Recently, Elmira College was named to the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s Transfer Honor Roll, recognizing EC for developing academic programs of interest to community college students and providing transfer support, making it easier for those students to earn their four-year degrees. This marked the fifth year EC has earned this prestigious honor.
In light of this milestone, the Elmira College Enrollment and Admission teams considered ways to further position the College as an affordable option to PTK scholars looking to attend a prestigious private institution.
“Students who earn a Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society membership have demonstrated a commitment to their education,” shared Dennis M. Kelly, Vice President of Enrollment Management at EC, an honorary PTK member since 2022, and recipient of the PTK Transfer Champion Medallion.
A longtime PTK advocate, Kelly pushed his team to get strategic and creative.
While EC already has a close relationship with PTK, offering attractive scholarships like the PTK Scholarship and a guaranteed direct cost of attendance to international PTK students, Kelly’s team found additional ways to increase scholarships for transfer students.
Beginning in January 2026, EC will expand its Soaring Eagles Take Flight initiative to transfer students. Take Flight combines EC scholarships with state and federal loans and grants to cover full-time tuition and mandatory fees for eligible, full-time students. To be eligible, students must be New York State residents with a combined family income of $50,000 or less. Transfer students also must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA from previous college coursework.
For Fall of 2025 recruitment, EC launched the Good Neighbor Award, which offers PA students an Elmira College need-based grant equivalent to their PA Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, commonly known as PHEAA, award. Beginning with students entering Fall 2026, EC will expand the Good Neighbor program to include students from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. The maximum Good Neighbor Award for students in these five states is $5,750.
Another new initiative to which transfer students are eligible is the Scout Achievement Award. Beginning in Fall 2026, incoming transfer students who earned the rank of Eagle Scout in Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America) and the Gold Award in the Girl Scouts of the USA can receive a renewable $2,500 annual award.
“Scholarships like those offered by Elmira College recognize the achievements of Phi Theta Kappa members and help ensure that transfer remains an affordable pathway to a four-year degree,” said Dr. Lynn Tincher Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. Nothing says ‘we value you’ more than a scholarship to recognize students for their academic success and leadership. We are proud to see Elmira’s continued commitment to high-achieving students and to be recognized on the Transfer Honor Roll.”
PTK students interested in finding out more can visit the EC website, click the heart to favorite Elmira College on PTK Connect, or complete our PTK Student Form.
