quote, "One can never consent to creep when one feels the impulse to soar." The sky was the limit and the college was our runway. As with any flight, we encountered turbulence that shook our spirits and unnerved our confidence, but with the piloting of our members we pulled through, completed our journey, landed safely and are now preparing for take off with a new flight crew.