HANCEVILLE, Ala. — More than 80 Wallace State Community College students were recently inducted in the college’s Alpha Chi Tau Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society.
Membership in PTK is extended by invitation only. For a student to be eligible, they must be enrolled in an associate-degree program, have completed at least 12 hours of college-level course work leading toward an associate degree, have a grade point average of 3.5 or greater, showcase good character and possess leadership qualities.
PTK members engage in mentoring at local high schools, tutoring Wallace State students and community service throughout Cullman County and nearby areas. They also participate in academic-enrichment programs sponsored by Wallace State and other institutions.
Membership also opens the opportunity for PTK scholarships for students transferring to four-year universities. Inductions happen twice a year, in spring and fall. PTK members qualify for special recognition during the college’s yearly graduation ceremonies.
The Wallace State chapter was recognized for achieving the designation as a REACH chapter for 2023. The recognition is part of PTK’s REACH Rewards program, which celebrates and rewards PTK chapters that excel in membership development by achieving exceptionally high rates of membership acceptance in the 2023 calendar year. The REACH rewards program encourages membership by rewarding chapters who achieve or exceed 15 percent for their membership acceptance rate. In 2023, Wallace State’s PTK chapter achieved a 21 percent membership acceptance rate and was one of 159 chapters nationwide honored for their efforts in bringing the benefits and opportunities of PTK membership to more students.
“Our chapter has been a REACH chapter for several years now and it’s still exciting every time we get recognized. One of the strong points of our PTK chapter is that we induct a lot of members, and the list of students that qualify to be invited to PTK every semester is quite impressive. We have some really smart students at WSCC, and we enjoy getting to celebrate them,” said PTK sponsor Brandon Smith. “Being a member of PTK gives students the opportunity to exercise their leadership skills, showcase their academic gifts, fellowship with other members and participate in service projects. We are hopeful that membership in PTK will be the catalyst that will launch the students into greater successes as they hopefully transfer to a four-year university.”
Students inducted into PTK for the Spring 2024 semester include:
Alabaster: April Burgess
Arab: Katherine Fleming, Jillian Grisham, John Ray Wilks
Bankston: Kendallyn Dunavant
Blountsville: Marisa Bryan, Russell Stephens
Boaz: Fiena Tsamratul Fuadah, Emma Miller
Bremen: Kaden Burgess, Grey William Johnson
Cleveland: Rebeca Mendoza, Jacquelyn Harper Elizabeth Simmons
Columbiana: Alejandra Saucedo Corpus
Crossville: Summer Miller, Charlie Mae Smith
Cullman: Emree Dean, Brianna Garcia, Devin Blaine Hollis, Gage Hooper, Elijah Clay McCollum, Abby Lee McDonald, Brooklyn Morton, Charlie O’Neil, Easton Peed, Elijah Putman, Spencer Smith, Anna Turner, Leila VanderWal, Shayley Vogelaar, Lindsey Weidman, Kimberly Wilt
Danville: Maisie Aarielle Waynick
Double Springs: Brody Densmore, Riley Davis Gilbreath, Lily Suggs
Eva: Chaden Hill, Jerry Ryan Tucker
Falkville: Audrey Anderson
Fultondale: Arleth Flores, Joseph Blake Nunnally
Gardendale: Addison Dunagan, Jackie Louis Rowan III
Guntersville: Molly C. Anderson
Haleyville: Marlee Paige Robins, Kirsten Stevens, Samantha Wise
Hanceville: Lily Berg, Mary Browne
Hartselle: Zachariah Beauregard, Corey Naylor, Katherine Smith
Hayden: Lauren Pratt, Jeffrey Tapping
Holly Pond: Rilee Shareck
Hoover: Casey Kostick, Charon Works
Horton: Ashley Ramirez Guzman
Jasper: Giovanna Lopez, Sydnee E. Shephard
Joppa: Chase Pitts
Killen: Anna Holt
Kimberly: Madeline Martin
Leeds: Morgan King
Locust Fork: Sara Terry
Logan: Caden David Rusk
Mt. Olive: Maleah Dawn Faith Chadwick
Oneonta: Owen Max Blakely, Charles Eason Williams, Allison Willis, Madisyn Wood
Pelham: Myriah Tate
Rainsville: Lily Madison Boswell
Remlap: Natalie Ganus, Emily Jett
Scottsboro: Brooke Wilson
Trafford: Blair Echols
Trussville: Sophia Ruxian Pierce
Vernon: Jenna Berry
Vinemont: Jon Edward Bridges, Stormy Campbell, Lily Kathryn Hasting, Kaydence Johnson, Allison Brooke Stidham
Warrior: Taylor Arledge, Diego Castro Aramburo, Allison Phelps, Sophia Wright
For more information about PTK, contact sponsor Brandon Smith at 256-352-8207, brandon.smith@wallacestate.edu or visit www.wallacestate.edu/student-life.
