All Stories
Yakima Valley to Global Diplomacy: David H. Shinn’s PTK Success Story
Reporting by Dustin Wunderlich, Yakima Valley College Ambassador David H. Shinn has traveled the world following assignments in Lebanon, Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritania, Cameroon, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia. Shinn received three State Department Superior Honor awards for his work, which included responding to famines, enhancing food security, peacekeeping efforts and initiating a public campaign against…
Annalise Smith Receives PTK’s 2025 Presidential Scholarship
Annalise Smith, graduate of Clark State College in Ohio, has been awarded the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) President’s Award for Leadership Excellence, a two-year transfer scholarship of up to $30,000 each academic year. Annalise recently completed her term as PTK’s 2024-2025 International President and served on the Board of Directors as the Student Representative, PTK’s…
From Community College to Capitol Hill: PTK Alum Featured on Roadtrip Nation
Before Nick Moore made it to Capitol Hill and the Alabama Governor’s Office, he was a Phi Theta Kappa member. Nick began his higher education journey at Enterprise State Community College in Alabama, according to his Roadtrip Nation profile. At Enterprise State, he joined the Tau Mu Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and later served…
“You’re In.” Phi Theta Kappa Leads National Efforts to Direct Admissions for Transfer Students
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for community college students, 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…
Students Taking the Lead on Pell Grant Advocacy
By Phi Theta Kappa President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner At Phi Theta Kappa, our mission is to recognize academic excellence and provide students with opportunities to grow—and to lead. And when it comes to leadership, advocacy is where we believe it must begin. We know our members care deeply about the issues that shape…
Northern Arizona University Makes PTK Transfer Scholarship More Accessible
Northern Arizona University (NAU) has updated the eligibility criteria for their Phi Theta Kappa transfer scholarship, making it more accessible for PTK members. Previously, members were not eligible for the scholarship if they took a break between attending community college and transfer to NAU, but NAU has removed that stipulation from the eligibility criteria, which…
Meet the 2025-2026 International Officer Team
Serving as a Phi Theta Kappa International Officer is an experience like no other. Throughout the year, the team will serve as ambassadors for the organization while engaging with members on the local, regional, and international level. Each officer also gains valuable personal and professional development to help prepare them for their next chapter—whether that’s transferring to…
SUNY Niagara President Dr. Lloyd Holmes Reflects on His Phi Theta Kappa Journey
Dr. Lloyd Holmes, the newly appointed President of SUNY Niagara, recently shared his personal experience as a member of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for two-year colleges. His journey with PTK began in 1989 during his sophomore year at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Mississippi, where he majored in accounting. Reflecting on…
Phi Theta Kappa Foundation Appoints Dr. Monica Marlowe to Board of Trustees
The Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Foundation proudly announces the appointment of Dr. Monica Marlowe to its Board of Trustees. Dr. Marlowe brings 27 years of experience in higher education, including more than a decade in advancement and fundraising. A proud community college alumna, Dr. Marlowe holds a Ph.D. in Community College Leadership, a master’s degree…
Phi Theta Kappa to Launch Caring Corner at Catalyst 2025
PTK Catalyst is celebrating service with the launch of the Caring Corner at this year’s convention. Service is one of the four Hallmarks of Phi Theta Kappa, so Catalyst attendees will have the opportunity to give back to the community in the Opportunity Expo. As part of the Caring Corner, Catalyst attendees will have the…
Maximize Your Success at the Nation’s Largest Transfer Fair at 2025 PTK Catalyst
Attending PTK Catalyst in Kansas City next month? The PTK Catalyst Transfer Fair in Kansas City, MO, is your golden ticket to connecting with top four-year colleges and universities. With two full days, the Catalyst Transfer Fair—sponsored by Common App—is the largest of its kind. To make the most of it, preparation is key! 1….
Your Guide to Attending PTK Catalyst 2025
By Annalise Smith, International President of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society PTK Catalyst is Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention. Catalyst features guest speakers, the Hallmark Awards, educational forums, college fairs, and more. Catalyst is an eye-opening experience. Per its name, it is intended to be a catalyst for PTK members, inspiring them to innovate, discover…
Launching Student Entrepreneurs – The Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC) – Perimeter College Team Files Patent for CCIC Winning Idea
Members of the Perimeter College at Georgia State University team that won the 2024 Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC) say the academic competition transformed them into entrepreneurs. More than the top prize, they say that the praise they received during CCIC’s Innovation Boot Camp for their concept of a self-administered cervical cancer test, the encouragement…
Original Blue’s Clues Host to Speak at PTK Catalyst 2025
Actor and television host Steve Burns is taking the stage at PTK Catalyst 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. Steve is the original host for the long-running children’s preschool television program Blue’s Clues, which aired from 1996 until 2002. On the show, Steve, equipped with his handy dandy notebook and thinking chair, worked with his puppy…
Dr. Linda Garcia Named Phi Theta Kappa International Honorary Member
Dr. Linda Garcia, Executive Director at the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE), has been named an International Honorary member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK). This recognition is considered PTK’s highest honor for a non-member. The award is not given every year, but only when the Society identifies an individual has provided extraordinary…
Niagara University Establishes New PTK Transfer Scholarship
Niagara University in New York has established a new $24,000 PTK merit scholarship for all Phi Theta Kappa members who show proof of membership. The scholarship is stackable and renewable and will be available starting in Fall 2025. The university is a private Catholic college located in Lewiston, New York near Niagara Falls. Niagara University…
Broadway Star To Take Stage At PTK Catalyst 2025
Broadway star, Miguel Cervantes, is taking the stage at PTK Catalyst 2025. Miguel Cervantes starred as Alexander Hamilton in the Chicago run of Hamilton: An American Musical from 2016 to 2020. The Chicago Tribune praised his “coiled intensity” and named Miguel the Chicagoan of the Year in theater in 2019 for his mastery of the…
Olympian Makes Her Leap to the Catalyst Stage
From the balance beam to the Catalyst stage, Olympian Laurie Hernandez is joining the PTK Catalyst 2025 speaker lineup. In the 2016 Rio Olympic games, Laurie was the youngest member of the “Final Five” along with Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Madison Kocian, and Aly Ramisan that helped the U.S. women’s gymnastics team bring home the…