NATCHEZ &045;&045; What started as a local honor developed into a regional award last month for one Co-Lin/Natchez student.

Teri Troxler, president of the school’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society, was chosen as the first runner up for the most distinguished student in the Mississippi/Louisiana region at the PTK annual conference.

Troxler and a group from the Alpha Alpha Zeta local club traveled to Summit’s Southwest Mississippi Community College campus for the two-day conference.

Troxler was nominated by her club’s advisors Nancy McLemore and Kenneth Taylor for the Golden Key Award, an honor given to the most outstanding student in each school’s chapter. From the Golden Key winners judges from another region chose the winner and first runner up for the most distinguished title.

McLemore wrote Troxler’s nomination.

&uot;She is really a very dynamic and intelligent young woman,&uot; McLemore said. &uot;She is just tireless. She is so dedicated to whatever it is she has set her mind to.&uot;

Troxler said as president she has worked to organize community service projects including a hope tree to raise money for the American Cancer Society, a voter registration drive and a Toys for Tots drive.

The Natchez PTK club has about 25 members, and set out this year to raise its club ranking from three stars to five, McLemore and Taylor said.

&uot;She has really energized PTK this year,&uot; McLemore said. &uot;She’s put a whole other dimension onto this club this year that we haven’t enjoyed in recent history. She always wants to do something and wants to push everyone another step up.&uot;

In order to become a five star club the Natchez Alpha Alpha Zeta branch had to run for a regional office and attend the international PTK conference. Taylor said Troxler spearheaded the campaign for regional secretary, an election they won. The position hasn’t been filled yet, but the selection process is underway.

Troxler also organized several fundraisers that will pay for a trip in April to the international conference in the Dallas area.

&uot;She has strong leadership skills, communicates well and delegates work well,&uot; Taylor said. &uot;Because of that, students work well with her and respect her.&uot;

At the conference the Natchez PTK group also won a silver certificate and a $100 scholarship for recruitment of new members.

Troxler, a pre-nursing student, is in her second year at Co-Lin and plans to attend Alcorn State University. She works in the child nutrition office at the Natchez-Adams School and is raising a three-year-old son.