PBKACA
IN THE COMMUNITY
The
Association has long conducted service activities within
local communities in support of liberal education and
academic excellence. We invite you to support our current major
service activity: scholarships for Chicago Public School students.
Past efforts have included high school
essay contests, book awards to high school seniors
graduating as outstanding scholars, and interscholastic debate competitions
in secondary schools.
College Scholarship Initiative and Fundraising
2009 Scholarship Recipients - Derrius Quarles and Alexander Langendorf
2008 Scholarship Recipient - Kenneth Oshita -- 2009 UPDATE
2007 Scholarship Recipient - Dominique Barron
2008 Update: 2006 Scholarship Recipient - Ramon Lee -- 2009 UPDATE
PBKACA Awards First College Scholarship
Odyssey Project
Golden Gavel Award
PBKACA Award for New Initiates at Local Chapters
College and Scholarship Initiative and Fundraising
Since PBKACA’s college scholarship program began in 2005 as a modest endeavor to award one annual scholarship, the program has grown by leaps and bounds. Read a letter (.pdf) from President Judi Strauss-Lipkin outlining the importance of this initiative.
To donate, you can:
- Make a donation online now --
- Make a donation directly from your IRA trustee to PBKACA. Your donation from your IRA may have an additional tax benefit.
- Contact Judi Strauss Lipkin at jstrausslipkin@gmail.com to discuss your ideas, ask questions, and perhaps schedule a meeting.
One hundred percent of contributions are used to fund the scholarships. Phi Beta Kappa Chicago is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax deductible and every donation will receive an acknowledgement for your tax records.
PBKACA also established a separate fundraising committee to focus on expanding this program. We plan to expand the successful program in several ways:
- To build an initial endowment of $500,000, which could generate over $20,000 in income per year
- To award one new scholarship from income each year, ultimately supporting four Chicago Public School students for four years of college
- To award additional endowed scholarships, which would be named for their benefactor
- To obtain contributions through planned giving, such as IRA’s or bequests
We thank each of the members who contributed last year and encourage all members to consider making a donation this year in support of the scholarship initiative.
2009 Scholarship Recipients - Derrius Quarles and Alexander Langendorf
For the first time, our PBKACA Scholarship
Committee has chosen to honor two
outstanding seniors with our PBKACA
Scholarship for 2009. The first recipient is
Derrius Quarles who is completing his
senior year at Kenwood Academy and will
be attending Morehouse College in the fall. Read Derrius' thank-you letter (.pdf). Read about Derrius in the Chicago Tribune.
Derrius has a "laserlike"
focus on high
achievement and is
passionate about his
education, planning to
major in biomedicine and
psychology for a career
as a pediatrician. He is the only senior at
Kenwood to earn straight A's over the first
semester. He also won the Most Academically
Talented Science student in 2007-08, a very
prestigious award to receive as a sophomore.
His courses include nine honors classes and
seven AP classes. His chemistry AP
teacher and principal commented not only
on his "powerful" academic record, but his
impressive array of leadership skills, from
Student Council president to tutoring K-
2nd grade students in math.
Derrius has used his many life challenges
and personal obstacles (including being in
the foster care system for 12 years) to
inspire him to greatness. He told us that he
had almost failing grades in the 8th grade
when one teacher told him he had great
academic potential and mentored him
through high school to this day. The
teacher calls his cell phone daily "just to
see how he is doing."
His poise and maturity and intense interest
in learning as well as helping foster
children with community outreach
programs in the future was one of the
many reasons we have chosen Derrius for
this honor.
Our second honoree is
Alexander Langendorf
of Lincoln Park High
School. Alexander is a
thoughtful, creative and
aware student who
considers "education to
be the ultimate democratic equalizer: the
means of social mobility and the root of
economic opportunity." He views
education as not just a privilege, but also
as an opportunity to become a contributing
member of the communities to which he
belongs. He eagerly accepts the
"responsibility of being well rounded and
well-read; intellectually grounded with a
level head." For this, he believes, "is both
the price and promise of citizenship."
