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Phi Theta Kappa completes spring service project

UA-PTC's Phi Theta Kappa students completed their spring service project by volunteering to revive Pathfinder Preschool’s learning garden in Jacksonville. The learning garden was always a beloved space by the preschool, but the pandemic left them short on staff and time to tend to its care.

Phi Theta Kappa advisors, Jessica Wise and Amanda Kennedy, and student members of Phi Theta Kappa teamed up with the preschool's director, Debbie Scharbor, and a few of the preschool staff for two Saturdays, rolling up their sleeves to get their hands dirty and make a difference in the community. Delana Crutti, Phi Theta Kappa student, grew vegetables and fruit in a greenhouse to bring to the garden while other Phi Theta Kappa students donated flowers, time, and strength to get the garden back in shape as it appeared before the pandemic.

On Saturday, April 17, Phi Theta Kappa students were presented with a wooden leaf by Pathfinder Preschool that will hang permanently on the learning garden fence, serving as a reminder of the efforts made by Phi Theta Kappa that went into re-storing the garden and for wanting to make a difference in the community.

“I am overwhelmed by the generosity of these students. I'm grateful to UA-PTC's Phi Theta Kappa for their help in getting our garden back to a place where children can grow and learn,” said Debbie Scharbor, Pathfinder Preschool Director.

Phi Theta Kappa students would like to make sprucing up the Pathfinder Preschool learning garden an annual event for the student organization.

"Giving back to the community, learning something new, and feeling pride in a job well done are just some of the feelings I saw expressed by Phi Theta Kappa students after the garden transformation. Students showed great leadership skills in getting this project organized and planning what to bring and working alongside this amazing group of students makes me feel honored to be a part of this organization. This project was a shining example of communities helping communities," said Jessica Wise, Phi Theta Kappa advisor and Instructor of English.

Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society that promotes academic excellence. Members are eligible to compete for scholarships, to participate in regional, national, and international meetings and institutes, and to attend workshops on leadership and scholarships. Additional information about Phi Theta Kappa is available by visiting www.uaptc.edu/ptk.