Honoring Scholars

Phi Theta Kappa is dedicated to honoring student scholars for outstanding academic achievement at associate-degree granting institutions. Membership provides opportunities for public recognition and acknowledgement of superior scholastic accomplishment by faculty, college administrators and peers. Such acknowledgment bolsters academic motivation and enhances student success.

Active membership offers much more than recognition. Phi Theta Kappa has an array of educationally purposeful programs that bridge academic and co-curricular activities to foster intellectual and psychosocial development. Students participate in faculty-directed, challenging honors activities that integrate service and leadership components. This convergence of educational and developmental experiences provides practical applications for academic exercises and results in real-life experiences that prospective employers and college recruiters recognize and value. Participation enhances interpersonal and communication skills, expands intellectual and cultural competencies, and assists in clarifying academic and employment goals and a sense of purpose. While exploring Phi Theta Kappa programs through the examinations of scholarly topics, experiencing leadership, and providing service to their campus and civic arenas, students become engaged in their communities, form effective peer mentoring groups and enhance the campus environment.

Building Servant Leaders

Phi Theta Kappa programs provide members with opportunities for intellectual growth and challenge, as well as opportunities for leadership development and service. Members may explore programs independently or through participation in their local chapter. The central focus of the organization’s programs is an Honors Study Topic that offers a platform for examination of a timely, interdisciplinary subject of vital importance to the human experience. Through analysis of issues related to the 2008-2010 Honors Study Topic, The Paradox of Affluence: Choices, Challenges, and Consequences, chapters will be able to develop Honors in Action activities that implement the Society’s ongoing 2008-2010 International Service Program, Operation Green: Improving Our Communities, and employ the Society’s Leadership Development Program resources. Students are encouraged to use this Honors Program Guide to examine the paradox of affluence and to incorporate the Honors Study Topic into their leadership development activities and projects they initiate to serve their chapters, colleges, and communities.

Active chapters provide an educationally powerful environment, supported by resources, award programs and events sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa. Phi Theta Kappa offers two award programs to honor the achievements of outstanding chapters, build a scholarly community among students and faculty and engage in service to the college and community. The Five Star Chapter Development Program reflects the scholarly ideals of Phi Theta Kappa and serves as a blueprint for developing a strong chapter and for earning local, regional, and international recognition. Using this program, chapters can build a foundation and establish a lasting legacy on campus.

Phi Theta Kappa’s competitive Hallmark Awards Program recognizes outstanding chapters, regions and individuals. True to its name, the program celebrates excellence in the Society’s Hallmarks of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Fellowship. Hallmark Awards are presented to chapters that excel in Scholarship, Leadership, and Service. Scholarly fellowship is an inherent part of each of those entries, but there is no separate Fellowship category in the Hallmark Awards Program.

The Phi Theta Kappa International Convention is the largest multinational gathering of community college students in the world. At the Convention members engage with internationally known speakers and interact with peers and faculty. Convention educational forums allow in-depth examination of the Honors Study Topic, offer leadership and service workshops, and furnish resources for student development. Members will find transfer and career forums and opportunities to network with transfer counselors and explore career options.

The Phi Theta Kappa International Honors Institute, called the “crown jewel” in the Society’s honors programming agenda, provides a week’s intensive study of the Honors Study Topic through outstanding speakers, intimate group discussions, field trips and experiential exercises. The Honors Satellite Seminar Series, co-produced by Phi Theta Kappa and the National Collegiate Honors Council, is a series of interactive seminars led by experts on Honors Study Topic-related issues. The Seminars are broadcast live via satellite to college campuses around the world each fall and are available as well via web download.