7 Students Inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society

Seven students were inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society in the second annual induction ceremony in the Rowan Hall dining room recently.

The students are: senior Wade Pegon, and juniors Joseph Galbraith, Konstantinos Karros, Timothy MacFarland, Tyler Schuck, Sean Steppke, and Jason Witkowski.

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the largest honor society in American higher education, has over two million members and 1,250 chapters in all 50 states and several countries. PTK was founded in 1918 to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students. Its mission is to recognize the academic achievement of college students and to provide opportunities for them to grow as scholars and leaders. In 1929, the American Association of Community Colleges recognized PTK as the official honor society of two-year colleges.

The ceremony opened with welcoming words from President Michael Rounds, an invocation from Chaplain Mark Specht 7W7, and words about the ceremony from Dr. Samuel Wrightson, dean of education. The keynote address was given by Tracy Johnson, Ph.D. (Hon), founder of Vessels of Hope.

Members from last year’s induction ceremony were installed as officers: John Coleman, president; Shayne Burke, vice president; Ian Waterbury, treasurer; Christopher Smith, public relations secretary; Caleb Hawkins, co-recording secretary; and Brett Morgan, co-recording secretary. Caleb Hawkins was not present at the ceremony.

The newly inducted officers then continued the ceremony, inducting the new members. Each inductee signed a charter declaring them members of the Beta Chi Mu Chapter of PTK and a roster and then lit a candle they had been holding.

Next, the new officers were installed: Konstantinos Karros, president; Sean Steppke, vice president; Tyler Schuck,  second vice president; Timothy MacFarland, co-public relations secretary; Joseph Galbraith, co-public relations secretary; and Jason Witkowski, treasurer.

After the inductees and audience sang the PTK official song everyone enjoyed refreshments and socializing.

Wrightson and his wife, Madeleine “Mady” organized the event.