Award Winning Programs Sponsored by Kappa Omicron Nu Chapters

• KON Outstanding Chapter Awards 2007-08

  Northwest Missouri State University – Kappa Alpha

  Kappa Alpha Chapter explored “Graduate School Opportunities,” including an overview, tips, and the application process. Also discussed were financial assistance and scholarship opportunities, including those from KON.  Other programming focused on “Ethical Dilemmas” in an interactive presentation and “Diversity in the Workplace.” The spring initiation was conducted at the annual Etiquette Banquet, which was led by the Director of Dining Services who spoke about differences in customs and appropriate etiquette for a business meal. Planning began for a research project to identify stressors of incoming college students.

  Meredith College – Kappa Delta Omicron 

  Kappa Delta Omicron Chapter sponsored the AAFCS Executive Director, Carolyn Jackson, for its Leadership Development Series Lecture. This lecture on Ethical Leadership was presented for all students of the HES Department. “Celebrating Student Achievement Day” featured undergraduate research projects of 19 KON students. “Making Change on Campus” (the KON Leadership 105 program) was an opportunity to discuss and promote activism on campus as well as explore the Reflective Human Action Leadership Model.

  California University of Pennsylvania – Nu Omicron

  Nu Omicron Chapter emphasized undergraduate research and the University Academic Day and at professional meetings (Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society, Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association, and South Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association). One KON meeting included a presentation of a member’s undergraduate research. The chapter focused on ethics by establishing a student code of ethics to be included in the Department’s Student Handbook. Presentations at high schools regarding athletic training included the topics of wound care, nutrition, injury prevention, concussions, and exercise awareness.  Members volunteered for community service and used their athletic training expertise with Special Olympics, Commencement Handicap Assistance, Greek Week athletic events, and Pike’s Run Fishing Festival. 

   

  KON Outstanding Chapter Awards 2008-09

  East Tennessee State University – Kappa Beta Rho

  East Tennessee State University KON chapter is commended for an emphasis on officer orientation and planning, for developing goals and priorities, and for subsequently involving members in confirming them and assuming member leadership roles.  Members are commended for learning about the research process through their participation in a food product research project, collaborating with faculty in a co-curricular context and gaining experience in data collection.  With the goal of providing activities that enhance the KON mission, members participated in service activities that provided growth in leadership skills and served the community including Habitat for Humanity.

   Mississippi State University – Kappa Beta Phi

  Mississippi State University is commended for member engagement in planning and implementing KON goals and activities.  One initiative involved enhancing member writing skills and their understanding of the research process needed to develop a grant targeting low income, minority women.  Though a small chapter, this KON chapter engages members directly in the process of choosing to write an AAUW Campus Action Grant and in taking responsibility for researching information for grant components.  In addition, a Kids and Careers Day project targeted elementary age children with interactive career awareness stations and providing participating KON members with leadership skill development.  

   Meredith College – Kappa Delta Omicron

  Meredith College KON chapter is commended for encouraging KON members to discover the goals of Kappa Omicron Nu and responsibilities of membership.  Members were encouraged to study the KON website and be prepared to answer questions at the first meeting which showcased an ice cream social where members responding with correct answers were rewarded with special toppings.

  The chapter is commended for developing and implementing an ACHS Social Responsibility grant focusing on enhancing campus awareness of sustainable resource choices.  Through a focus on member engagement, information was transmitted through sidewalk chalk messages and through student web page messages.  The campus sustainability coordinator spoke at a chapter meeting to enrich this knowledge base regarding sustainable resource awareness and choices.  The grant was developed in collaboration with another campus honor society. 

   

• Kids & Careers 

This program was sponsored by the Nu Iota Chapter of East Carolina University.  2005 Program Award

Statement of Need: East Carolina University is located near several high-poverty elementary schools. In Spring 2004 and again in Spring 2005 the Nu Iota chapter sought to introduce groups of 4th graders to what it was like to be a college student, in general and more specifically what would they study and be able to do once they graduate as a student from the College of Human Ecology at ECU. Many of these children are from homes where no adults have completed a college education.

Career Focus: We focused on careers in all the units of the College of Human Ecology by engaging the children in small-group activities with KON faculty and students from each of the units: Child Development & Family Relations (CDFR), Criminal Justice (CJ), Interior Design & Merchandising (IDMR), Nutrition & Hospitality Management (NUHM), and Social Work (SOCW).

Statement of Objectives: The objectives were to introduce 4th grade students to life as a college student, to help them set a personal goal of going to college, and to introduce 4th grade students to majors and careers in the College of Human Ecology.

