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National Philanthropy News

First 5K for $10K Raises $12K for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Phi Eta Sigma’s expanding national programming began with the inaugural 5K for $10K, a virtual race among all Phi Eta Sigma chapters, members and other supporters raising money for our national philanthropic mission of literacy. In 2021, the beneficiary was Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, an organization that sends over 1,000,000 children’s books per month to children all over the world. With the help of 223 runners representing 40 chapters from 30 different states and the District of Columbia, Phi Eta Sigma beat its goal of $10,000 by raising $12,491. Since $100 provides four children with a book per month for an entire year, Phi Eta Sigma’s efforts brought a book per month to almost 125 children.

Fundraising efforts started in the weeks prior to

Top Fundraisers Karenna Fife Texas A&M

Katrina Krause

Moravian College

Ethan Douglass Indiana the run, which was open from Oct. 14 through Oct. 28. Some chapters, such as the Catholic University of America, brought members of their chapter together to walk or run the 5 kilometers. Jenna Prunty of the Florida State chapter completed her 5K in an impressive 22 minutes and 54 seconds.

Texas A&M chapter president Karenna Fife

led all fundraisers with $515, followed closely by Katrina Krause of Moravian College at $500. Ethan Douglass of Indiana ($463.50), Rayan Melo of St. John’s ($350), Tiana Harris of John Jay College ($320), and Brianna Reagan of IUPUI ($300) all raised at least $300. In addition to those previously mentioned, Elizabeth Dennis (Pittsburg State), Sarah Windelborn (Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), and Jessie Brown (Indiana) earned Phi Eta Sigma graduation regalia as a prize for raising at least $250.

The 5K also offered members two opportunities to earn points toward Member of Distinction status, one for raising at least $100 through the 5K and another for completing the walk or run. Thirty-five people earned a point for raising $100 and 46 earned a point for completing the 5K, with 15 members completing both the 5K and $100 raised to get themselves halfway to Member of Distinction status before the end of October.

The event will return next year after the conclusion of the 2022 National Convention in Birmingham, Alabama.

National Convention

Coming to Convention? Here are 100 Things to Do in Alabama

By Preston McGee

This is a major milestone for Phi Eta Sigma and we can’t wait to celebrate it with you! We are so thrilled to welcome you to Magic City next October for our Centennial Convention! Birmingham, Alabama is filled with history, tradition, and much, much more. We have many exciting things planned for you upon your arrival but want to encourage you to explore everything Birmingham and the surrounding areas have to offer. From holding a baby alligator at Alligator Alley to tapping your foot along to the tunes playing at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, there is something for everyone in the great state of Alabama. No matter how you decide to spend your time in Sweet Home Alabama, it is sure to lead you to fascinating destinations that will make you want to come back again and again! FORUM of Phi Eta Sigma, 2022 | 7

Attractions 1. Go to the Birmingham Zoo 2. Visit the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum 3. Go and see the Birmingham Botanical Gardens 4. Visit The Market at Pepper Place 5. Take Pictures with the Statue of Liberty Replica 6. Drive through the Heaviest Corner On Earth 7. Honor Our Veterans at the Alabama Veterans Memorial Park 8. Take in the View at Alabama’s Highest Point at Mt. Cheaha State Park. 9. Take the Perfect Picture at the Rainbow LED Tunnel 10. See Some Unique Creations at the African Village in America 11. Take a Trip to the Fictional Town of Spectre 12. Travel Back in Time with Dinosaurs in the Woods i n Elberta, Alabama 13. Visit Stonehenge in Alabama at Bamahenge 14. See the Beauty of Sallie Howard Baptist Church in Mentone, Alabama 15. Go See Minerva at Manderson Landing 16. Visit the Site of a Legend at Noccalula Falls Park & Campground 17. Visit the Donor Memorial 18. Go See the Before I Die Wall 19. Visit the The Christenberry Planetarium 20. Visit Alabama’s State Capitol in its Capital City, Montgomery, Alabama 21. Go and Take Pictures with Champions at the Host Chapter’s Campus in Tuscaloosa 22. Admire the Murals of the Wiregrass

Dining & Snacking 23. Taste the Best Homemade Peach Ice Cream at Peach Park 24. Try A Classic at Eugene’s Hot Chicken 25. Get some of the Famous Lemonade at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn 26. Treat yourself with Jeni’s Ice Cream 27. Satisfy Your Taste Buds at Five Points South 28. Have a Taste of Italian in Birmingham at Amore Ristorante Italiano 29. Try the James Beard Award winning French food at Chez Fonfon 30. Taste the Tradition at Saw’s BBQ 31. Find Your Favorite Flavor at The Peanut Depot Experiences 32. Tour the University of Alabama at Birmingham 33. Go on a Birmingham Civil Rights Tour 34. Experience a Ghosts and Graveyards Driving Tour 35. Go See Alabama’s Beautiful Beaches 36. Meet Big Al and Aubie (Two of the state’s college mascots) 37. Have Some Peanuts at The Peanut Festival 38. Visit the National Office in Tuscaloosa, Alabama 39. Watch a Race at the Barber Motorsports Park 40. Hold a Baby Alligator at Alligator Alley 41. Go to the Talladega Speedway 42. Go On a Birmingham Pedal Tour 43. Check Out What’s Happening at the Alabama Theatre 44. Go and See Sloss Furnace and Experience Fright Furnace 45. Experience the Sidewalk Cinema 46. Watch a Show at Iron City 47. Go to the Shakespeare Festival 48. Go and See American Village 49. Visit DeSoto Caverns 50. Go Sing Along at The Lyric Theatre 51. Explore the City on a Crosstown Scooter 52. Watch a Game at Legion Field 53. Tap Your Foot at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame 54. Catch the Alabama Symphony Orchestra 55. Have a Laugh at The Stardome 56. Watch a Movie at the AMC Movie Theatre

