By Maisarah Miskoon

We are Alpha Chi Nu, SMCC’s chapter of the international honors society; Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). Some of you should know us by now due to our bagel sales near the A.S.K. kiosk on Thursday mornings, and the Captain’s Cupboard, the on-campus food pantry that we opened last year, but if you don’t, here’s a little introduction.
We’re basically normal, hardworking people, who have managed to earn a 3.5 cumulative GPA (or above) after doing 12 credit hours. Once that criterion was met, we were all extended invitations to join PTK, for which we forked out $80, for a lifetime membership.

Joining PTK has opened all sorts of doors for me as a member including numerous exclusive scholarship opportunities for here at SMCC or transfers, and the use of CollegeFish and Competitive Edge websites, online college searching and professional development resources sponsored by PTK. As an Officer and the V.P. of Fellowship, I am now involved in the Honors in Action project, a service-learning project designed at bettering our college and community. I am also one of the Volunteer Coordinators for the Captain’s Cupboard – which was PTK’s College Project for last year – as well as a volunteer.
Our Honors in Action program will be focused on socially responsible investing for this year. Some of you might see us or will be seeing us going around collecting signatures for a petition for the Senate. Our goal is to encourage the Maine Community College System (MCCS)– the system that oversees all seven Maine Community colleges – to replace their fossil fuel investments with equally competitive alternative stocks, such as renewable or environmentally friendly energy sources.

Just last Tuesday, we had a meeting with David Daigler, the CFO of the MCCS.
We’re trying to reach out to you, SMCC, to make this project of ours a success and raise awareness on responsible investing. We believe it is time for the Maine Community College System to bring their investment policy in line with their sustainability policy, in order to make this place a better world to live in, and we’d love your help on this.
To find out more about us or our Honors in Action project, please feel free to email us at: mphithetakappa@smccme.edu.
Or stop by one of my informal meetings every Monday from 12:00-1:00 pm at Ross Tech, Room 104 to ask questions and/or learn how to navigate all of the resources that PTK.org has to offer! I hope to see you there!