HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Community College’s Alpha Chi Tau Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society welcomed more than 30 new members for the Fall 2024 semester. The organization held an induction ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 19, to welcome new members.
Phi Theta Kappa is the official honor society for two-year colleges and has been recognized as such by the American Association of Community Colleges since 1929.
“Joining Phi Theta Kappa offers a range of benefits that can help students excel both academically and professionally,” said Will Hasenbein, English instructor and co-sponsor of PTK. “Members gain access to exclusive scholarships, leadership development programs, career preparation tools and networking opportunities with fellow scholars and professionals.”
The Alpha Chi Tau Chapter at Wallace State has been active since 1992, with thousands of students enjoying its benefits since then. Students are invited to join PTK if they meet the criteria of having completed at least 12 hours at Wallace State with a cumulative GPA of 3.5.
Wallace State students inducted as PTK members include:
Addison: David Tuggle, Haven Lackey
Arab: Katelyn Kinney, Makayla Murray, Maggie Tidwell
Birmingham: Annie Cheatwood
Boaz: Pamela Tidmore
Bremen: Hayley McMurrey
Center Point: Laporsha Foster
Cleveland: Braden Turner
Crane Hill: Breanna Briscoe
Cullman: Jared Gaskin, Natasha Osborn, Cody Smith, Jorja Stewart, Cannon Trimble, Ashley Uptagrafft, Jonathan Zepeda Trejo
Falkville: Abbey Grace Tomlin
Guntersville: Philip Boozer
Hanceville: Shannon Edwards, Jennifer Haddock, Sarah Jones
Hartselle: Emily King
Hayden: Anna Jones
Huntsville: Dorothy Brown, Sarah McCullar
Oneonta: Aliyah Heflin, Narcie Smith
Pinson: Miranda Knight
Vinemont: Olivia Glass
Cullman: Sophia Jones
Columbia, S.C.: Christina Perez
Along with inducting new members, the organization installed new officers. New officers include:
- President: Karley Cain, Jasper
- Vice President of Scholarship: Zachariah Beauregard, Hartselle
- Vice President of Service: Lily Hastings, Cullman
- Vice President of Leadership: Rilee Shareck, Holly Pond
- Vice President of Membership: Rebecca Avalos, Remlap
Newly inducted officers for the Wallace State Community College Alpha Chi Tau Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa are from left, Zachariah Beauregard, Rebecca Avalos, Lilly Hastings, Rilee Shareck, Karley Cain. (Wallace State)
Also noted during the ceremony was the organization’s annual college project, which is a collaboration between the organization and the college administration. This year, the college project is a food drive to benefit the Lions’ Kitchen.
“We began the food drive on Oct. 24 and will complete the project on Nov. 22, which is just in time to donate the food in time for students who may be in need of a holiday meal,” said co-sponsor and English instructor Jessica Robbins.
Robbins also noted the organization’s Honors in Action project for the year, which had the organization partnering with the Sigma Kappa Delta English Honor Society to read to local elementary schools.
“The act of sharing stories with others and working to build community outside the walls of the college can certainly cause a positive impact over the course of time,” Robbins said. “This is precisely what the Phi Theta Kappa Honors in Action project aims to do.”