Museums & History 57. Go to the Vulcan Park and Museum 58. Visit Birmingham Museum of Art 59. Visit the McWane Science Center 60. Visit the Southern Museum of Flight 61. Visit the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and Museum

62. Visit the Mercedes-Benz US International, Inc. Visitor Center 63. Visit the Museum of Wonder in Seale, Alabama 64. Visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum 65. Step onto History at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park 66. Visit the Alabama Wildlife Center 67. See Where the Famous Musician Lived at the W.C. Handy Home and Museum 68. Go See Wonderful Creations at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art 69. Visit the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute in Selma, Alabama 70. Visit the Space and Rocket Center 71. Place a Banana on the Gravesite of Miss Baker 72. See the Only Meteorite to Ever Strike a Human and Them Survive the Incident at the Alabama Museum of Natural History at The University of Alabama 73. Learn More About Civil Rights at Kelly Ingram Park 74. Visit the Equal Justice Institute 75. Visit the Alabama Historical Radio Society Don Kresge Memorial Radio Museum Relax 76. Take a Break at Birmingham’s Railroad Park 77. Destress at the Birmingham Rage Room 78. Stroll Through the Rotary Trail 79. Spend Time at Oak Mountain State Park 80. Take a Break at Escape Day Spa 81. Read a Book at the Birmingham Public Library 82. Take a Walk in Avondale Park Active 83. Find Alabama’s State Flower (the Camellia) 84. Take a Hike at Red Mountain Park 85. Jump Around at Airwalk Trampoline Arena 86. See How High You Can Go at Birmingham Boulders 87. Spend Some Time Out on The Green at Bent Brook Golf Course 88. Go Horseback Riding at Rattlesnake Saloon 89. Take a Few Swings at TopGolf 90. Experience an Alabama Small Town and visit Wedowee. 91. Test Your Aim at Civil Axe Throwing 92. Race the Clock to Escape at LockedIn: The Birmingham Escape Game 93. Race Your Peers at the Autobahn Indoor Speedway Shopping 94. Go Shopping at The Summit 95. Find the Perfect Book at Jim Reed Books 96. Find the Perfect Item to Take Back Home at Homewood Antiques 97. Explore the Riverchase Galleria 98. Stroll Through Uptown 99. Get an Autographed Book at the Alabama Booksmith 100. Find Your Treasure at the Unclaimed Baggage Center

Phi Eta Sigma Launches New Program

Member of Distinction Program Honors Values of Society

In 2021, Phi Eta Sigma launched a new national Member of Distinction program, offering students an opportunity for personal development while building on their connections within the honor society through this new national program.

Students who earn Member of Distinction status will receive a commendation, exclusive graduation regalia, and special recognition and programming opportunities at national and regional events. The inaugural class of Members of Distinction will be inducted at the 2022 National Convention in Birmingham, Alabama, in October.

To earn Member of Distinction status a student needs to complete four credits at the national and local levels. The programming for Member of Distinction credits is designed to reflect Phi Eta Sigma’s core values of excellence in mind, health, and character. Six qualifying events in the 2021-2022 academic year • Walk or run the Phi Eta Sigma 5K for $10K, benefitting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library • Healthy Cooking Demonstration and Webinar with Ada Ruth Huntley, a Phi Eta Sigma member and student at the Culinary Institute of America • A How to Make the Most of an Internship workshop with Margaret Ila Christian of Lockheed Martin • A Midterm Mental Health Workshop • Raise at least $100 for philanthropic projects related to literacy • Volunteer five or more hours of service related to literacy

Students may also substitute an applicable local chapter activity to count for one of their four credits.

The first Member of Distinction credit opportunities coincided with the Phi Eta Sigma 5K for $10K Run for Reading which was held in October. Forty-six students, representing more than 20 chapters, earned a credit for completing the 5 kilometer run. While collectively raising more than $12,500 for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, 35 Phi Eta Sigma members earned an additional Member of Distinction credit for raising at least $100.

Once a student completes four credits, they can complete their application for the Member of Distinction status, by visiting the program’s page on www.phietasigma.org

Did you Know?

The Inaugural Member of Distinction Class will be inducted at the National Convention in Birmingham, Alabama October 14-16. As part of a the Member of Distinction program, students will receive a commendation, exclusive graduation regalia, and special recognition and programming opportunities at national and regional events.