Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Inducts 13 Members

Thirteen Highlanders will be inducted into the Pi Eta Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society at Gordon State College via video induction ceremony Thursday.
The inductees include: Katharine Rachelle Attaway, elementary education major from Barnesville; Katelynn McCarthy Basford, English/psychology major from Woodstock; Jolee Benton, English major from Thomaston; Nicholas Taylor Burnette, engineering major from Barnesville; Stephen Troy Jones, engineering major from Acworth; Olivia Justice Miller, psychology major from McDonough, Meghan Danielle Minter, nursing/psychology major from Fayetteville; Jennifer Merck Nelson, nursing major from Jenkinsburg; Meagan May Pearson, human services/psychology from Zebulon; Jiovannie St Paul, English/nursing from Barnesville; Joiee Leigh Stansell, pharmacy major from Thomaston; Jontoria Jocoya Stephens, nursing/psychology major from Macon and Evelyn M Wood, General Studies major from Fayetteville.
"It is exciting to welcome another group of inductees into this globally-recognized Honor society,” said Gordon State College President Kirk A Nooks. “The tradition and quality associated with Phi Theta Kappa is one of the key reasons we needed to have a vibrant chapter at Gordon State College. I am looking forward to the continual development and contribution of these talented student leaders."
PTK is an honor society that promotes student success for the highest achieving students at two-year degree granting institutions. Students participate in professional development activities to help them succeed as a whole person in college and thereafter. At GSC, students have participated in service projects, fundraisers and an undergraduate research symposiums.
Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs C. Jeffery Knighton, said, “I am incredibly proud of all of our students who have been inducted into Phi Theta Kappa. Their induction is a public recognition that they have achieved the Highlander EDGE, an advantage that will remain with them for a lifetime. Congratulations to all of them on this achievement.”
Chapter President, Amanda Nicole Suggs said, "The atmosphere in the first meeting I went to was so welcoming, in a way that felt like you were already apart of the group. Everyone had a voice and that voice mattered. We talked about all the things we could do as a club and how all those ideas were focused on us as members. There is not only scholarship opportunities, but meeting to help apply to those scholarships. Things we were interested in as members mattered and the club would find a way to incorporate into our meeting. I like to recommend people to join PTK because it’s such a great opportunity, from scholarships that are just for members, to being an impressive achievement to put on your resume. Everyone involved in the club is very caring and invested in helping each other find success in the little stuff and big."
Dr. Brian Webb, Associate Professor of Political Science and Ms. Angiah Davis, Director of Library Services serve as the co-advisors for PTK Pi Eta Chapter. GSC's PTK officers include Suggs, President; Ivy Coleman, Vice President of Service; Amaya Kendall, Vice President of Scholarship and Louise White Pearson, Treasurer.
"I joined PTK because I want to continue to challenge myself to be the best I can be in college and keep my grades up and also be around people who feel the same and encourage me to keep working hard to achieve my goal to finish Nursing School. The benefits include scholarship opportunities, learning to be more responsible and working with great people, participating in fundraisers, and a reward that my hard work is paying off!" said Coleman.
Webb said he was happy to welcome our new members. “We have done some great things in the year and half since we have re-launched our chapter of PTK,” he said. “I look forward to working with and getting to know each of our new inductees and can't wait to see all of the positive contributions they will bring to our chapter and our campus.”
PTK held a virtual conference for all members called Catalyst April 16-17. "The first virtual conference was amazing,” Davis said with excitement. “It was great to see students and other leaders still engaged in PTK during these challenging times."
The Pi Eta Chapter of PTK was first chartered 1967. The Phi Theta Kappa celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018. There are more than 3.5 million members worldwide. According to the official site of PTK, https://www.ptk.org/about/history/ the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation awards $1.5 million in scholarships to members each year. To learn more about PTK visit https://www.gordonstate.edu/student-life/get-involved/clubs-and-organizations/phi-theta-kappa/index.html