By Jayson Larson/TVCC Public Information
Trinity Valley Community College inducted 31 new members into the Iota Alpha Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa during a ceremony on Sunday at the Student Union Ballroom.
Membership in the Iota Alpha Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, a national honors society for two-year colleges, requires a student to achieve a 3.5 GPA, have completed any required developmental courses and have accumulated at least 12 semester hours of college credit. Membership in Phi Theta Kappa entitles TVCC students to have this honor noted on their official transcripts and to wear the PTK golden stole, tassel and/or medallion at graduation.
“The purpose of Phi Theta Kappa is to recognize and encourage scholarship among community and junior college students,” said Jessica Schaefer, Iota Alpha’s Vice President for Service. “To achieve this purpose, Phi Theta Kappa provides opportunities for the development of leadership and service, for an intellectual climate for exchange of ideas and ideals, for lively fellowship for scholars and for stimulation of interest in continuing academic excellence.”
Upon induction, each student lit a candle, a traditional PTK ritual which symbolizes knowledge, before accepting a certificate of membership. Ashley Hall, Texas Phi Theta Kappa District 3 Vice President, served as the visiting speaker at the ceremony. Hall is from Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant.
Those inducted Sunday were: Jori Risner, Athens; Carson Sikes, Athens; Kaylee Nicholson, Athens; Angel Miles, Beaumont; Katy Lunceford, Athens; Toree Scott, Athens; Kaitlin Samples, Malakoff; Brandi Butts, Mabank; Tiffany Wimberly, LaRue; Andrea Wemple, Buffalo; Lisa Helms, Mabank; Ashley Amos, Mabank; Debbie Russell, Gun Barrel City; Candice Anderson, Canton; Sherry Goodson, Gun Barrel City; Anika Wood, Frankston; Alejandra Campa, Athens; Leslie Hernandez, Athens; Arely Beltran, Athens; Sarah Giles, Tennessee Colony; Chad Head, Athens; Omeko Irigo, Athens; Marissa Gross, Athens; Davida Valdez, Chandler; Cliffton Rudman, Gun Barrel City; Henry Davis, Denton; Alexandra Parkey, Frisco; Kevin Valencia, Dallas; Robert Parker, Ben Wheeler; and David McCulloch, Corsicana; and Claudio Rizzi, Castellana Grotte, Italy.
Iota Alpha officers at the ceremony were: Ryan Hopper, Iota Alpha Chapter Co-President and Vice President for Leadership; Azsia Hearn, Co-President and Vice President for Communications; Jacqueline Latko, Historian; Jessica Schaefer, Vice President for Service; and Allyson Brag, Vice President for Fellowship.