Wayne Community College’s Upsilon Chi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, has inducted 61 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. They also must demonstrate good citizenship characteristics.
In lieu of an in-person event, the society held a video induction ceremony (on April 22). It 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.
“We are so very proud of each and every one of them,” said Chapter Advisor Katie Holloman.
Choosing to join PTK means the inductees have “chosen scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship as their hallmarks,” she said.
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
Albertson
James Gunter, Sustainable Agriculture
Dudley
Raymond Price, Associate in Arts
Fremont
Gabriel Barefoot, Associate in Arts
Garner
Jeffrey Gollbach, Aviation Systems Technology
Goldsboro
William Albert, Associate in Science;
Joseph Allen, Business Administration/Operations Management;
Jaqueline Aristilde, Medical Office Administration;
Janae Artis-Bass, Associate in Arts;
Lavalle Avery, Accounting and Finance;
Samantha Beeken, Associate in Arts;
Arerel Belmer, Associate in Arts;
Latina Bonaparte-Lee, Medical Assisting;
Isaac Carreno, Associate in Arts;
Aljera Dunn, Associate in Arts;
Melissa Figge, Medical Office Administration;
Hannah Harkins, Associate in Arts;
Meagan Moore, Associate in Arts;
Jessica Pee-Leuk, Associate in Science;
Amy Plieth, Associate Degree Nursing;
Kayla Powell, Associate Degree Nursing;
Daphne Sanchez, Associate in Arts;
Taylor Schmucker, Medical Laboratory Technology;
Michael Shova, Associate in Arts;
Michael Strickland, College Transfer Pathway – Associate in Science;
Vismai Taneti, Associate in Science;
Braden Wilkinson, Associate in Arts;
Hannah Williams, Associate in Arts; and
Ivan Zheng, Associate in Arts
Kannapolis
Jennifer Ashley, Business Administration/Operations Management
Kinston
Katie Croom, Dental Assisting;
Ashleigh Moore, Business Administration;
Darrell Philyaw, Associate in Arts;
Mattison Quinn, Business Administration; and
Casey Rouse, Business Administration
La Grange
Stephanie Bridgers, Business Administration;
Jessica Daughtry, Associate in Arts;
Luis Henriquez, Computer-Integrated Machining; and
Jalen Staps, Associate in Arts
Mount Olive
Charisma Barbour; Associate in Arts;
Emily Barwick, Associate Degree Nursing;
Michelle Edwards, Associate in Arts;
Carter Lewis, Business Administration Certificate; and
Lindsay Williams, Software Development
Pikeville
Hailey Barbato, Associate in Arts;
Abigail Barefoot, Associate in Arts;
Brianna Hayes, Associate in Arts;
Ashley Heath; Medical Office Administration Diploma,
Austin Howard, Automotive Systems Technology GM-ASEP;
Jada Howell, Associate in Arts; and
Sariah Ortiz, Mechanical Engineering Technology
Princeton
Eva Davisworth, Practical Nursing;
Bradley Eason, Simulation and Game Development;
Emma Meador, Associate in Science;
Michaela Radford, Associate in Arts; and
Joshua Wall, Automotive Systems Technology GM-ASEP
Seven Springs
Carrie Rico, Medical Office Administration; and
Sarah Sargent, Early Childhoods Education Licensure Transfer Track
Smithfield
Daniel Toole, Associate in General Education – Nursing
Snow Hill
Shamaya Bryant, Associate Degree Nursing
Streetsboro, OH
Nicole Barrett, Associate in General Education – Nursing
The video of the induction ceremony can be viewed at https://bit.ly/WCCPTKSpr21.
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.
A full 91 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 $46 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 140 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.