Your key to a world of opportunities

Happy Fourth of July Phi Theta Kappans!🇺🇸

If PTK had an American Girl doll, she might look like this! How cute is she? 🥰 Check out all her amazing accessories, now available (life-size) in the PTK Store at store.ptk.org! 🖋️🧢🧦 (Just a heads up: the doll itself isn’t for sale.)

That feeling when a new member accepts their invitation💙💛💙💛

Congress is considering deep cuts to the Pell Grant program — a lifeline for millions of community college students working toward degrees that lead to essential jobs.

Phi Theta Kappa students are speaking out. From healthcare to public safety, they know firsthand what’s at risk.
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💬 "Cutting Pell means taking opportunity away from students who are working hard to strengthen their communities and the economy."

👉 Read the press release here: https://www.newswire.com/news/pell-grant-cuts-threaten-americas-future-workforce-say-nations-top-22600300

📢Then, visit PTK.org/Pell to take action and protect America’s future workforce.

#SavePell #PTKVoices #CommunityColleges #HigherEd #StudentVoices

Protect Pell. Protect Students.

Visit the PTK Advocacy Center to learn more and take action.

https://www.ptk.org/ptk-advocacy-center/

Phi Theta Kappa and Community College can take you anywhere you want to go!

Congratulations to Van Trong Ho and Tavares Martin for their transfers to Yale University!

Tell us where you're transferring in the comments!

Ambassador David H. Shinn has traveled the world following assignments in Lebanon, Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritania, Cameroon, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia.

Before starting his 37-year career in U.S. Foreign Service, Dr. Shinn earned his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees... at George Washington University.

But, before even that, Dr. Shinn was a community college student and a Phi Theta Kappa member at Yakima Valley College.

"Phi Theta Kappa offers an enormous amount of guidance for all categories of community college students and a range of scholarships for those who are continuing with their education. It has courses on employment preparation, guidance on transferring to a four-year college, leadership development and improving research skills," Dr. David Shinn said.

Dr. Shinn joined PTK in his sophomore year at YVC, and years later he was named Phi Theta Kappa's Most Distinguished Alumni in 1995. In 2007, He was asked to join the Phi Theta Kappa Board of Trustees, a position he held for more than a decade.

Dr. Shinn found his membership and his board position meaningful and came to learn much about community colleges and how they can help students complete their first two years of schools at a lower cost than immediately enrolling in a transfer institution.

"I was surprised by the number of community college students who were the first members of their family to attend college. I gained an appreciation for the different emphases that community colleges place on education," Dr, Shinn said. "Some have an academic focus, some vocational and some adult education. Others do all three. But they all offer a two-year degree and a low-cost option to complete the first two years of a four-year degree, which was my reason for attending YVC."

Learn more about Dr. Shinn's illustrious international career here: https://yvcc.edu/magazine/summer-2025/yakima-foreign-service

Curious about what comes next after Phi Theta Kappa? Join us for an inspiring webinar featuring three dynamic PTK alumni as they share their unique journeys, lessons learned, and how PTK shaped their personal and professional paths. Whether you're nearing graduation or just starting your PTK ...experience, this is a chance to explore the value of alumni engagement and discover what it means to be part of the PTK network for life.

The webinar is tomorrow, June 26, at 6 PM CT.

Register now: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_c6syjPWpTFm0369esFqv4Q#/

Congratulations to Past International President Annalise Smith for receiving the Presidential Scholarship from the Phi Theta Kappa Board of Directors.

The President’s Award for Leadership Excellence is the highest honor given by the Society’s Board of Directors. The award recognizes ...an outstanding member who has demonstrated exemplary service and leadership while advancing PTK’s mission and values.

Annalise has graduated with two degrees from Clark State College, and she was recently accepted into New York University where she plans to major in Global Public Health/Sociology.

Read more: https://www.ptk.org/annalise-smith-receives-ptks-2025-presidential-scholarship/

#PTKProud #PTKPINO

From Community College To Capitol Hill

In a journey that began at community college, Nick went from Harvard University, to teaching, to Capitol Hill, to the Governor's Office of Alabama, before going back to Washington D.C. as an appointee the to U.S. Department of Education.
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Nick Moore’s story, which he told to Roadtrip Nation, is a testament to the power of community college and the opportunities that can emerge from involvement in Phi Theta Kappa. His journey—from a small town in Alabama to shaping national education policy—is a powerful reminder that no matter where you start, your dreams are within reach.

Learn more about his journey: https://www.ptk.org/from-community-college-to-captiol-hill-nick-moore-featured-on-roadtrip-nation/

#PTKProud #PTKAlumni

Today we are celebrating 10 Years of Hamilton with a walk down memory lane! Did you know PTK has had three Hamilton stars attend Catalyst?

Miguel Cervantes (AKA Alexander Hamilton) joined us at PTK Catalyst 2025 as a keynote speaker. Miguel was handpicked by Lin Manuel Miranda to be his ...successor on the Broadway stage.

Mathenee Treco (AKA Hercules Mulligan/James Madison) performed a special PTK Hamiljam at the opening session at Catalyst 2022. Mathenee played Hercules Mulligan and James Madison in the Hamilton National Tour.

Daveed Diggs (AKA Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson) participated in a moderated conversation at PTK Catalyst 2019. Daveed was part of the original Hamilton cast on Broadway. His rap in "Guns and Ships" is considered the fastest rap on Broadway with Daveed rapping 6.3 words per second on average.

