UNA CHAPTER OF PHI KAPPA PHI RECEIVES NATIONAL LITERACY GRANT
April 22, 2008
By Michele King
UNA Student Writer
FLORENCE, Ala. — The University of North Alabama’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi has been awarded the chapter’s first National Literacy Grant due to efforts by its Student Involvement Committee.
“Last year, I went to the National Phi Kappa Phi Convention and learned a great deal about how to apply for and obtain a National Literacy Grant. I brought this information back to campus, determined that our chapter would apply for one of these grants,” said Dr. Claudia Vance, associate professor of Spanish and president of UNA’s PKP chapter.
The grant, “Illuminating Language, Illuminating Culture: A Phi Kappa Phi Hispanic Literacy Initiative,” will allow faculty and student members to work with the English as a Second Language Program at Weeden Elementary School in Florence.
“I was fortunate that Dr. Larry Bates accepted my request to become chair of the Student Involvement Committee. He and I thought helping a local ESL program would be a great initiative, so he and his committee drafted an excellent proposal for a National Literacy Grant that would assist the ESL program at Weeden Elementary,” Vance said.
Weeden currently has between 50 and 60 ESL students.
“Once the funds come in, we [student members] will deliver literacy materials to the school. We have also addressed the possibility of taking out an afternoon to read with the children and taking an active interest with them in after-school programs,” committee member Matt Mallard said.
Members of the Student Involvement Committee include Dr. Larry Bates, Anissa Graham, Dr. Tom Haggerty, Matthew Mallard, Dorlea Rickard, Patricia Roden and Laura Young.
Phi Kappa Phi is a collegiate honor society dedicated to the recognition and promotion of academic excellence in all disciplines.
