College Experience and Phi Theta Kappa agree with Edison non-traditional student who totals 80 credit hours

Iesha Schaffer-Lampy earns PTK awards

Student Iesha Schaffer Lampy of Botkins said that her current Edison Community College experience 15 years after high school has made her feel like a teenager once more.

“I planned it this way,” she beamed. “To the fullest, I wanted to live out the dream I’ve had to delay since the early 1990’s.”

From improving her abilities and managing her time and stress better, to networking with professors, potential employers, and new friends— college has offered many benefits to Lampy, who stated she has gotten “the absolute most out of it.”

She concluded her studies at Edison this spring after completing more than 80 credit hours.

Lampy admitted she had an apprehensive start to college in 2005. “Probably a natural feeling,” said the 1990 Anna High School graduate, who spent five years in the US Army and eight more working in a factory before hitting the books again.

But soon, Edison agreed with Lampy, and in a big way. During the last three years, she has taken more than 25 courses and earned a 3.96 grade point average (GPA). She also had what she called “an experience of a lifetime” making connections with students of various ages on campus and throughout the state.

Active for six semesters in Alpha Lambda Eta (ALE), the Edison chapter of the international honors organization Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), Lampy has met Edison students from western Ohio and those from PTK organizations at schools in Toledo, Canton, Cleveland, and the state of West Virginia.

“Because of common interests, plus varied perspectives and diverse backgrounds, we were drawn together and had insightful talks at business sessions,” said Lampy, who wants to soon gather socially with her Phi Theta Kappa colleagues.

“I took my service with the honors group to heart,” said the vice-president for scholarship, “like a kid right out of high school eager to get involved in college life.”

Lampy and her Edison chapter teamed with the national Keep America Beautiful organization to promote Operation Green which focused on recycling, beautification, and clean communities in the upper Miami Valley.

The chapter collected textbooks and through the partner, Better World Books, sent them to literacy partners such as Room to Read and Books for Africa.

On May 9 at the Edison commencement, the chapter conducted Project Graduation and accepted canned goods for community relief organizations. This activity

is part of the Ford Motor Company’s College Student Purchase Program, which supports Governor Strickland’s Second Harvest Foodbank initiative.

Recently, Lampy was recognized at Phi Theta Kappa Ohio region and international conventions. She was honored as the “Most Distinguished District Representative” in her position serving the southwest section of Ohio. As a member of Ohio’s “Distinguished Regional Officer Team,” she also received a Hallmark Award.

“In her role, Iesha was the liaison between chapter activities and region activities, and helped chapters become more active on their campuses and in their communities,” said Cindy L. Carbone, Edison Dean of Arts and Sciences and coordinator of both the Edison chapter and Ohio Phi Theta Kappa region.

“The outstanding respect Iesha earned from her fellow officers earned her the individual award.”

The unique contribution to the honors organization is capping off the Edison education for Lampy, who actually finished an associate degree in accounting last May but continued to study through fall 2007 and spring 2008.

“I became addicted to college and the enjoyable activities associated with it,” she said.

Lampy had an 18-month old child when she first kicked off classes at Edison. At that time, the new college student was told by her husband that college would widen her options and that she should “go for it.”

Right now, Lampy is aiming for “an A-plus job” in the accounting field. If that doesn’t happen, she may consider another 40 or 50 college credit hours that emphasize study in a combination of areas such as “exercise science, physical fitness, nutrition education, and whole body health.”

“After all,” the 36 year old Lampy said, “thanks to Edison and Phi Theta Kappa, I feel like I’m going on 20 again.”