Description of the Program: In 2004 one 4th grade class was invited to campus for a day-long field trip. In 2005 , because the teacher was co-teaching two classes of 4th graders we invited both classes, totaling 43 children, 2 teachers, and 1 guidance counselor.

Upon arrival on campus from their school we greeted them on the bus, walked through the main part of campus to visit important landmarks on the campus, and then spent the morning engaged in small-group content-oriented activities planned and led by KON faculty and students from each unit within our College. Each year the children participated in three activities. In addition we treated the children to lunch at our beautiful main dining hall where they enjoyed their all-u-can-eat buffet, toured the dining hall kitchens, and then went across the street to an undergraduate dormitory where they viewed a college dorm room and asked questions of the student life representative who met with them.

Small-Group Activities - 2004

CDFR activity had the children creating self-esteem collages from magazines and art materials after listening to a brief PowerPoint presentation on the elements of self-esteem.

IDMR activity had the children designed their own store front windows using dress forms and the historical costumes from the 1970s and 60s. The children priced each item and then conducted "price wars" to entice customers to shop at their store.

CJ instructor invited the 4th graders to his university class where he had his university students help the 4th graders conduct a "Greenville CSI" where the 4th graders had to solve clues to a mystery and along the way learned about how police conduct investigations.

NUHM took the children on a tour of the university kitchens after all of us ate in the dining hall. The children met the baker chef, talked to the head manager, and computed how much it cost to fee the thousands of students on ECUs campus. They also enjoyed fresh-baked treats.

Small-Group Activities - 2005

CDFR activity was conducted by KON child life majors who had the 4th graders involved in a typical activity they would do in the hospital with children preparing for medical procedures. The 4th graders used medical supplies (band-aids, gauze, IV paraphernalia, etc.) to make art work and learn the function of each item.

CJ activity had all the students examining ECU police cars and watching as they teachers were fingerprinted and had a criminal check completed.

IDMR - Same activity as in 2004.

SOCW set up a room with play therapy toys and materials, including puppets, figurines, play dough, art materials, and much more. The 4th graders learned that social workers help people (especially children) and then were encouraged to explore all the materials.

NUHM led an activity on healthy eating habits. The children did a written activity after watching a video and then created trail mix for the entire group.

Target Population: 4th grades from South Greenville Elementary School, an "at risk" population of children from a high poverty area of the city.

Evaluation Feedback: The response both years was overwhelmingly positive from the 4th graders, their teachers, and the KON students who planned and facilitated the activity. After the 2004 event KON members decided that in 2005 they wanted all units to be represented in the activity. That goal was met.

• Integration of Kappa Omicron Nu and Academic Goals 

  This program series was sponsored by the Omicron Tau Chapter of Penn State University. 2003 Program Award

  Diversity

  Statement of Need:

  In the world in which we live it is necessary to acknowledge the fact that the community of Penn State is composed of a student body that encompasses a variety of cultures, races, ethnicities, countries, religions, and individual perspectives, et it is these defining characteristics of the student body that are the foundation for our institution. As an honor society, we feel that it is necessary for us to provide our members with a time to express their feelings, learn about different individuals, and open their minds to the diversity that surrounds them daily.

  Integration of KON and Academic Goals:

  Our chapter understands the importance of providing our members with the experience to explore cultural differences in relation to academic endeavors. Penn State is a large institution, so we wanted to encourage our members to take advantage of the opportunity to get involved with organizations and individuals who represent something different from which they have known and to allow them to be open to new opportunities, challenges, and experiences that may come their way. Our Dean has initiated a "recruitment retreat" to formulate a preliminary strategic plan for the recruitment of diverse undergraduate student body throughout the College, thus our college clearly supports the integration of KON and academic goals.

  New Chapter Activity:

  On September 20, 2002 we sponsored a meeting entitled "Gingerbread Man of Diversity," which our Vice President and Program Chair led. Students were all given a gingerbread man cut out of Manila paper when they entered the meeting. Students sat at tables covered with decorative material and were instructed to represent themselves through the design of the gingerbread man.  Each student shared who they were through their gingerbread man.

  Statement of Objectives:

  The point of this activity was to demonstrate similarities and differences.

  Target Population:

  This program was targeted for college students to engage them in an activity that would hopefully open their eyes to the notion that all people came from a different background and even though they are different they are also similar--all members of Kappa Omicron Nu at Penn State University.

