Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) is recognizing 1,081 chapters for their efforts to bring the life-changing benefits and opportunities of PTK membership to even more students on their campuses in 2020.
The Upsilon Sigma Chapter at Itawamba Community College’s Fulton Campus in Mississippi saw the highest percentage of eligible students become Phi Theta Kappa members last year: 90.3 percent. The recognition is part of PTK’s REACH Rewards program, which celebrates and rewards Phi Theta Kappa chapters excelling in membership development. More than 112,500 students across the world became PTK members in 2020.
“Being a REACH chapter is more important this year than ever before as Phi Theta Kappa worked to support community college students in completely unfamiliar circumstances,” PTK President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner said. “Racial and political unrest and a global pandemic made 2020 the most challenging year in recent history — one that our students, chapters, and partner colleges worked exceptionally hard to overcome. Although this is a chapter award, it demonstrates that students are more focused on their futures than ever before, and their colleges are providing the opportunities to get them there — even amid a global pandemic.”
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 $48 million in scholarships — $1 million in competitive scholarships through the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation and more than $46 million in transfer scholarships to over 850 four-year colleges. They can search for these scholarships and others, as well as transfer-friendly institutions and career pathways, on PTK Connect™.
Through exclusive PTK EDGE™ curricula, members learn how to navigate the often-tricky transfer process, build essential soft skills, and develop expertise to help them find employment. Members also have free access to PTK’s custom leadership program, which uses open sources to guide the development of personal leadership philosophies.
“When students get engaged in campus programming, explore leadership opportunities, and utilize personal development resources developed by PTK, real transformation happens,” said Christin Grissom, PTK’s Vice President of Scholarship and Membership. “We couldn’t be prouder of our REACH Chapters for their efforts to encourage PTK membership acceptance despite challenges presented by the pandemic and unlock limitless opportunities that PTK membership provides for deserving students.”
The 2021 REACH Chapters will be rewarded with free graduation stoles for their members. Nearly 5,600 stoles will be awarded. See the full list of REACH Chapters.
The Top 15 REACH Chapters with the highest acceptance rates of 2020 were
- Upsilon Sigma, Itawamba Community College – Fulton Campus, Mississippi
- Iota Zeta, Northeast Mississippi Community College – Booneville Campus, Mississippi
- Kappa Alpha, Holmes Community College – Goodman Campus, Mississippi
- Beta Xi Psi, Copiah-Lincoln Community College – Simpson County Center, Mississippi
- Alpha Omicron Lambda, Eastern Wyoming College – Torrington Campus, Wyoming
- Epsilon, Cottey College – Nevada Campus, Missouri
- Alpha Gamma Chi, Northwest Mississippi Community College – Desoto Center, Mississippi
- Beta Tau Sigma, Itawamba Community College – Tupelo Campus, Mississippi
- Alpha Lambda Sigma, Holmes Community College – Ridgeland Campus, Mississippi
- Pi Gamma, Florida College – Temple Terrace Campus, Florida
- Alpha Mu Beta, Holmes Community College – Grenada Campus, Mississippi
- Eta Beta, Southwest Texas Junior College – Uvalde Campus, Texas
- Alpha Lambda Zeta, Asnuntuck Community College – Enfield Campus, Connecticut
- Alpha Omicron Omega, Hinds Community College – Rankin Campus, Mississippi
- Pi Psi, Coastal Alabama Community College – Bay Minette Campus, Alabama
