Fransiska Durant Receives 2005 Paragon Award
 

On Saturday, April 16, 2005, Fransiska Durant, Co-Advisor of the Kappa Psi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Dodge City Community College, was one of 30 recipients of the Paragon Award for New Advisors given at the closing ceremonies of the annual Phi Theta Kappa International Convention at Grapevine, Texas. Since Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education with 1,200 chapters located in all 50 of the United States, U.S. territories, Canada, and Germany, this is a very prestigious award.  In her absence, Kansas Regional Director, Ruth Randall, received her award.  Garden City Advisors Sheila Hendershot and Karen Gustavson brought and presented it at the regular weekly meeting.  

The Paragon Awards recognize distinguished service by chapter advisors who are serving in their second to fourth year. Award-winning advisors are those who make significant contributions to the growth of the individual members, serve as the chapter's advocate on campus, and encourage the chapter to be involved on the local, regional and/or international level of the organization. 

For each chapter, students submit essays and letters of support.  President Jason Foskuhl wrote the award winning essay. Students at DCCC’s Kappa Psi Chapter said Fran should receive this award “based on her consistent involvement with the chapter, her contribution to the expansion of the personal and professional growth of members, and her promotion of the college chapter." One student indicated that “She never gives up on us, challenges us to raise our sights, and adds stability and continuity to our chapter by remaining an advisor all these years.”  Colleagues of her department said “Fran’s most significant contribution to the chapter is that she is the living enactment of what the Psi Theta Kappa organization stands for:  enthusiastic hard work, involvement, and dedication to worth-while causes.