#Hamilton #10YearsofHamilton #PTKCatalyst

Join us as Phi Theta Kappa commemorates Juneteenth - a poignant moment in history. As part of the Phi Theta Kappa family, we stand for unity, freedom, and change. #Juneteenth #PhiThetaKappa #Unity

Steven De Silva is a student success champion who started his journey at Waipahu High School Early College in June 2020, where he established effective ways to transition programming to the online/hybrid environment during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Waipahu High Schoolʻs Early College student-centered... motto is His Voice. His Choice. His Future. Today, Waipahu High School Early College is the largest and most robust Early College Dual Credit program in the state of Hawaii (including PTK). Most recently, Waipahu High School Early College had 20% of its student population enrolled in an Early College course.

In November 2018, Waipahu High School (WHS) became the first high school ever to have a collegiate honor society charter on its campus. Steven officially became a PTK Advisor in 2022 and has been able to establish a well-organized structure within PTK to ensure that the Beta Chi Omega Chapter represents all four Hallmarks of PTK with collaboration from the entire advisor team. The chapter currently boasts 145 active members who have all reported current activities in Leadership, Service, Scholarship, and Chapter Fellowship. The chapter is also proud to say that they have been a “Five Star” Chapter for the past six years with Steven receiving the Pacific Region’s Horizon Award for exceptional Advisors in 2024 and 2023.

Steven’s two favorite quotes are:
1. “Hard work really does pay off.”
2. “Make it your everyday mission to make someone else's day better.”

In his personal and professional life, Steven tries his best to live by these two quotes and encourages students to do the same. Live a life where you can confidently say that you dedicated your time and efforts to continuously learn and put in the work to become a better version of yourself every day. Finally, he reminds his students to be a person who leads, inspires, and encourages people around you to do the same and make a positive impact one person at a time.

We are so proud of the three winners of the American Association of Community College's 2025 Community College Innovation Challenge!

📷Bergen Community College, NJ
📷Perimeter College at Georgia State University, GA @GSU_Perimeter
📷Dallas College, TX Dallas College
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We are especially proud of the Phi Theta Kappa members who were selected as winners and finalists!

Are you interested in graduate programs! Well, don't miss this graduate fair tomorrow at 1PM CT. This session highlights graduate school programs at PTK partner colleges that offer scholarships exclusively for PTK members and alumni. Explore opportunities to fund your advanced degree and ...connect 1-on-1 with institutions ready to support your academic journey beyond a bachelor’s degree.

Register now: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqc-mqrDsrGNM4BBmOAA-sqQjtYKOWDUL8#/

🚨DEADLINE ALERT🚨
These four scholarship applications are currently open, but they close TODAY:

Leaders of Promise (including Global and Military)
Chime Workforce
Mary Hood (Texas Regional)
Kevin & Rosa Byrne Family

Apply NOW, and don't miss this ...opportunity!

https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/apply-now/

🚨 Scholarship Alert! 🚨
The Chime Workforce Scholarship is awarding $1,000 to high-achieving students in workforce & technical programs at two-year colleges!

📌 Must have:
✔️ 3.0+ GPA
✔️ 6+ credits completed by Jan 31, 2025
✔️ Be enrolled in a ...certificate or associate program
✔️ Plan to join the workforce by no later than June 2026
💡 PTK members + Pell Grant eligible students get priority!
🔗 Apply now: www.ptk.org/scholarships/apply-now/

Don’t miss out! The scholarship applications closes June 16!!

The Honors in Action Grant Application closes on June 25th. Apply now to receive $1,000 to kickstart your chapter's HIA project!

Find more info here: https://connect.ptk.org/content/shared/honorsinactiongrants

Renee Cortez Rackley began her college journey as a Latinx, low-income, first-generation student — unsure of how to navigate higher education, but determined to make it work. With the support of mentors like Larry Sklaney and Robert Jersak at Century College, she not only found her footing, but ...also discovered a deep passion for student success. Through her involvement with the Alpha Alpha Gamma chapter, Phi Theta Kappa entered her world and never left.

After completing her master’s degree in student affairs, Renee joined the Student Life team at Normandale Community College, where she also serves as the contact advisor for the award-winning Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter. With the support of her co-advisors, her chapter was named Most Distinguished Chapter in the Minn-Kota Region for both 2022 and 2023, and they earned top honors for their Honors in Action and College Projects. Her students even honored her with a Paragon Award for New Advisors — a recognition that still makes her teary.

Renee’s first full year as lead advisor was a “trial-by-fire” — stepping into the role after a legendary advisor retired. Though the year came with challenges, it ended with a standing ovation: her students swept major awards at the regional conference. That was the moment she “drank the PTK Kool-Aid” and fully embraced her role as a student success champion.

Now also serving as a Minn-Kota Regional Associate Coordinator, Renee brings her lived experience full circle. Her goal is simple: to provide the same support she once received — and to help students believe that success isn’t just possible, it’s theirs for the taking.

Renee did it — now so can they.

Phi Theta Kappa is excited to announce that it has launched the first-ever direct admissions experience for transfer students through its PTK Connect platform. Developed in partnership with Nazareth University, this transformative new feature offers community college students a streamlined path to ...a four-year degree—removing unnecessary barriers and opening doors to greater opportunity.

Learn more here: https://www.ptk.org/youre-in-phi-theta-kappa-leads-national-efforts-to-direct-admissions-for-transfer-students/