All-USA Community College Academic Team

Selected from more than 1,500 students nominated by their schools, here are the 20 members of the 17th annual All-USA Community College Academic First Team. Each receives a $2,500 cash award.

Elona Rrapo  

College: St. Petersburg College, Clearwater, Fla., campus
Age: 22
GPA: 4.0
Studying: Pre-medicine

An immigrant from Albania, she organized a Better World Books used textbook drive to benefit literacy efforts in Africa; as honors college member, presented research on evolution of religion in Albania at National Collegiate Honors College Conference two years after arriving in the USA speaking little English; hospital volunteer.

Posted By: Yanna C. Ogilvie, Midwest Regional Director

We were honored to attend the International Phi Theta Kappa conference in Nashville. Everyone was so excited to learn more about Better World Books and we were excited to attend the general sessions with key note speakers Kevin Sharp, Jehen Sadat, and Al Gore! Please enjoy these pictures from our time in Nashville.

2006 PTK International President and Vice Presidents


Flag Ceremony


Al Gore


Al Gore and the panel


BWB Crew: left to right - Aaron King, Xavier Helgesen, Laurie Lawson, Damara Catlett, Roselle Agner

Posted by: Jack Hanlon, Northeast Regional Director

This past weekend was the State University of New York (SUNY) Student Government Association meeting (that’s quite a mouthful…).  The meeting, taking place in Syracuse, NY this year had great attendance, with multiple attendees from almost all of the 64 schools within the New York public college system.  Better World Books has a very strong relationship with schools in the SUNY system so it was great to see many of our reps in person.

The SGA’s at the SUNY schools actually carry a surprising amount of weight in decisions that get made for the schools as a whole, so to be involved with this group is an honor and it reflects the diligence and commitment of the individuals.  Because of this, many of the groups that weren’t involved with us came for information and wanted to get involved, many of them through the SGA and through another one of the many groups they were involved in.

It was great to be there because I had the chance to not only meet many of the reps that I work with, but also had a lot of time in lunches or dinners to network and spread the word to a number of new campuses as well, outside of the presentations which I gave.  It was a fantastic opportunity for people to hear about our mission and give feedback and encouragement to us and the people who work with us.  We work with over half of the SUNY schools currently and with more events like this, that number will keep growing.

Posted By: Damara Lauren Catlett, Northern Mid-Atlantic Regional Director
Written By: Raquella Wilson

When this initiative was presented at the international convention our officers were so excited about the prospect of helping to provide an education to those who might otherwise go without, we signed up immediately after the closing of the presenting seminar.  As we were approaching the end of the semester and felt this was an excellent opportunity to acquire books, we decided to begin our efforts immediately. Before we even received the collection boxes from Better World Books, we had begun to collect cases of books.  Instructors and administration were overwhelmingly supportive of our efforts and made substantial contributions.  The students chose to donate their used books rather than receive monetary reimbursement for them.  What better way to help someone than to provide them with educational tools so that they can empower themselves?

The money raised from the Books for Africa drive was used to purchase a tree for our tree planting event.  Officers and members of Phi Theta Kappa chose to coordinate with the child development center on our campus to use the tree planting event as a tool to educate the young students, who attend the center, on the importance of “Keeping America Beautiful”.  The children were excited to be participants in physically planting the tree and were eager learners when it came to educating them on liter prevention. 

We are currently working on ideas for our most recent check. However, I am sure it will be used to benefit others.

Posted by: Sarah Lynne Reul, Senior East Coast Director

It’s book drive season again! As you start up your promotional campaigns, remember that Facebook events are an awesome way to raise awareness for your book drive. If you haven’t already, it’s a great idea to create an event for the book drive & invite all your friends (and make sure they can invite people too!) – this is a super easy way to help more students learn about the great impact you can all make.

Also, if you’re on Facebook, join the Better World Books group! We already have over 500 members, and we would love for you & all your friends to join. Here’s the link - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2204784368, or you can find it by searching groups for “Better World Books”. There are a bunch of great pictures (like the one below) that you can use for your Facebook event, or add pics from your own book drive!

We just heard Al Gore speak on the environmental and that it’s a moral issue/decision for each and every one of us and David Murphy, President of BWB, talking about the incredible strides we have made since our inception and in particular the tremendous impact that Phi Theta Kappa has made for the “Book Drives for Better Lives’ Program from an environmental and social standpoint!!

Mary Murphy, Southeast Regional Director of Better World Books and Erica Chong from Guam,  together at the Phi Theta Kappa International conference in Nashville, TN!

Posted by: Abby Rae LaCombe, Rocky Mountain Regional Director

“Hi All!!  I hope everyone’s semester is moving along beautifully and we’re all getting excited for BOOK DRIVES!!  I received this letter from an owner of Beat the Bookstore, and we at BWB thought it was so kind we’d share it with the world.  Beat the Bookstore is a rapidly growing used-book franchise; you might see one opening in your town soon!  Please take note, Better World Books and Beat the Bookstore have no contractual agreement; we are just two businesses with high hopes of making every book count.

‘Hello, Abby:
I actually donate to Better World Books through a student organization at Utah State University.  As I have gotten to know the faculty sponsor/designated adult for the Golden Key Club, she has told me about the club and how they work with Better World Books.  At the end of each buyback period, we truck the books to her office for distribution to you, I guess. 

This actually works out great as a marketing and overall goodwill system for our store.  We are the only store in Logan that provides value for textbooks that don't get used again, and it's possible because of Better World Books.

I'm actually working on putting up signage in my store to advertise this.  I know that the Golden Key Club receives payment for each book that Better World Books accepts, so the value is for all parties: 

- Beat The Bookstore helps students get rid of their old books for a good cause
- The Golden Key Club gets an avenue for fundraising for their activities
- Better World Books gets to change the world through its programs

If you do have any signage, posters, or ideas of how to better publicize this relationship, would you be willing to part with it?  Any business owner worth his or her salt in this world has to be involved in doing something for those who are less-fortunate, and I'm glad that I've got a way to contribute to a better future in a small way.  If we can do more to promote Better World Books in the store, let me know.

Thanks.
Eric C.
Owner, Beat The Bookstore"

SOUTHEAST  LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR  April - 2007
 
 
 
I would like to announce the Southeast Leadership Spotlight for April:  Nageen Ali: Vice President of Service Officer of the Alpha Delta Rho Chapter at Broward Community College-South Campus. Nageen has inspired me in many ways as she and the members of her chapter have worked untiringly to help others through this altruistic fundraising opportunity.  She's an amazing person and I am honored to have come to know her. I sincerely congratulate, Nageen for this well-deserved award.

 

 

Mary Murphy
Southeast Regional Director
Better World Books

Posted By: Niko Tomlinson, Senior Midwest Director

Here is a letter from the amazing Phi Theta Kappa chapter at Century College in White Bear Lake, MN.  They have run two great book drives which has helped them have tremendous success at their regional meetings!  Congrats Nate and the whole Alpha Alpha Gamma chapter!

Niko,

Thank you for everything! We truly enjoy working with you...We're looking forward to doing another collection at the end of the semester. Keep in touch.

By the way, our chapter won 4-1st place Regional Awards at our last conference. I took home a Distinguished Officer Award of our region (of 60 chapters). We also took home Distinguished Chapter of our region. We basically left with all 1st place Regional Awards. Our partnership with you was a big help in winning our awards -- thank you!!

Nate Kruckeberg