Room 312A
Burn Bright, Not Out
Presenters: Evelyn Mahler, Vice President of Fellowship, and Dottie Dotson, Vice President of Member Communications, of the Chi Upsilon Chapter from McHenry County College
Burnout is a topic most honor students are familiar with, so join the discussion to learn to identify, recover and prevent it within your chapter, while still burning bright. Walk away with a toolbox of knowledge to help improve chapter spirit and health!
Themes: Fellowship, PTK Chapter Operations
Room 215B
College Project and Honors in Action
Presenter: Keiton Hamilton, President of the Illinois Region of Phi Theta Kappa and Chapter President of the Upsilon Mu Chapter from Illinois Central College
In this fun and interactive session, your regional president will provide an overview of the Honors in Action Project and College Project. This will be followed by a game that illustrates knowledge of the topic.
Themes: PTK College Project, PTK Programs or Opportunities
Room 216A
Confidence Through Storytelling: Your Personal Elevator Pitch
Presenters: Taylor Swanson, Chapter President, and Adonia Fulk, Vice President, of the Chi Upsilon Chapter from McHenry County College
Telling others about what you do best can be hard. Join us in learning how to gain confidence when telling your story by crafting your “Personal Elevator Pitch.” Don’t sell yourself short!
Themes: Leadership, Member Recruitment, PTK Chapter Operations
Room 216B
Creating Connections
Presenter: Brandy Cochran, Illinois Regional Southern Vice President and Chapter President of the Alpha Theta Eta Chapter, Olney Central College
A fellowship session builds connection through icebreakers, teamwork, and planning inclusive activities. Members explore fellowship’s role in engagement and retention, design ideas like socials or mentorship, and commit to one action for their chapter. Optional add-ons like bingo, storytelling, or a Fellowship Wall extend engagement.
Theme: Fellowship
Room 217A
The Evolution of Fun with Faculty, Our College Project
Presenters: Aiden Maison, Chapter President; Adella Hukik, Vice President; Oliviya Kravichuk, Prospective Member; Bera Gulsen, Chapter Member; Marissa Parchim, Chapter Member; Puja R. Krishnan, Chapter Member, of the Phi Phi Chapter from Harper College
Started by Harper College's Phi Theta Kappa chapter (Phi Phi), Fun with Faculty is a relaxed and informal event featuring food, various games, and plenty of conversation. It's intended to be a comfortable and informal environment, encouraging students and faculty to connect and learn from each other more effectively.
Themes: College Project, Fellowship
Room 217B
From Few to Fierce: Engaging Members Through a Core Team of Actives
Presenters: Jocelyn Turner and Falechia Turman, Chapter Advisors of the Lambda Rho Chapter from Kennedy-King College
This forum explores how chapters can thrive even when only a small percentage of members are active. Presenters will share strategies for leveraging a dedicated core team to build chapter momentum, increase visibility, and inspire broader involvement. Practical recruitment and engagement tips will help every chapter strengthen member participation.
Themes: Leadership, Fellowship, Member Recruitment, PTK Chapter Operations
Room 218B
Poster Sessions for College Project and Beyond
Presenter: Heidi Boring, Advisor of the Chi Upsilon Chapter from McHenry County College
At the summer Regional Convention and Honors Institute, you have the opportunity to share your chapter’s best work in a professional poster session. Beyond Phi Theta Kappa, poster sessions are a common feature of graduate work and professional conferences. Learn to create professional and engaging posters to toot your own horn!
Themes: PTK College Project, PTK Programs or Opportunities
Room 219A
PTK Edge and Leadership Development Studies
Presenter: Dakota McLaughlin, PTK International Vice President for Division III
One of the best PTK member benefits is free access to Edge and Leadership Development courses. Learn about the variety of courses from Advocacy Edge to Research Edge, how to access them, and the many ways they'll help you and your chapter advance.
