MCC Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recognized for two decades of service

Several members of Chi Upsilon Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at McHenry County College recently spent a sunny fall weekend day filling large orange plastic bags with cigarette butts, water bottles, food and candy wrappers, and loose paper that litter the roadway.

Chi Upsilon sponsors a one-mile stretch of Route 14 in front of the college and members participate in five cleanup events throughout the year as part of the Adopt-A-Highway program.

The honor society's efforts were honored by Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn for its 20 years of service with the Adopt-A-Highway program. To commemorate the occasion, and to honor all Adopt-A-Highway groups, a redbud tree was planted on the campus of the Illinois Department of Transportation headquarters in Springfield.

"I feel it's very important to clean up our community because we need to protect the wildlife and nature as best as we can," said MCC Phi Theta Kappa member Madison Schweitzer, who serves as vice president of service. "On behalf of McHenry County College's Chi Upsilon Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, we feel it is our responsibility to help keep our community as clean as we are able to because every single piece of litter collected makes a difference to our environment."

"I felt like I was supporting the community in a positive way," said MCC's Phi Theta Kappa president Jacob Karkowski. "It made a real difference to see how much cleaner the highway looked, and how every time I come back, I notice there's less and less trash. It feels like I'm making a real sustainable difference."

"First impressions are important, and every year millions of visitors get their first glimpse of Illinois as they drive along our highways,'' Blankenhorn said. "Our Adopt-A-Highway volunteers give hours of personal time and effort to ensure Illinois roads are well-kept and free of hazardous items. Their commitment is inspiring, meaningful and truly valued."

According to Blankenhorn, litter is more than just a blight on the landscape. It is costly to clean up, impacts quality of life and economic development, and eventually ends up in waterways.

"As states look for alternative ways to keep road ways safe while facing budget cuts, the volunteers of the Adopt-A-Highway program are vital to helping achieve this goal."

"We've got some really dedicated groups in District 1," said Illinois Department of Transportation District 1 Adopt-A-Highway coordinator, Walter Czarny. "They've made a real difference in our communities."

"We are very grateful for the invaluable contributions made by the Adopt-A-Highway volunteers," Czarny said.

To learn more about MCC's Phi Theta Kappa honor society, visit www.mchenry.edu/ptk.

For more information about the Adopt-A-Highway program, visit www.idot.illinois.gov.