  Evaluation Feedback:

  This activity received enormous feedback from our members. Many thought it was a great way to discuss an enormous issue on a small scale. It provided them with an atmosphere that was light and open, allowing all to speak their mind and tell one another how their background had shaped who they were today. It was also a learning experience to express themselves as gingerbread men.

  Career Service Mentoring Program

  Statement of Need:

  Members of KON should take advantage of the opportunities they have available to them at Penn State University to advance their future careers. As an honor society, we feel that it is necessary for us to provide our members with information to allow them to make the best of their time and involvement with KON. That is why we felt that a program on job searching and interviewing by Penn State's own Career Services would be very beneficial to our members.

  Integration of KON and Academic Goals:

  Our chapter understands the importance of providing our members with the experience to utilize all the services that a large institution has to offer. We understand that finding a job can be stressful, challenging, and very intimidating to those who are just beginning their search in the job market. The program on Career Services exposed our members to the wealth of resources that are right here a their finger tips. This program opened their eyes to the many opportunities that Penn State provides and showed our members how they can utilize these services. 

  New Chapter Activity:

  On April 14, 2003, our chapter sponsored a meeting entitled "Career Service Mentoring Program" in which we had a member of Penn State's Career Services come to talk to us about networking, job searching, interviewing, and using Lion Link (a networking tool utilizing Penn State Alumni all over the country). This program covered all the services that are provided by Career Services and gave our members resources to help further their career objectives.

  Statement of Objective:

  This meeting was meant to expose our members to programs that they may be unaware of at Penn State and to encourage them to network and sell themselves as future employees. We wanted our members to be aware of what it takes to market themselves to future employers.

  Target Population:

  This program was target for college students to encourage them to utilize Career Services to help them begin their professional careers. It was targeted to our younger members to help them find an internship and to our older members to help them find their first job after college.

  Evaluation Feedback:

  This activity received enormous positive feedback from our members. So many members had no idea that we had such an organization on campus. Many members requested the program for the beginning of next semester when they were going to be looking for jobs. We feel this was a very informative program and one that proved to be vital for our members.

  Integration of Kappa Omicron Nu and Academic Goals - Diversity, Writing, & Ethics

This program series was sponsored by the Omicron Tau Chapter of Penn State University. 2002 Program Award

Statement of Need: Penn State and the College of Health and Human Development promote diversity, effective writing, ethical behavior of students, and research. Although our KON chapter has done a number of programs over the years that were designed to help our members be more sensitive to issues of diversity on campus, we have never had one that focused on issues of diversity in the workplace. Our program on writing last year was excellent but very poorly attended. Our chapter has never presented a program on ethics. Las year we had an excellent chapter activity on research. We decided that, of the four KON area that are of interest to our university and college, three were areas of need within our chapter.

Integration of KON and Academic Goals: When deciding on our spring semester meetings, we looked at the KON initiatives and how we could integrate these initiatives with the goals of Penn State University and the College of Health and Human Development. Three sources document the integration of KON and the academic goals of our University and College. These sources are the "Penn State Principles," the Health and Human Development Strategic Plan, and the Rock Ethics Institute.

We found that the HHD Strategic Plan of 2002 includes a goal to "Amplify the quality of the HHD Undergraduate experience." The strategic action to reach this goal of enhancing and expanding the undergraduate experience is accomplished through the first-year seminars, undergraduate research, and the study of underrepresented and vulnerable populations. The first-year seminars are required by all students at Penn State and include information on academic integrity/ethics, writing, and diversity issues. The Penn State Principles published by PSU in 2001 states, "I will respect the dignity of all individuals within the Penn State Community" and "I will practice academic integrity." This year the brand new Rock Ethics Institute at PSU had it's inaugural symposium titled "Cultivating Moral Awareness and Inquiry" at Penn State March 14-16. The symposium indicated a University commitment to the topic of ethics.

We decided that we would focus on the ethical dimensions of the scholar, promote diversity, and advocate a commitment to writing in our spring general meetings. Our University and College are very supportive of our chapter. Both the Dean and Associate Dean are members of our chapter. They provide the funds that allow the Chapter to send our adviser to Conclave. Therefore, it is important that our chapter use our meetings to both promote the values of KON and also help our institution attain its goals.

