Wayne Community College’s Upsilon Chi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, added 85 new members in its fall 2022 induction ceremony.
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 also demonstrate good citizenship characteristics. The organization declares its membership’s “hallmarks” as scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship.
The 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 Chapter Advisor Katie Holloman.
“We are looking to you to demonstrate to the community what wonderful leaders we have right here at Wayne Community College,” President Patty Pfeiffer said.
The inductees and their majors, listed by hometown, are
Ayden
Gracie Tripp, Medical Office Administration/Dental Office
Bailey
Jackson Wall, Applied Animal Science
Clinton
Timothy Hyde, Industrial Systems; and
Roberto Ruiz-Lopez, Industrial Systems
Dudley
Quatisha Lanier, Business Administration;
Breanna Summerlin, Early Childhood Education;
Crystal Williams, Early Childhood Education;
Audrey Williams, Associate in Science; and
Andree Yepez-Barradas, Associate in Arts
Fayetteville
Belinda Epps, Human Services
Fremont
Landon Etheridge, Business Administration; and
Chancie Fuller, Associate in Arts
Goldsboro
Eric Anyali, Virtualization Technologies;
Gamil Algharazi, Associate in Science;
Adrienne Armwood, Criminal Justice/Forensic Science;
Patrick Bail, Associate in Arts;
Sarah Benning, Associate in Science;
Glendalyn Louise Bongala, Associate in Engineering;
Lanie Bonifas, Associate in Arts;
Kaylee Brock, Associate in Science;
Sabrina Bryant, Sustainable Agriculture;
Kourtney Carter, Information Technology Business Support;
Jacob Colin Coor, Associate in Arts;
Crystal Cruz Morales, Associate in Science;
Kara Durham, Software Development;
Sandra Edmisten, Project Management;
Jackson Freeman, Business Administration;
Crystal Hardin, Emergency Management;
Samantha Harlow, Associate in Science;
William Harris, Associate in Arts;
Meaghan Hebert, Associate in Arts;
Aniyah Jennette, Emergency Management;
Kailer Wessman Jensen, Associate in Arts;
Wayne Joseph Keys, Automotive Systems – ATEP;
Isabel Kitchin, Associate in Arts;
Michelle Lee, Early Childhood Education;
Sara Lewis, Associate in Arts;
Peter Long, Game and Automation Programming;
Charlie Lopez-Sanchez, Associate in Arts;
Jordyn Martinez, Associate in Science;
Jeff Midgette, Cybersecurity;
Kelly Nachbaur, Office Administration;
Sara Rivenbark, Associate in Arts;
Tyler Ruesch, Associate in Science;
Sunshine Sheppard, Associate in Arts;
Holly Solis, Early Childhood Education;
Jordan Sturges, Associate in Arts;
Madison Tate, Early Childhood Education;
Christopher Thompson, Business Administration;
Taylor Michelle Tyndall, Business Administration;
Cole Williams, Associate in Arts;
Tyler Williams, Associate in Science; and
Rebecca Young, Accounting and Finance
Hope Mills
Jose Sosa, Industrial Systems
Jamesville
Corwyn Smith, Industrial Systems
Kinston
Stephanie Robbins, Criminal Justice/Forensic Science
La Grange
Aaron Carter-Gray, Business Administration;
Nataly Garcia-Alvarez, Dental Assisting; and
Alyssa Kierra Manley, Associate in Arts
Lumberton
Brandon Jacobs, Industrial Systems
Mount Olive
Andrew Cox, Associate in Arts;
Louis Raul Vivar Cuahutle, Business Administration;
Anna Hines Associate in General Education – Nursing;
Seth Kowalski, Human Services;
Alejandra Tijerina, Associate in Arts; and
Karlie Westbrook, Associate in Arts
Pikeville
Tara Burnham, Associate in Arts;
Jessica Hall, Associate in Arts;
Lindsey Hartsfield, Business Administration;
Seth Lazarus, Automotive Systems – ATEP; and
Stephanie Langdon Pender, Early Childhood Education
Princeton
Reagan Elizabeth Baumgartner, Medical Assisting; and
Jami Parker, Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Technologies
Red Springs
Luis Recendes Gonzalez, Industrial Systems
Seven Springs
Lorena Castaneda Alvara, Medical Office Administration/Dental Office;
Karen Compean Throm, Associate in Arts;
Billy Josue Gomez-Guarchaj, Associate in Arts;
Mayra Herran, Associate in General Education – Nursing;
Javier Adcardo Murillo, Human Services; and
Derek Sparrow, Risk Management and Insurance
Smithfield
Caleb Tremblay, Emergency Management
Vanceboro
Devin McEntire, Industrial Systems
Wilson
Dwayne Jones, Industrial Systems
Carrollton, VA
Kendall Draughn, Swine Management
Suffolk, VA
Calvin Coleman, Industrial Systems
“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.
WCC alumnus Casey Sutton Bruce, a member of the sales leadership team at Lenovo, which is a PTK corporate sponsor, was the guest speaker.
Bruce was asked to talk about leadership and said, “The biggest lessons I have learned over the years about leadership actually all point back to a lot of things I had to unlearn about leadership.”
“Effective leaders don’t diminish voices; they listen,” she said. You don’t have to be the most outspoken and win the argument; listening is essential to hearing diverse perspectives, she told the assembly.
“I thought leaders had to be the best of the best,” she said. “Being the best player on the team does not equate to being the best leader for your team. … Your team needs you to assemble the right players and to empower those players.”
Bruce also thought that leaders had to be polished and articulate. “That is not the case. The best leaders that I have even had were real. They were transparent. They were human. Most importantly, they were authentic,” she said.
Another misconception she had was that authority is implied. “You can be an extremely effective leader without having a single person report to you,” she said. “Thought leaders” who put their ideas into action should not be overlooked.
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.