Verde Valley News – On the heels of earning the top spot in the Arizona region last month, the Yavapai College chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) international honor society has earned a No. 5 ranking nationally, as well as five additional national awards.
The announcement of the fifth-place national ranking out of 1,290 chapters nationwide, “speaks volumes about our students’ dedication, hard work and exceptional leadership,” said Denise Woolsey, YC PTK chapter advisor. She and four PTK officers and members were on hand to accept the award during the PTK national conference known as “Catalyst’ earlier this month in Orlando, Fla.
The group accepted the following additional national awards on behalf of the YC PTK chapter:
- Distinguished Chapter Award
- Distinguished Honors in Action Project Award
- Distinguished Chapter Project Award
- Distinguished Theme Award for Honors In Action
- Distinguished Chapter Member, Jackie Mench
“I couldn’t be prouder of the students and their accomplishments. These awards are not just accolades but a testament to the relentless effort and passion the PTK members and officers poured into the projects and research this year,” Woolsey said. “They have set a shining example of the high academic excellence and achievement we have fostered at Yavapai College.”
Established in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa has a presence on nearly 1,300 community college campuses in 11 nations. The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) recognized Phi Theta Kappa as the official honor society for two-year colleges in 1929. PTK provides scholarship and leadership opportunities for its approximately 250,000 active members. The organization boasts more than 3.8 million alumni.
During the Arizona Regional PTK Conference in March, hosted at the Prescott campus, the YC chapter captured the following awards in addition to its ranking as the top regional chapter:
- Distinguished Chapter Member – Jackie Mench
- Distinguished Chapter Officer – Heidi Howden
- Distinguished Officer Team
- Distinguished Chapter Advisor – Denise Woolsey
- Distinguished New Advisor – Sarah Cooper