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About Larry: After leaving the Marine Corps, he decided that he needed a college education to get what he wanted out of life.
Student Life: Plays an active role in Phi Theta Kappa, a international honors society and the Student Leadership academy. He also tutors other students.
Major: He graduated last May with a degree in Business Administration and is now working on a degree in Sports Management.
Dream Job: Starting an organizaiton that teaches kids about the importance of college and the fundamentals of boxing.
April 15, 2008
Hello everyone. I know that it has been a while since I left a blog, but I've been caught up in a whirlwind adventure. All of my energy and concentration has been focused on my campaign for the office of International President for Phi Theta Kappa.
I left from Indianapolis on April 1, to attend the 90th International Convention in Philadelphia, PA for Phi Theta Kappa. The Convention Lasted from April 3-5, but as a candidate for international office, we had to be there early for candidate orientation, candidate certification, and the preparatory stages of the campaigning process.
My campaign team was outstanding in the performance of their duties as members of the team. The Indiana Region of Phi Theta Kappa was awesome [as usual] in their support of me in my candidacy. Everyone was enthusiastic and continually gave me words of encouragement and motivation.
My campaign theme was based on Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote "Without a rich heart, wealth is an ugly beggar." Our costumes were based on the allegory of the beggar that could be king.
Members from around the Honor Society were equally as supportive. And my fellow candidates were all tremendous people of honor, respect, and civility. I made it to the finals and was granted the opportunity to present a three minute speech on the Honors Study Topic-"The Paradox of
Affluence: Choices, Challenges, and Consequences" before an audience of approximately 3,700 people. In my speech I included a joke about Flavor Flav and Brett Michaels, with a punchline that emphasized the paradox of affluence by recalling the Beetles' hit "Money can't buy me love."I addressed America's free-market economy, and the transition into a Global Village.
The conclusion of the speech included a quote from "The World According to Mister Rogers{Important Things to Remember}", a book that I received from our Regional Coordinator Sue Jackson, when I completed my one year term as Regional President for the Indiana Region of Phi Theta Kappa.
The quote read "One of the greatest dignities of humankind is that each successive generation is invested in the welfare of each new generation."
~Fred Rogers~
I finished the presentation with my own words "The Choices that we make today, will determine the Challenges that we will face tomorrow, which will produce the Consequences that we must manage on the day after."
I was not elected as International President; however, I did not lose either. This experience was truly a victorius chapter in my life. I did not run Against the other candidates, I ran With them, and we brought out the best in each other. The way my fellow Phi Theta Kappans, Ivy Tech Adminsitrators and faculty, friends and family supported me in my efforts, I felt like a champion before I even arrived in Philadelphia.
February 27, 2008
Hello to all. This has been a busy month for me. I've been preparing for my final event as Regional President for the Indiana Region of Phi Theta Kappa, the International Honor Society for Two-Year Colleges. Our 2008 Regional Convention will be held February 29-March 2 in Madison, In. We will hold elections for the 2008-2009 Regional Officer Team, and I will pass the torch on to a deserving member.
My year as regional president was a tremendous experience, and I plan to run for International Office at the upcoming International Convention, which will be held April 3-5 in Philadelphia, Pa.
My course work has been challenging, and is really helping me retain the lessons of sport management, sociology in sport, and earth science.
January 21, 2008 - Back from Break
Hello to everyone, and welcome back from break. My break was great I hope you all had a good break as well. I got the opportunity to spend some time with my son who will turn 11 in February. I had the chance to visit with family members in my birth place, Memphis, Tennessee (I spent almost two weeks of the break there).
At the community center we are planning our 65th anniversary and recognition banquet to be held on February 1. We plan to honor the legends that helped to establish the community center so long ago. Our theme is “Rebuilding the Dream.” We also plan to kick off Black History Month during the program at the banquet.
My year as Regional President of the Indiana Region of Phi Theta Kappa is almost complete. The Indiana Regional Convention will be held at the end of February in Madison, Indiana. At this event we will hold elections for a new Regional Officer Team and award chapters according to their performance of, and adherence to the four hallmarks of our society: Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Fellowship. I am looking forward to our Regional Convention.
Once again welcome back from break, it’s time to hit the books!
November 29, 2007
November has been a tremendous month. I was a special guest speaker at two outstanding Phi Theta Kappa induction ceremonies. I also attended the Indiana Regional Honors Conference in Fort Wayne. Elections were held in Terre Haute. I celebrated my Marine Corps Birthday on November 10, and observed Veterans’ Day on the 11th.
At the Regional Honors Conference we examined the power of poverty and sought to finds, and enact ways to combat it. The Alpha Tau Xi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa did an excellent job of selecting and presenting the topic to our region. The conference was a very insightful service-learning experience.
All Marines celebrate the United States Marine Corps’ birthday as our own birthdays. I served active duty from 1992-1996, and so veterans’ day is also a day observance and paying my respects.
I spent Thanksgiving in Terre Haute with my family. November is always a family time of year for me. This month leads to my birthday on December 5th. So the next time I blog, I’ll be 34.
November 8, 2007
Last week and this week have been extremely busy. On November 2, I traveled to Columbus, In. for the Alpha Rho Tau chapter of Phi Theta Kappa's new member induction ceremony at 7 p.m. I performed as a guest speaker, and I got to install the chapter officers. I got back to Terre Haute at about 2 a.m., slept for four hours, and got up to travel to Gary, In., for Alpha Phi Omega chapter's new member induction ceremony at 11 a.m. on November 3. In Gary I acted as a guest speaker and helped to distribute the new members' certificates of membership.
