News Releases @ TCC

FOOD, BOOKS FOR NEEDY SOUGHT AT TCC GRADUATION
Students to collect goods to fill a truck at graduation, 5-7 p.m., May 12

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – (May 1, 2006) – Honors students working with Project Graduation: Feed a Body, Feed a Mind will collect canned food and books for the needy at Tidewater Community College campuses and at the college’s May 12 graduation exercises at the Ted Constant Convocation Center, Norfolk.

The TCC chapters of Phi Theta Kappa - the international community college service organization - take up the charge at each TCC graduation to collect hundreds of pounds of books (new or in good condition) and canned food goods for local relief agencies.

After the graduation ceremony, the canned goods will be given to Southeastern Food Bank and the books will be sent to local charities throughout Hampton Roads. “Project Graduation is a PTK tradition. We’re proud to participate in this worthy effort, passing along books and food to those who can benefit from them,” says Judy B. McMillan, dean of student services, TCC Chesapeake Campus. “Though Project Graduation, members of the Alpha Zeta Lambda Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa make their Honor Society’s mission come alive,” says Martha Bagby, PTK advisor for Alpha Zeta Lambda.

The Feed a Body, Feed a Mind program focuses on the battle against the social issues of hunger and low literacy rates. In an effort to impact communities internationally, Phi Theta Kappa chapters in over 500 community colleges in the United States, Canada, Germany, Saipan, and Guam committed to changing lives and communities last year through Project Graduation. Since the launch of Project Graduation in 2002, more than 220,000 food items and 190,000 books have been collected and given to worthy organizations around the nation and the globe.

Phi Theta Kappa, founded in 1918, serves 1,200 two-year colleges around the world. The Society’s operations are global in scope with chapters located in all 50 United States, U.S. Territories, Canada and Germany. Nearly 1.5 million students have accepted membership in Phi Theta Kappa since its founding, with almost 100,000 new members inducted each year.

For more information on donating goods, contact PTK member Tara Davis at 339-9365 or tdavis6298@email.vccs.edu.