Besides his near perfect grades, ACT and
SAT scores, Alexander plays tennis, is cocaptain
of the team and is a member of the
Ecology Club. His volunteer interests
include the Nature Center and the Howard
Area Community Center and his principal
also notes that he "reads voraciously and
enjoys provocative and richly layered
works of fiction which explores the frailties
of human existence."
Alexander's plans as he enters Carleton
College with a possible double major in
mathematics ("enjoying the pursuit of
mathematical puzzle solving") and English
("resonating to the ineffable splendor of
written language") are to become a teacher
and ultimately write a book - "even if not
one to be published."
The PBKACA Scholarship Committee,
chaired by Emelda Estell and Michael
Silverstein, worked closely with Danielle
Cox-Jones, Scholarship Program Manager
of the Office of High School Programs and
the Chicago Public Schools in distributing
and collecting information and applications
to each Chicago public high school. Award
recipients are selected based on academic
achievements, leadership ability,
extracurricular activities as well as
financial need. If they have other
scholarship support, PBKACA will consider
that in making our awards (maximum of
$5000 for all recipients per year) or defer
the award to future years when less
financial aid is available for our winners.
Your donations to our Scholarship
Operating Fund and our Scholarship
Endowment Fund in the past (and as we
continue raising additional funds for
current and future winners this year) are
invaluable. You can donate now by sending
your check to our PO Box or donate online
at www.pbkaca.org. All your donations are
fully tax-deductible, and 100 percent of the
donations go directly to scholarships.
PBKACA also continues to support our
College and University based chapters of
Phi Beta Kappa. Members of our Executive
Board attended the induction ceremonies at
Lake Forest, Loyola and Rockford College;
in addition, chapters receiving our $500
awards included Lake Forest and Rockford.
2009 Letter: 2008 Scholarship Recipient - Kenneth Oshita
Dear PBKACA Members,
Now that I have a year at the University of Chicago under my belt, having experienced all of the stresses of being in college for the first time and having enjoyed my first small taste of independence, my appreciation for your scholarship has done nothing but grown. Last year, I was only just happy to be at school, eager to soak in all of the new experiences and opportunities before me, and grateful for your scholarship for making my college career possible. This year, however, having worked most of my angst and awe out of my system, I face my education and my life with a newfound sense of maturity and determination. I only have three short years left at this school, and I want to take full advantage of them. This isn't just a time to have fun and explore the far reaches of my interests; it is a time to pursue my passions and become the person that I want to be. So, I see your scholarship not only in the context my being at college, but, more importantly, in the master plan that is my life. Your help impacts me now and will continue to impact me for all the years to come. I truly appreciate it, and I understand this more clearly now.
The fall quarter has been going wonderfully! Only a month into the grind of things, I'm still reacquainting myself with everything that I love about this school. The beautiful neo-gothic buildings and ivy colored walls, my quirky friends and professors, rowing on the Chicago River, the Thai place on 55th, the classes, the work, even the squirrels. At the same time, I'm finding new things here to explore, most especially when it comes to my studies. At the beginning of my first year, I was so sure that my future lied in the hard sciences. But, now, I've come to realize that my passions may lie elsewhere. After all, the draw of studying economics at the University of Chicago is quite strong.
It's an exciting time for me, and I can't wait to see where my pursuits take me. Thank you so much, again, for everything. I'm quite happy that I can share my experiences with you.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Oshita
University of Chicago, Class of 2012
2008 Scholarship Recipient - Kenneth Oshita
Based on the enthusiastic recommendation of the PBKACA Scholarshp Committee, the Executive Board has chosen Kenneth H. Oshita as the recipient of our 2008-09award of $5,000. Kenneth, 18, has completed the International Baccalaureate Program at Lincoln Park High School and will be attending the Universityof Chicago in the fall.
