Wayne Community College’s Upsilon Chi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, has inducted 67 new members.
Phi Theta Kappa members represent the top 10 percent of students enrolled in two-year schools. To be invited into the society, WCC students must show academic achievement with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 and have completed at least 16 hours of associate degree course work.
Inductees must demonstrate good citizenship characteristics and choose “scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship as their hallmarks,” said Chapter Advisor Katie Holloman.
In lieu of an in-person event, the chapter released a fall induction ceremony video on Dec. 6.
The virtual ceremony incorporated elements of the traditional rite such as the presentation of the society’s golden key, lighting candles that represent the torch of knowledge, and repeating the Oath of Membership. A special touch was the inclusion of congratulatory messages from faculty and staff.
The organization’s purpose is “to foster a spirit of devotion to study and to scholarly ideas among its members and whose principles are embodied in our Greek letters,” said Holloman, who noted that PTK is a “scholarly fellowship which embraces community colleges not only in North Carolina but the nation and the world.”
“We are looking to you to demonstrate to our community what wonderful leaders we have at Wayne Community College,” Holloman told the inductees.
The inductees and their majors, listed by hometown, are
Calypso
Stephen Allen Heffernan, Industrial Systems Technology
Dudley
Chase Shane Brown, Associate in Arts; and
Abner David Velasquez Roblero, Computer-Integrated Machining
Goldsboro
Jada Simone Armstrong, Associate in Arts;
Christopher Robin Bless, Associate in Engineering;
Joshua Bryan Bloodsworth, Associate in Science;
Leah D Boswell, Associate in Science;
Leavis Katherine Britt, Associate in Arts;
Hallie Kate Brown, Associate in Arts;
Hunter William Brown, College Transfer Pathway-Associate in Science;
Bradley Lee Butler, Human Services Technology;
Margaret Tracy Chazotte, Medical Office Administration;
Chantel Alyssa Chestnutt, Associate in Arts;
Alexis Jane Garner, Associate in Arts;
Elizabeth Nicole Graham, Associate in Arts;
Taylor Faye Grotjan, Associate in Arts;
Faiza Farheen Haque, Associate in Science;
Morgan Rae Harris, Associate in Arts;
Taylor Marie Hart, Associate in Arts;
Sara P Hetzel, Medical Office Administration;
Christopher Ze Howard, Computer-Integrated Machining;
Jennifer Huerta-Ponce, Associate in Arts;
Mohammed Tahseen Hussain, Cybersecurity;
Andrew Robert Jett, Game and Automation Programming;
Galen Jones, Associate in Science;
Christina Faith Lancaster, Associate in Arts;
Abby Grace Lee, College Transfer Pathway-Associate in Arts;
An Thanh Mai, Associate in Arts;
Diana Paola Malfavon Garcia, Associate in Arts;
Tiffany Amber Martinez, Medical Office Administration;
Christina E Mock, Associate in Science;
Danielle Rae Moore, Associate in Science;
Tayler Mcintosh Moser, Associate Degree Nursing;
Emma Elizabeth Padgett, Associate in Arts;
Nicole Louise Page, Associate in Science;
Caroline Grey Pate, Associate in Science;
Asia Kimoni Pearsall, Associate in Arts;
Tanner Lynn Price, Associate in Arts;
Isaiah Landis Rowe, Software Development;
Kristen Liane Sherwood, Associate in Arts;
Emily Ellen Siniavsky, Associate in Science;
Bailey Nicole Teague, Associate in Science;
Tyler Andrew Tennyson, Associate in Arts;
Karina Trejo-Zamarripa, Associate in Arts; and
Joshua Terrel Williams, Associate in Engineering
Greensboro
Kristopher Matthew Williams, Business Administration/Operations Management
Greenville
Tonetta Leary, Associate in Arts
Hookerton
Austin James Edelen, Associate in General Education-Nursing
Kinston
Matthew Craig Jenkins, Cybersecurity; and
Heather Nicole Willis, Medical Office Administration
La Grange
Holly M Campbell, Information Technology Business Support;
Macy Pricilla Cardona Lopez, Associate in Arts; and
Samantha Corriere Johnson, College Transfer Pathway-Associate Degree Nursing
Mount Olive
Ari Cruz Cortez, Associate in Arts;
Donald Robert Deaver, Computer-Integrated Machining; and
Karina Janethe Parra, Associate in Science
Pikeville
Joseph Ash Chalupski, Associate in Arts;
James Lawson Curry, Associate in Arts;
Jayden Lee Keasling, Associate in Arts;
Braxton Jace Morton, Associate in Arts; and
Nicole Trejo-Raminez, Associate in Arts
Rose Hill
Andrea Geraldinne Rosales Contreras, Criminal Justice Technology-Forensic Science
Seven Springs
Jonathan Velasquez Escalante, Business Administration; and
Riley Wood, Associate in Arts
Snow Hill
Prisila Gonzalez, Associate in General Education-Nursing
Stantonsburg
Savion Tierole Edwards, Associate in Science
Wilsons Mills
Jamie Radford, Medical Office Administration
“We are extremely proud of each and every one of our newest members. Their accomplishments speak volumes to their dedication and determination to continue to excel throughout the unforeseen obstacles they have encountered this past year. We can’t wait to see where the new heights this new adventure leads them,” said Chapter Advisor Katie Holloman.
About Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recognizes the academic achievement of college students and provides opportunities for its members to grow as scholars and leaders. Established in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa has a presence on almost 1,300 community college campuses in 11 nations. The American Association of Community Colleges recognized Phi Theta Kappa as the official honor society for two-year colleges in 1929. More than 3.5 million students have been inducted since 1918, with approximately 250,000 active members in the nation’s community colleges.
Ninety-one percent of Phi Theta Kappa members will complete an associate degree or transfer to a four-year college, compared to just 38 percent of students nationally. Members have access to $48 million in scholarships, can gain leadership experience, and can learn essential workplace skills employers seek.
About WCC
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves more than 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 165 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.