By Brian Ruth
The Scene staff
The Forest Park chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society sent four students to the 46th Annual Honors Institute at Washington University last month.
Described as “the ultimate honors experience” by executive director Rod Risley, the event followed the theme “Frontiers and the Spirit of Exploration.”
“It’s like a school beyond what we are used to in our regular classes on campus,” said society member Sherell Adams, 22, a general transfer student at Forest Park.
Phi Theta Kappa chapters around the world will follow the same theme with their “Honors in Action” projects. Forest Park will submit its project for competition early next year.
The Honors Institute focused on how to examine a topic, conduct research and develop plans for a presentation.
“I really learned to how express my ideas, how to look at things from a different view,” Adams said. “Now, instead of just doing a task, I can ask, ‘How can I improve this? How will this improve me?’”
Gloria De Avila, 26, Forest Park society member and dental hygiene major, also came back from the event with ideas.
“The big thing is for us to take in what others are saying and doing, so we can bring something back to our honors project at Forest Park,” she said.
“You get to know people from other chapters around the country and what is working for them.”
Speakers at the Honors Institute included Patrick Lee, who impersonated Lewis and Clark explorer William Clark, and tissue engineer Nina Tandon, who spoke about the next frontiers of biomedical engineering.
Also in the line-up was St. Louis native Pokey LaFarge, a musician and songwriter who specializes in American roots music. He recently signed with Jack White’s Third Man Records. LaFarge addressed how music and art help people express discovery.
Other Forest Park students who attended the Honors Institute were An’drea Adams and Devon Cook.
De Avila walked away from the event with more confidence. “I was able to step out of my shell,” she said. “At the end, I just wished for a couple of more days with these people.”
Adams had a similar experience, learning not to “discount” herself.
“What you have to say can make a big difference to others in life,” she said.
To get more information on Phi Theta Kappa, stop by Room F-210, or call 314-951-9421.