Interested in every subject from physics to philosophy, Kenneth has a nearly straight-A transcript at Lincoln Park, where he also played saxophone in the school band and was on the junior varsity tennis team. He volunteers at the National Runaway Switchboard as a peer counselor, and he has served as a counselor-aide at an annual summer camp for children with muscular dystrophy. Among his awards is a prize from the Veterans of Foreign Wars for an interpretative essay on the theme of democracy.
In the next phase of his education, Kenneth plans to major in physics, though he seeks studies that are "expansive and well balanced." He hopes "to meet new people and to be exposed to different points of view, to discover and try new things and to harbor [his] independence and sense of self." The committee members were impressed as much by his reflective maturity as by his budding philosophical depth. "I suppose," Kenneth writes, "that the same basic quality of imagination that it takes to conceive of wizards and dragons is the same as that which is necessary for understanding Einstein's theory of relativity or even Newtonian mechanics. Physics reveals to us how imagination is ironically the key factor in understanding reality."
The PBKACA Scholarship Committee, chaired by Emelda Estell and Michael Silverstein, worked closely with Danielle Cox-Jones, Scholarship Program Manager of the Office of High School Programs and the Chicago Public Schools in distributing and collecting information and applications to each Chicago public high school. Award recipients are selected based on academic achievements, leadership ability/ extracurricular activities as well as financial need.
2007 Scholarship Recipient - Dominique Barron
PBKACA is proud to announce that Dominique Barron of Walter Payton College Prep High School is the 2007 recipient of the $5,000 PBKACA College Scholarship. This fall, Dominique will attend Georgetown University with a major in international relations. Dominique hopes to become a lawyer and work with international clients. In that way, she can combine her interests in the law and business administration to help corporations improve their international business marketing.
An honors student, Dominique scored in the top 5 percent of students across the nation who took the ACT. Aside from her academic achievements, her principal and teachers have described her as an extremely well rounded, committed and motivated scholar --- “a remarkable young lady.” At Payton, she is the president of Payton for Hope, a group that she helped to found that fundraises for the American Cancer Society. As a member of student government, she helped organize a book drive to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina. The book drive was a success, with over 700 books collected from students and local bookstores.
Dominique hopes to continue her work in the community and says that she would like to help build a community center for underprivileged children. The center, Dominique explains, would “foster activities geared towards helping such students excel in sports, the visual and performing arts and academics.”
In her spare time, Dominique has been taking flute lessons for seven years. She has participated in the Sherwood Conservatory Summer Flute Institute and auditioned for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Protégé Philharmonic.
The PBKACA College Scholarship --- now in its second year --- is awarded based on academic achievements, leadership abilities, extracurricular activities and financial need. Applications were distributed to each Chicago public high school, and the number of applicants nearly doubled from last year’s total. Five finalists were selected and interviewed by the PBKACA Scholarship Committee, which is chaired by Board members Emelda Estell and Michael Silverstein. The Committee also works closely with Danielle Cox-Jones, Scholarship Program Manager of the Office of High School Programs for the Chicago Public Schools.
PBKACA also awarded $500 each to PBK initiates at several Chicago-area chapters. Congratulations to the following students: David Malec, Lake Forest College.
2009 Letter: 2006 Scholarship Recipient - Ramon Lee
I have fulfilled all my requirements for being a pre-med student but I decided to take a gap year before enrolling into medical school. I'm looking into different things such as teaching, photography, research, and even some type of disaster relief opportunities.
But currently I am enjoying my last year in college. I've been continuing my passion in photography; I am currently composing a photo documentary on a men's homeless shelter here in Baltimore. It has been wonderful and rewarding as I talk to the men and hear their life's story. Also, having the chance to take more upper level classes on neuroscience has been intellectually challenging in a very good way.
All in all, I am certainly cherishing my time at Hopkins. I very much appreciate how the Phi Beta Kappa scholarship has contributed to my experience here. So thank you once again from the bottom of my heart.