New Chapter Activities:

Diversity in the Workplace, February 19, 2002 - Speaker: Dr. Cathleen Love, Assistant Vice Provost for Educational Equity

Writing for Winning, March 19, 2002 - Speaker: Dr. Cheryl Achterberg, Dean, Schreyer Honors College

Ethical Dilemmas in our Future Professions, April 16, 2002 - Speaker: Dr. Douglas Anderson, Associate Professor Philosophy, Penn State Rock Ethics Institute

Statement of Objectives:

The objective for the meeting on diversity was to help our members become more sensitized to the fact that their own background will influence their relationships with others they meet and interact with in the workplace.

The objective of the meeting on writing was to help our members learn how to identify the attributes of effective essays for winning scholarships, awards, and admission to competitive post-graduate programs. Some of these principles can also be used to write grant proposals that are funded for future research as well as to write essays that present their research in such a way as to win scholarships and fellowships.

The object of the meeting on ethics in the workplace was to introduce our members to issues that could confront them in their professional lives and to help them become prepared for the ethical decisions they will have to make.

Narrative Description of the Programs:

Diversity in the Workplace. Dr. Love did a wonderful job of providing members with insight about leadership in a culturally diverse society. She presented a PowerPoint program that was attended by 35 members. Dr. Love held the members' attention and provided opportunities for member interaction. She shared aspects of her own background to help us understand the journey she had taken in valuing diversity. She directed the audience to describe to a partner the significance of her own name because that often reflects ethnic or cultural background. From there she progressed to analogies that illustrated the strength that comes in the workplace when everyone values the uniqueness of each other.

Writing for Winning. This was a repeat of last year; attendance and enthusiasm was excellent. The Honors scholars were invited to join the KON members, and attendance and enthusiasm were excellent. Dr. Achterberg provided handouts with tips for writing essays that will increase the opportunities to win awards and scholarships. She spoke of how the Honors college selection committee reviews applications. The audience was given a chance to read several actual application essays to recognize features of a winning paper. The program was very beneficial and will hopefully encourage members to apply for KON and other scholarship opportunities.

Ethics Dilemmas in our Future Professions. A new institute on campus, funded by Douglas and Julie Rock, was established in 2001 to cultivate moral awareness and inquiry. Our last general meeting features a speaker affiliated with the Rock Ethics Institute. Dr. Anderson gave a general introduction to ethics and then read three case studies that involved ethical dilemmas from each of the three majors involved in our chapter. He then facilitated discussion of each case study which presented issues in each of the respective professions.

Target Population:

Each meeting targeted our members, one also targeted Honors Scholars, and the last one targeted our new members, just initiated 2 days before, to get them involved.

Evaluation Feedback:

All of our meetings were very successful. Surveys distributed at the last meeting indicated satisfaction with the topics but they thought the meetings ran too long. The writing meeting ran long, yet most of the members stayed until the very end. There were twice as many applications for chapter scholarships, so we took that as a positive outcome of our writing meeting. Overall, we were very happy that the members enjoyed that topics that integrated KON and academic goals of our institution.

• Research Opportunities for Undergraduates 

This program was sponsored by the Omicron Tau Chapter of Penn State University.  2001 Program Award

Statement of Need: While undergraduate students, members of KON should take advantage of the opportunities they have available to them at Penn state University. As an honor society, we feel that it is necessary for us to provide our members with information and means for them to make the best of their time and involvement with KON.

Integration of KON and Academic Goals: Our chapter understands the importance of providing our members with information and skills that will help them succeed in their academic and future careers. Penn State is a large institution, so we wanted to encourage our members to take advantage of the opportunity to work on the research team of faculty in the College of Health and Human Development. Our goal was to promote undergraduate research. Our Dean has signed onto the Undergraduate research Community program; thus our college clearly supports the integration of KON and academic goals.

New Chapter Activity: On February 21, 2001, we sponsored a meeting in which three professors (one from each of the three majors--human development, nutrition, and HRIM) discussed their research, the opportunities for undergrads, and how undergraduate students can get involved, and what they look for when recruiting undergraduates. Next, the students who work for these respective researchers described the research experience from their prospective. An additional benefit to having these professors speak was the enthusiasm they showed for writing skills. Each researcher emphasized the great importance of strong communication skills. Each student spoke positively of his or her time spent doing research and encouraged other students to do the same. The evening concluded with an extensive and animated question and answer period. A handout, "Opportunities for Nutrition Research Experience," was available for participants.

Evaluation Feedback: Attendance was high, members were enthusiastic, and our guests were very generous in providing information and answering questions. We considered it a very successful program. It would be nice for evaluation purposes if we had a way to learn how many members present were motivated to apply for a research opportunity for next year. 

• Writing to Win 

• Invitation to Share

• See also Academic & Co-Curricular Activities for Chapters