Themes: PTK Programs or Opportunities, Leadership
Room 219B
Tell Your Chapter's Story and Enter in the Regional Yearbook Competition
Presenters: Maggie Kernan, Sierra Krueger, and Ashly Gabriel, Vice Presidents of the Eta Kappa Chapter from Black Hawk College, Quad Cities Campus and Ali Kashani, Advisor for Rho Kappa Chapter at Elgin Community College
Learn how the Eta Kappa and Rho Kappa chapters have used the yearbook they submit in the Regional Competition in several ways throughout the year. They will also discuss the rubrics, the benefits to the chapter, and ideas for how to create the actual yearbook. They will bring several past yearbooks for examples as well.
Themes: Fellowship, Member Recruitment, PTK Chapter Operations
Room 310A
Voices Between Worlds
Presenter: Rishi Vithani, Illinois Regional Vice President of the Northern District and member of the Phi Beta chapter from the College of DuPage
At the session, you'll have a chance to talk about your culture and share experiences that promote cultural awareness. Attendees are encouraged to bring items (food, clothes, etc.) or pictures that represent their culture or a post of their culture.
Themes: Fellowship, Leadership, Service
Room 311A
Your Digital Resume: Building a Brand That Reflects Your Values
Presenters: Aaron Knupp, Chapter Co-President of Alpha Delta Eta and Illinois Regional Vice President of the Central District, and Braden Gibson, Chapter Co-President, of the Alpha Delta Eta Chapter from Kankakee Community College
This session is designed to help Phi Theta Kappa members better understand the importance of curating a professional online presence that reflects their leadership, service, and values.
Themes: Leadership, Service
Room 214B
Skills For Disagreeing Better
Presenters: Maryanne Colter and Laura Piemonte, Braver Angels
Are you interested in being better prepared when discussing divisive topics with others? The hallmark of an effective leader is the ability to lead mutually civil and respectful conversations, even with those whose ideas differ from their own. In this workshop, you will discover the transformative aspects of engaging in civil and respectful partisan discourse. If you are interested in making a difference in the world, we hope you'll join us.
Themes: Leadership, Fellowship
Room 216B
Beyond Small Talk: Icebreakers That Actually Break Ice
Presenter: Alex Johnson, Director of Student Life at Rock Valley College
This interactive session introduces icebreakers designed to help students move past surface-level introductions and build genuine connections. Participants will engage in activities that encourage meaningful conversation, self-reflection, and dialogue around aspects of personal identity. Through stepping outside their comfort zones, students will gain tools to foster deeper connections within their teams and across campus.
Room 311A
Campus to Career: Turning Engagement into Experience
Presenter: Brennon Hightower, Director of Student Life @ Parkland College
This session will show students how to turn their campus engagement into career readiness by aligning experiences with NACE competencies. Students will translate their involvement into résumé bullet points and interview stories, bridging the gap between student perception and employer expectations while showcasing skills in communication, teamwork, professionalism, leadership, and self-development.
Room 310A
Managing Relationships: Leading and Working with Others in Your Role as a Student Leader
Presenter: Genny Stevens, Director of Student Engagement & Leadership, Carl Sandburg College
This session looks at leaders and officers of student organizations who often find themselves in unfamiliar territory, both externally with their peers and internally as they continue to self-discover and develop in their new role. Being an effective student leader includes understanding or learning how to work with others and managing those relationships around them. This can be challenging in numerous ways but with some helpful tools it can be a rewarding (and dare I say fun?) experience.
Room 217B
Networking and Communication for Career Success
Presenter: Dr. Amy Kuspa Sims, Director of Student Activities, Joliet Junior College
The purpose of this session is to empower students to use Design Thinking strategies, career communication skills, networking, and the ability to build meaningful connections for career success. There will also be an opportunity to enter and win a copy of Designing Your Life.
Room 214B
Skills For Disagreeing Better
Presenters: Maryanne Colter and Laura Piemonte, Braver Angels
Are you interested in being better prepared when discussing divisive topics with others? The hallmark of an effective leader is the ability to lead mutually civil and respectful conversations, even with those whose ideas differ from their own. In this workshop, you will discover the transformative aspects of engaging in civil and respectful partisan discourse. If you are interested in making a difference in the world, we hope you'll join us.