2008 Update: 2006 Scholarship Recipient - Ramon Lee
PBKACA voted to renew the scholarship for last year’s recipient, Ramon Lee. Lee completed his freshman year at Johns Hopkins University with exceptional academic achievements. With his goal of becoming a physician and a member of Doctors without Borders, Ramon will be registering as a neuroscience major in the Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. This decision was based on his course in Cognitive Neuroscience this spring which explored the cognitive as well as the biological side of the brain. In addition Ramon told the Board that this year has been amazing: “just being on your own truly causes a change in you!” He also has met so many people from around the world at Hopkins and “I’ve been able to get to know them more and just have fun with them.”
PBKACA Awards First College Scholarship
PBKACA is proud to announce that Ramon Lee of Lincoln Park High School is the recipient of the first $5,000 PBKACA College Scholarship. Ramon will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign starting this fall with the goal of “being a doctor when I am 40.” Not a suburban doctor, but a member of Doctors without Borders, where he will have administered health care to people from every corner of the world- from the jungles of Panama to the beaches of the Philippines. He wants to heal patients physically, but “by creating strong bonds with my patients, I will heal their spirits as well.”
Ramon is the middle of three children. His parents came to Chicago in 1985. He foresees future study in both math and science with a liberal arts presence. His principal and counselor at Lincoln Park High see him as “appropriately self confident and a straight-out genuine force, with an upbeat spirit and a strong sense of community and family.”
The PBKACA Scholarship Committee (chaired by Emelda Estell and Jon Miller) worked closely with Danielle Cox-Jones, Scholarship Program Manager of the Office of High School Programs, and Chicago Public Schools in distributing and collecting information and applications and criteria to each CPS High School. The committee reviewed all candidates and interviewed four outstanding students for this award. Judi Strauss-Lipkin and Emelda Estell attended the CPS Scholarship Recognition Program at the CPS Board Meeting on May 24 where PBKACA was recognized as a new participant in the CPS Scholarship Family. The Association now joins other scholarship providers such as the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, the United Negro College Fund, the Golden Apple, Shore Bank and the Posse Foundation. A total of $11,269,200 in Scholarships was awarded to outstanding CPS seniors.
PBKACA is committed to continuing and expanding these scholarship awards. If you wish to make a donation in support of the scholarship, you may send a check to PBKACA, PO Box 64-2622, Chicago, IL 60664-2622, indicating Scholarship Fund in the note space on your check. We will also be accepting donations on our website in the near future.
In addition to the Chicago Public Schools $5,000 Scholarship Award, the Executive Committee approved giving $500 awards to PBK initiates at member chapters this spring. Congratulations to the following recipients Barbara Ouderkerk (UIC), Umair Jabbar (Loyola University Chicago), John Luporini (Lake Forest College), Alexis Joanna DiSilvertro (Valparaiso). No awards were given at Northwestern University or the University of Chicago, but both anticipate giving such an award in 2007.
Odyssey Project
PBKACA is involved as volunteer tutors in the Odyssey Project to help students develop good writing skills.
The Odyssey Project is an eight month course in the humanities for low-income adults. The curriculum is designed to explore great works considered central to Western thought in literature, philosophy, history and art with instructors who are faculty members of Chicago area universities like the University of Chicago, Northwestern, DePaul, etc. The project is part of the Bard College Clemente Course in the Humanities that originated in New York and has spread across the country and into Canada and Mexico. In Chicago it operates in Bronzeville, Rogers Park, Pilsen and at the Downtown Humanities Council office.
The major objectives of the project are to help students, in connection with their assigned readings, to develop the capacity for reasoned analysis and argumentation, and to think critically and independently through respectful discussions with others and through developing good writing skills.
The students prepare several papers based on their assigned readings and that’s where our
PBKACA volunteers come in. Volunteers do not need to know anything about the book to help these students with their writing skills. They primarily serve as a sounding board to the students’ essays, providing feedback as a general reader on the effectiveness of the student’s thinking and argumentation. They do not grade the papers nor offer instruction per se on course content.
