OSU Institute of Technology’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter recognized the academic excellence of 15 new members for the spring semester with a dinner and formal induction ceremony Feb. 21.
Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society that recognizes academic excellence at two-year colleges. Invitation to membership may be extended by Dr. Bill Path, president of OSUIT,after a student has completed 12 credit hours and earned a GPA of 3.5 or greater.
Jerrod Wells, a second-semester student in the Instrumentation Engineering Technology program was inducted this spring.
“I was given an invitation to join the club based on my GPA and am now the vice president of fellowship,” said Wells. “Some of my duties include orchestrating events and assembling members for events.”
The organization offers a myriad of opportunities such as $35 million in transfer scholarships, intellectual enrichment and personal development through programs based on Phi Theta Kappa’s four hallmarks of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Fellowship. Members also wear a PTK stole and tassel at the graduation ceremony.
Wells said his favorite part of PTK is the fellowship with the advisors and active members. “I also like to see the eagerness of the active members to help the community.”
Rebekah Boudreaux, the active PTK advisor, is an OSUIT and PTK alumna.
“PTK changed my life when I was a student. Before joining I was very shy and didn’t speak to many people. It really helped get me out of my shell. My advisor pushed me to greater lengths due to the potential he saw in me. I became secretary and now as alumni, I am the main advisor.”
The organization plays an important role on the OSUIT campus. PTK helps students realize the importance of working hard and raising their GPA and rewards the for doing so.
“We do several projects that PTK students can be proud of,” said Boudreaux. “They have opportunities to become officers and give a speech and even attend paid trips to iconic places such as Washington D.C. or Orlando, Florida.”
Dr. Ina Agnew, vice president of Student Services said that it is truly an honor and prestigious recognition to be a member of PTK. Many of the projects that members engage in help to better our institution.
“Our chapter took on helping OSUIT with retention,” said Agnew. “They did presentations on the importance of college completion, put together proclamations and had students sign them.”
In addition to these special projects, members also tutor other students.
“PTK is a sense of great pride and honor for me personally,” said Danny Hayes, active PTK president. “I am very proud of my success at OSUIT and PTK has allowed me to be part of an organization that recognizes and expects that of me. With the goals I have set for myself as a student, I have just recently realized that PTK is helping me stay on track to meet or exceed those goals.”
PTK currently has 403 active members and 996 alumni. Two inductions take place each year with the largest one during the fall semester.
“In 2018 we had 118 students join, a record number since I have been an advisor,” said Boudreaux. “I hope to increase that number this year.”