Rachel Angerman and Lena Sherry, both PTK officers on the Red Wing campus, take donations for the organization's children's book drive.

As nursing students, Rachel Angerman and Lena Sherry have a clear interest in helping others, so it is no wonder that the two chose to help organize a children’s book drive for Kids Count, a nonprofit organization helping at-risk kids and their families, as part of a Phi Theta Kappa service project.

“We decided to do a couple big projects throughout the year. Today we decided to do a book drive, since with this time of the year, there are already lots of food drives,” says Sherry, who serves as vice president for the Red Wing Phi Theta Kappa chapter.

The children who participate in the Kids Count program were thrilled with the delivery of books. "All of the kids were swarming like bees around the boxes trying to get the best books," Kari Kearns of Kids Count says. She also wants Phi Theta Kappa students who organized the service project to know that their hard work made a difference. "They put smiles on a lot of faces," Kearns adds. "Even the older kids were asking if they could take books home to share with their younger siblings."

According to Red Wing Phi Theta Kappa advisor and chemistry instructor Leah Schnaith, Southeast Technical students and staff generously donated 195 books through the drive for Kids Count. “It is a pleasure and privilege to serve as the advisor for Phi Theta Kappa,” Schnaith notes. “Not only are our members’ excellent students, but they wanted to serve others to make our campus and community a better place. The success of this book drive demonstrates their efforts.”

About Phi Theta Kappa

Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society, aims to encourage academic achievement among two-year college students and provide opportunities to develop leadership skills through service activities. In order to qualify for membership, students must achieve a 3.50 GPA and then maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, but the hard work is worth it. Members enjoy many benefits, including eligibility for Phi Theta Kappa scholarships, assistance with transferring to a four-year college, and professional networking opportunities. Southeast Technical has Phi Theta Kappa societies on both the Red Wing and Winona campuses.

“I appreciate receiving the honors and the help available to me in the future, if I transfer and want to get my four-year degree,” Angerman, who serves as president of the Red Wing Phi Theta Kappa chapter, explains. “Plus there are a lot of online social and networking opportunities.”

“Phi Theta Kappa can follow you for life,” Sherry adds while collecting books for the group’s service project. “You can be an international officer, too, and go to annual conferences.”

Phi Theta Kappa is just one of several student organizations that Southeast Technical students can participate in while attending the college. Other groups include Delta Epsilon Chi (DEX), SkillsUSA, and Student Senate organizations on both the Red Wing and Winona campuses. Learn more about these student organizations and opportunities to get involved in the Southeast Technical community.