Tuesday November 6, was election day in Terre Haute. Of course I voted and it was an exciting race, with the deciding margin being approximately 120 votes. The incumbent mayor was defeated by that narrow margin, and Terre Haute has a republican mayor-elect for the first time since the 1960s.
Next weekend I'll be traveling to Ft. Wayne to preside during our Regional Honors Conference for Phi Theta Kappa. It will take place from November 16 until November 17. I am very excited about getting to perform with our regional officer team and fellow Phi Theta Kappans.
October 25, 2007 - On My Baby Sister’s Birthday
Today in Terre Haute is a wet and chilly day, but for my family it is still bright and cheery. My baby sister turns Twenty-Five years old today. So we plan to celebrate later on in the evening. School has been going smoothly, while life has been a little rough.
Next weekend, November 2, I will be attending the Columbus Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa’s Induction ceremony. I’ve been invited to speak and install chapter officers. I love the Columbus chapter and the induction ceremony will be a lot of fun.
The very next day I’ll be in Gary for their chapter’s induction ceremony. This will be my second trip to Gary in the capacity of Regional President. They also have an outstanding chapter with tremendous members and high-spirited officers. I expect lots of fun there as well.
For now I’ve got to go pick up my baby sister and finalize our plans for celebrating her birth.
October 11, 2007 - Back On Track
Hello everyone. I am now officially back on track. I’ve caught up on all of the assignments that I fell behind on during my illness. Now the challenge remains for me to try to work ahead. The Indiana Regional Phi Theta Kappa Leadership conference went well. There were about 85 Phi Theta Kappans from around the state in attendance, local high school students from the National Honor Society, and one of our international officers was present as well.
I believe that International Vice President of division III, Mahmedien Mahmedien was the highlight of the conference. He is originally from the Darfur region of Sudan, and his family was the “ruling” family of that area. Due to the apparent genocide that is occurring in the area now, Mahmedien had to flee from his homeland to America. He gave a stunning presentation on how the situation developed in Darfur and then he offered solutions to the problem. He is a very dynamic individual and an eloquent speaker. He only began to learn English in 2001.
Well I’ve got to go to Governmental and Not-for-profit accounting now. I’ll be back in touch in two weeks.
September 28, 2007
Hello everyone. I have been ill for the past two weeks, but I am on the mend now. On Friday September 28, my home chapter (Alpha Phi Eta) of Phi Theta Kappa will be hosting the Regional Leadership Conference here in Terre Haute for the Indiana Region. This is a big event for me because I am the regional president for our Region and a member of the host chapter.
As for my school work I have to play catch up, because my illness slowed me down to a virtual stand still. My instructors have been excellent in working with me through the stages of sickness.
Since I am feeling much better I plan to get caught up and attempt to work ahead to avoid getting left behind if any emergencies arise in the future.
September 14, 2007
Hello, I just left my ACC-207 Governmental and Not-for-profit Accounting class. I think that it is my favorite of the four courses that I am taking this semester. Everyday I learn something new of government operations that relate to my own life.
I’ve been extra busy with the Hyte community center here in Terre Haute. My mother and I have designed and implemented a tutoring program for students in our area. The tutors are members of Phi Theta Kappa, and members of the Terre Haute South Vigo High School National Honor Society. Last Wednesday (Sept. 5) was our first night of operation and it was a success. We hold the tutorial sessions every Wednesday evening from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. theses services are free to the public.
I’ve also been spending a lot of time with my eight year old niece (Tennielle), and my nine year old nephew (Octavius). Mostly I’ve been helping them with homework, but every once in a while we’ll take a break and do something fun (like fishing!).
Well, I must get back to my own homework right now, so I’ll be back in touch in two weeks.
August 30, 2007
Hello to everyone. Classes have been under way for us here in Terre Haute since August 20. As my second week of classes draws to a close, I am starting to get used to my new schedule. I am taking a total of twelve credit hours (six in classrooms, and six on the internet). This is the first time that I have ever enrolled in internet courses.
The two internet courses are MAT-118 Concepts in Mathematics, and SPM-101 Introduction to Sport Management. Sport Management is my current major so I am anxious to learn all that SPM-101 has to offer. The math, well so be it, I know it has to be done.
Every Tuesday night I have ARH-101 Survey of Art & Culture I. Last night in class a fellow student asked “How does art history relate to your major?” I had not really considered that until he asked me. So my instant response was “I don’t know it was on the curriculum.” In hindsight I wish that I had told him “Well since sport and sports are cultural phenomena, it will be to my advantage to understand how art is a reflection of the culture that spawned the particular artist and his/her work.”
My final course for the semester is ACC-207 Governmental and Not-For-Profit Accounting on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 2:15. This class is not on the Sport Management curriculum. One of my friends asked me “Are you taking accounting classes for the fun of it?” No. I’m taking this course because I was recently named to the board of directors of the Charles T. Hyte Community Center a 501 (c)(3) organization here in Terre Haute. I believe that having knowledge in this area will greatly augment my abilities to perform effectively in my position.
This past Saturday the Hyte Center hosted its 21st Annual African-American Festival and celebrated 65 years of serving our community as a not-for-profit entity. I served as co-chairperson for the committee on the Festival. On September 5, we will begin a new tutoring program at the center that will be open to all students in the Wabash Valley. For tutors we will be assisted by members of my local Phi Theta Kappa Chapter (Alpha Phi Eta) and members of the Terre Haute South Vigo High School’s National Honor Society. Combining my school work, Community Center activities, and Phi Theta Kappa events I have been extremely busy, but I believe that all of my actions help to keep me in youthful spirits.
