PTK Boosts Economy

Left to Right: Alexis Gullett, Kaitlyn Wilmot, Tayler Troska

During this time of uncertainty many individuals and businesses have been affected within the Bottineau area. The Dakota College Phi Theta Kappa, honor society chapter “axed” folks within the community to pay it forward.

Dakota College at Bottineau’s PTK chapter of Beta Rho Eta conducted a community centered campaign geared towards promoting community spirit and financial support for local businesses. Over the course of a four-week period, members of PTK decorated fifty lawns within the Bottineau and Metigoshe area. They placed a series of axe cut outs and forestry themed décor on peoples’ lawns. In order to move the décor from the yard, residents were ‘axed’ to pay forward a financial gift to a community member of their choice. The homeowner selected the next house to be axed. For every dollar donated, PTK converted it into Bottineau Bucks and to facilitate a pay it forward to the next home. Gifts ranged anywhere from $10 to $100 per lawn with over $1,250.00 generated in Bottineau Bucks which may now be used in Bottineau to boost the re-opening within the community.

Dakota College at Bottineau’s current chapter of Beta Rho Eta has twenty-eight members with 3 participating in the “axing” project this spring. Pay it forward was a way for the students remaining in this area to provide community service. Phi Theta Kappa is a national honor society that recognizes the achievements of students who attend 2-year colleges. It offers a wide variety of scholarship opportunities, some transferable and some students can use while in attendance.

PTK member Lexi Gullett shared, “It was fun. It felt good to do something nice for the community”. PTK’s overarching goal was to promote community spirit in these times, while making an effort to support local businesses with money that will be kept in the local economy.