Our volunteers have found this a very inspiring and gratifying experience. Katrice Grayson says. “The participants’ willingness to learn and my desire to help proved to be a mutually beneficial exchange.” Emelda Estell says, “The students I worked with were genuinely interested in learning and sharing their ideas with each other.”
Golden Gavel Award
In concert with several community
service organizations, after an extended preparatory effort
PBKACA served as a catalyst in the reestablishment in
1997 (following a lapse in time over three decades) of
debate competition as an extracurricular activity in the
Chicago Public High Schools (CPHS).
PBKACA
recruited the individual skilled in rhetoric who provided
overall management guidance for the relaunched debate
program, initially offered in less than 10% of the CPHS
system. He continues to offer consulting assistance to
the competition, which expanded to cover more than two
thirds of CPHS and became an extracurricular activity
fully funded/administered by the Chicago Board of Education
in 2002. PBKACA members volunteer as judges in a series
of tournaments throughout the school year. PBKACA has
recruited persons with interest/skills in debate, such
as attorneys and elected officials, to also judge the
competitions and to provide technical assistance and serve
as role models for the debaters. PBKACA directors also
participate in the Chicago Debate Commission, an advisory
board providing oversight/guidance for the overall effort
that also includes CPHS educators and administrators.
At
the conclusion of the annual tournaments, PBKACA awards
cash prizes and commemorative items to key facilitators
of these efforts, the teachers who coach the debate teams
in their high schools. Two levels of honors are accorded
through the PBKACA Golden Gavel program. The first round
recognizes 6 semifinalists from the various competitive
divisions within the debate contests who were chosen by
their peers as particularly dedicated and effective mentors
for their student charges. These were not necessarily
the teams that were the champions in their classes of
competition, rather they were the groups deemed to have
achieved the most with their available resources. Semifinalists
each receive a cash prize and certificate of achievement
from PBKACA.
From
this group of six, an ultimate Golden Gavel winner is
selected as the most outstanding performer for that debate
season by the Chicago Debate Commission. This person receives
an additional monetary award and a commemorative plaque
bearing a debate judge's bronzed (i.e. "Golden") gavel.
The winner's school also earns the right to house on-site
a travelling trophy in its trophy display case through
the entire following debate season until the next winner
is named.
Past
winners of the Golden Gavel award are:
2006
- William Colson - Morgan Park High School
2004
- Sanford Kaplan - Hope College Prep
2003
- Mark Mouck - Kelvyn Park High School
2002
- Peter Bavis - Steinmetz Academic Center
2001
- Paul Whitsitt - DuSable High School
PBKACA Award for New Initiates at Local Chapters
In November 2005, the Phi Beta Kappa Association of the Chicago Area instituted a award program covering every campus chapter of Phi Beta Kappa within its service territory.
As a key element of the association’s comprehensive effort to support excellence in liberal arts education, the program is designed to provide ongoing opportunities for effective collaboration between PBKACA and local chapters.
Under the program, each collegiate chapter is eligible to designate one student, either a junior or senior, from its annual cohort of new initiates for special recognition. Chapter officials select the student based on criteria defined by PBKACA.
Awards are based on demonstrated merit. Student excellence is assessed on the basis of:
- Academic standing within the peer group of incoming Phi Beta Kappans
- Production of an original, in-depth work of research or other creative product
- Leadership in extracurricular and/or community service activities
All honorees must also have committed to attend graduate or professional school within one year of earning an undergraduate degree, as well as to have accepted the chapter’s offer to join Phi Beta Kappa. There are no requirements regarding either the geographic locale of that subsequent enrollment or the disciplinary focus of future study.
All honoree receive a $500 prize and a commemorative certificate from PBKACA. These awards are presented by a representative of the association. The presentation typically occurs at the same chapter ceremonies at which the students are inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, or at another appropriate campus honors event.
PBKACA sees this as a substantive means to maintain close ties between it, local chapters and each future group of new initiates and to further encourage the work of promising young scholars on behalf of their fellow Phi Beta Kappans who are members of our association.
