Service
Helping others at home, in school and in the community, in an effort to effect positive change.
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Serious Mindedness
A strong moral compass, a commitment to pursuing a rigorous education and integrity in all dealings with others.
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Work Ethic
Hard work and diligence at home, in the workplace and in the pursuit of education as well as in service to others.
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Anton Pettiford
Anton Pettiford is currently a junior at the University of Hartford, where he plans to major in Criminal Justice with the eventual goal of becoming a lawyer. Before entering the University of Hartford this year, Anton completed his Associates Degree at Manchester Community College in Manchester, Connecticut. While at MCC, Anton quickly became a student leader to his peers and an advocate for community service.
In November of 2011, Anton was inducted into the Alpha Upsilon Alpha Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa-International Honor Society of two year colleges; six months after his induction, Anton was elected chapter president.
As president, Anton sought out many opportunities to give back to the community. Under his leadership, the society sponsored a school-supply drive for local school children. Anton and his peers collected backpacks and school supplies for two to three hundred families in the Hartford area. Anton also facilitated a Community College Completion Corp (C4) Signing Drive to raise awareness for success and completion of the course of study at Manchester Community College. Through this initiative, over one hundred students committed to completing their degree. Anton also organized a peer mentor program called “Pay it Forward: Coaching for Student Success,” which continues to be supported by the current president of Phi Theta Kappa.
Anton was also the president of the Criminal Justice Club from 2011 to 2012. During his tenure, Anton participated as a Hartford Police Explorers volunteer and as a Community Partners in Action (CPA) volunteer. It was through this organization that Anton helped to donate toys to children with incarcerated parents and facilitated an initiative to provide teddy bears for children who were victims of crime or witnessed domestic crime.
This past April, Anton was honored as a member of the All-Connecticut Academic Team. Students chosen for this unique honor are recognized for academic achievement and leadership in the community colleges and junior colleges of Connecticut. Anton also received the Community College Leadership Award which recognizes minority students for academic excellence and commitment to community service.
Anton has also been very active in the Manchester Area Community of Churches (MACC), an organization comprised of twelve churches dedicated to providing shelter and meal services to the Manchester community. At the MACC center, Anton served as the evening shelter assistant on weekends and enjoyed interacting with the members of the community who might otherwise be overlooked. Currently, Anton is working as a Client Supervisor at a halfway house in Willimantic where he helps recovering drug users.
PHILLIPS ALUMNI SCHOLAR
The Phillips Alumni Scholar Award goes to a new recipient of the scholarship who clearly exemplifies a “sense of other,” strong work ethic, academic strength and commitment to community service that are the hallmarks of the Phillips Scholar. With his track record in service to others, Anton clearly fills the bill as this year’s Alumni Scholar. The funds for the Alumni Scholar’s award come from the generosity of Phillips Scholarship Alumni who donate so that others may have the opportunity to overcome the same financial barriers to education that they found. We are deeply grateful for the support of our Alumni.