NPC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter adds 29 new members to honor society

By Press release submission

Dec 7, 2021

Northland Pioneer College issued the following announcement on Dec. 1.

Northland Pioneer College’s (NPC) Alpha Gamma Tau Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society of two-year college students, welcomed 29 new members during a virtual induction ceremony, Friday, November 12, 2021.

PTK Chapter President Tyler Allen welcomed and congratulated the inductees relating, “one of the biggest benefits of PTK is that it makes us more conscious community members. Through scholarship and service, leadership and fellowship, we are able to make connections in our community that we may not have had before. And being more conscious community members helps build a better community for everyone.”

NPC President Dr. Chato Hazelbaker also addressed the inductees, many of whom participated with friends and family via the virtual session. “Thank you so much for staying engaged. I understand this is a challenging time to stay engaged as a student and to get involved. I applaud you for being involved.” He adds, “community college students are successful in all walks of life. You are well on the pathway to success.”

Dr. Mike Solomonson, NPC’s interim vice president for learning and student services, offered some history on the origins of PTK. He explained the Greek letters “Phi Theta Kappa” stand for phronimon, thumos and katharotes, meaning “wisdom,” “aspiration,” and “purity.” The symbolic PTK pin emulates the society’s values. It reveals a golden key with a black band and three Greek letters. In the background, an oak leaf signifies stability and strength of character, and a band of laurel symbolizes achievement and success. At the top lies the head of Athena, the Greek goddess of learning, and at the base are cryptic Greek letters signifying light, the light of learning, and knowledge. Solomonson notes, “those are the values we celebrate tonight. By your induction, you join an unbroken group of students spanning nearly 104 years, who by becoming members of PTK, have also sought to live their lives in the light of those values.” He encouraged the inductees to, “reflect, and commit yourself to wisdom, aspiration, purity, achievement, and success, and to the pursuit of learning and selfless use of the knowledge you acquire.”

NPC’s Dean of Arts and Sciences, Rickey Jackson, rounded out the night’s speakers. Assisting in the ceremony were Chapter Advisors, Nathan Kosub and Dr. Elizabeth Oliphant, Chantal Kescoli, PTK VP of Scholarship Elizabeth Waddell, PTK VP of Leadership Heather Peterson, PTK VP of Fellowship Robert Case, and PTK Public Relations Officer Angel Abeita.

To be eligible for PTK membership, students must complete a minimum of 12 hours in associate degree course work and earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. Students must maintain a high academic standing throughout their enrollment in the two-year college, generally a 3.25 GPA. As members, students are eligible for a number of scholarship programs, and in some cases, distinguished placement at four-year colleges and universities.

PTK Fall 2021 Inductees:

Sidney Kizzar - Clay Springs, AZ

Alyssa Hensley - Concho, AZ

Addison Burson - Davenport, FL

Ashton Bishop - Holbrook, AZ

Brittany Edwards - Holbrook, AZ

David Aberle - Holbrook, AZ

Kaitlyn Johnson - Lakeside, AZ

Rebecca Pollock - Overgaard, AZ

Ashlyn Adakai - Page, AZ

Wendy Weller - Sanders, AZ

Kylee Moran - Show Low, AZ