THE VOICE OF WILKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE
VOLUME 24. NUMBER 2
WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA
NOVEMBER 17, 1993
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
r
WCC’s Phi
Theta Kappa
Works For
Five-Star Rating
Phi Theta Kappa (FIX), the Wilkes
Community College chapter of Alpha
Kappa Omega, has several projects
underway for the 1993-94 academic
year.
The fraternity is based on the four
Hallmarks of Scholarship: Scholar
ship, Leadership, Service and Fellow
ship. These programs are designed to
give PTK students opportunities for
personal growth in all four areas
which, in turn, encourages the devel
opment of a balanced individual.
Each project done by the group falls
into one of these categories. PTK is
using the projects in each category to
qualify for an awards program called
the Five-Star Program. This program
rates each Phi Theta Kappa chapter
upon completion of all qualifications.
Alpha Kappa Omega, the WCC has
set its sites for the highest rating pos
sible which is a five-star rating.
In July, August and September,
PTK members researched and col
lected materials such as books, films,
documents, etc. that related to this
year’s Honors Study Topic, "Our
Complex World: Balancing Unity and
Diversity.” The items were displayed
in the library to increase awareness of
the Honors Study Topic among WCC
students.
Alpha Kappa Omega sponsored blpod-
mobiles at WCC on May 5 and Sept
ember 22. They collected approxi
mately sixty-flve pints of blood on
May 5 and sixty-three pints of blood
in September.
Over 150,000 people attended the
Brushy Mountain Apple Festival
where Phi Theta Kappa members
manned a WCC booth along with the
Student Government Association and
handed out WCC materials.
PTK members helped the college
organize College Day by serving as
hosts and hostesses for the event.
continued on page three
To Gobble
or Soar:
That is the Question
The bald eagle, symbol of the Uni
ted States, was also the great symbol
of the Irozuois Indians. The Iroquois
believed the eagle, as it soared aloft,
watched over them and kept them out
of trouble.
These days, the bald eagle itself is in
trouble — it’s an endangered species.
And perhaps it worked for the Iro
quois, but it does not seem to be doing
all that well keeping the U.S. out of
trouble...
Perhaps the United States should
have followed Ben Franklin’s sugges
tion and adoptd the turkey as the
national symbol. He thought the eagle
a thoroughly disreputable type and
not suitable at all. The turkey, how
ever, is not only not endangered, but it
provides humankind with healthy,
tasty meals.
Of course, everyone would have to
endure terrible turkey jokes gobbled
up periodically by the national and
international press. (Nobody makes
"eagle” jokes). And in a beauty con
test, no turkey could hold a feather to
an eagle. This flightless bird has a face
only a parent could love, a wattle that
gives it an over-the-hill look, an out-
of-all-proportion "figure,” and a walk
that is clumsy, at best. The eagle is
sleek and proportioned and moves
with almost unparalleled grace.
Still, the turkey, which Americans
give thanks for at least once a year,
seems a more plentiful, practical, peace
ful pick for a national symbol than the
bellicose (has to carry an olive branch
to convince anyone it wants peace), bald
(though bald is beautiful to
some), beady-eyed (looking for trou
ble?) bird Americans chose some years
back.
Whatgofcfcla/i you this Thank^ving?
WCC Challenged To M.atch
$250,000 Pledge
Tom Ogburn, President of the Wilkes Community College Endowment
Corporation, announced today that the 25-acre tract of land adjacent to the
college known as "Beacon Hill” has been acquired for the college. This property
includes the 20,000 square foot building formerly occupied by Northwestern
Security Life.
According to Ogburn, Reliable Insurance Company of St. Louis signed a
contract with the Endowment Corporation for a purchase price of $800,000.
Reliable has committed to donate $100,000, making a net price of $700,000.
Jim Seidler, Vice President for the Reliable Life Insurance Compnay of St.
Louis, Missouri, stated in a release: "Reliable Life has been negotiating with the
college for some time now and we are happy that the college is the buyer.
Reliable Life felt that the college was the primary buyer due to its location
adjacent to the property. Reliable Life is pleased to make the initial $100,000
gift to the WCC Endowment Corporation for this acquisition.”
A $250,000 challenge gift has been made by an anonymous donor which will
be matched through future fundraising. A total indebtedness of $450,000 will
remain on the acquisition which the Endowment Board plans to raise through
focused fundraising efforts in the near future. B. Townes, WCC Dean of
Development, has indicated that efforts are already underway to launch a capital
campaign to secure pledges and gifts. The Endowment Corporation’s annual
fund campaign was delayed, awaiting confirmation of this purchase. Townes
stated that letters will soon be mailed to annual supporters and others, asking
them to participate in this campaign.
The addition of the 25.05 acres of land to the campus brings the total college
acreage to 140.33. The original campus was 74.8 acres. During the past six years,
the WCC Endowment Corporation has been responsible for increasing the size
of the WCC campus by 87.6%.
The college is making plans to use the newly acquired building for expansion
of its Early Childhood Education Program and Child Development (Day Care)
Center. In addition, the college is currently exploring other uses for the building
such as health programs (nursing and dental assisting) or continuing education
programs.