PTK chapter president Brandi Henry with new inductees at KPC ceremony.

Students who strive for academic excellence were honored last week at the Alpha Omega Omicron Kenai Peninsula College induction ceremony for the Phi Theta Kappa (KPT) Honor Society. According to Chapter Advisor Diane Taylor, “Phi Theta Kappa was by established by Missouri two-year college presidents in 1918 and the International Honor Society serves to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students and provide opportunities for individual growth and development through honors, leadership and service programming. Today PTK is the largest honor society in American higher education with more than 1.3 million members and 1,100 chapters located throughout the 50 United States, U.S. Territories, Canada, Germany, and Japan. In 1929 the American Association of Community Colleges recognized Phi Theta Kappa as the official honor society for two-year colleges,” stated Taylor at the Kenai River Campus ceremony.

7 KPC students welcomed into PTK Honor Society got to have their cake and eat it too.

The Society also offers members opportunities to earn scholarships toward a four-year degree, “We had a PTK alumni receive a full ride scholarship to UAA last year and additionally there are nationwide scholarships available for those who want to transfer to a four year university. I think at last count there were over a thousand scholarship opportunities available for PTK members,” said Chapter President Brandi Henry who was inducted to PTK last year. “It has been crazy and wonderful serving as PTK president. I have met so many wonderful people in the community and here at the college, it has opened so many doors and opportunities. I have received two PTK scholarships and the experience has been very rewarding personally because it has helped me to open up and be more extroverted,” said Henry.

New PTK members sign in at KPC Induction ceremony.

PTK is also helping to sponsor a spring Band Day at KPC in cooperation with the celebration of the arts and KPC barbeque May 3rd, “Last year’s PTK president started the event as a benefit for community needs, we pick a need and have a concert with local musicians who donate their time and talents to raise funds to help the Kenai Senior Center Meals on Wheels program to help them offset the rising costs of fuel for their vehicles. Tickets will be available at the door and it’s going to part of the KPC weekend bash,” said Henry.

The new Phi Theta Kappa Inductees for 2008 were Rachel Atkinson, Shawnacee Brooks, Crystal Bussell, Rebecca Edmondson, Sonny Faircloth, Nicole Martin, and Brian Reith.