Phi Theta Kappa: How to Get the Most out of Your Membership
by Nikolaos Panaousis
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is the international honor society of the two-year college—a widely known interdisciplinary society whose mission is to recognize academic excellence for community college students around the world. Phi Theta Kappa stands as the most widely known and recognized society for community colleges, with over three million members—yet, the number of active members is significantly lower. PTK is divided into chapters; each chapter serving one college, usually, with some exceptions. The chapter is responsible for creating events for its members, holding meetings, participating in projects, and following the international guidelines. Our chapter is named Alpha Theta Phi, and below I am explaining how one can take advantage of all the resources offered.
As an officer and a member of the chapter, I am often asked by students of what is expected of them as members. The simply answer is this: nothing! As a member, you have the right to not participate at all in our events, or become very active, and, potentially, even becoming an officer. My philosophy—which I have borrowed from a former international PTK officer—is the following: Think of PTK as a gym membership. Like a gym membership, you get our what you put in. Apply for scholarships; serve on a committee; participate in a service project—your resume will thank you later. Members often demand, in a way, for their benefits; however, the outputs equal the inputs. Someone who shows dedication and active presence, will most likely be able to receive a recommendation later—or even be allowed to participate in one of the conferences that the chapter attends. Additionally, adhering to the following steps can lead you to a full, enriching membership.
Honors in Action project: The yearly research project that our chapter participates in as a step to obtain our five-star level. Participating in the HIA project is an intellectually rewarding experience. Members that are involved in it have the opportunity to exchange in discussions about different and diverse topics, conduct academic research, create posters, an HIA event, and attend conferences dedicated to the Honors in Action process.
Chapter committees: A great way to connect with the officers and create an impact to the community. Chapter committees work closely with the executive board to fulfill their tasks, come up with the ideas, conduct workshops, and participate in various events. A few examples of committees are the Leadership Committee (LC), the Recruitment & Outreach Committee (ROC), and the Scholarship & Service Committee (SSC). Each officer board has the right to dismantle and create new committees; however, the most active is the LC. Members of the LC have the opportunity to receive training with a campus leadership specialist and PTK advisor, brainstorm and plan workshops, and facilitate them once appropriate training and knowledge of leadership practices have been learned. LC helps members practice their public speaking skills, develop their inner leaders, and create an impact on other LaGuardia students.
General Meetings: the essence of PTK. Without a doubt, for me, the general meetings are the most exciting part of our list of chapter activities. General meetings consist of events that cover all four hallmarks—leadership, scholarship, fellowship, and service. Officers plan events, such as movie days, fellowship events, scholarship workshops, PTK talks, volunteer appreciation days, game days, etc. All these events offer a chance to expand your horizons, network with people, and make friendships that last a lifetime.
Of course, the benefits of PTK are not limited to the ones mentioned in this post, and those are just a few, but important, ways that you can use to make the full out of your membership. Remember: as a member, it is up to you to create your best Phi Theta Kappa experience!
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is the international honor society of the two-year college—a widely known interdisciplinary society whose mission is to recognize academic excellence for community college students around the world. Phi Theta Kappa stands as the most widely known and recognized society for community colleges, with over three million members—yet, the number of active members is significantly lower. PTK is divided into chapters; each chapter serving one college, usually, with some exceptions. The chapter is responsible for creating events for its members, holding meetings, participating in projects, and following the international guidelines. Our chapter is named Alpha Theta Phi, and below I am explaining how one can take advantage of all the resources offered.
As an officer and a member of the chapter, I am often asked by students of what is expected of them as members. The simply answer is this: nothing! As a member, you have the right to not participate at all in our events, or become very active, and, potentially, even becoming an officer. My philosophy—which I have borrowed from a former international PTK officer—is the following: Think of PTK as a gym membership. Like a gym membership, you get our what you put in. Apply for scholarships; serve on a committee; participate in a service project—your resume will thank you later. Members often demand, in a way, for their benefits; however, the outputs equal the inputs. Someone who shows dedication and active presence, will most likely be able to receive a recommendation later—or even be allowed to participate in one of the conferences that the chapter attends. Additionally, adhering to the following steps can lead you to a full, enriching membership.
Honors in Action project: The yearly research project that our chapter participates in as a step to obtain our five-star level. Participating in the HIA project is an intellectually rewarding experience. Members that are involved in it have the opportunity to exchange in discussions about different and diverse topics, conduct academic research, create posters, an HIA event, and attend conferences dedicated to the Honors in Action process.
Chapter committees: A great way to connect with the officers and create an impact to the community. Chapter committees work closely with the executive board to fulfill their tasks, come up with the ideas, conduct workshops, and participate in various events. A few examples of committees are the Leadership Committee (LC), the Recruitment & Outreach Committee (ROC), and the Scholarship & Service Committee (SSC). Each officer board has the right to dismantle and create new committees; however, the most active is the LC. Members of the LC have the opportunity to receive training with a campus leadership specialist and PTK advisor, brainstorm and plan workshops, and facilitate them once appropriate training and knowledge of leadership practices have been learned. LC helps members practice their public speaking skills, develop their inner leaders, and create an impact on other LaGuardia students.
General Meetings: the essence of PTK. Without a doubt, for me, the general meetings are the most exciting part of our list of chapter activities. General meetings consist of events that cover all four hallmarks—leadership, scholarship, fellowship, and service. Officers plan events, such as movie days, fellowship events, scholarship workshops, PTK talks, volunteer appreciation days, game days, etc. All these events offer a chance to expand your horizons, network with people, and make friendships that last a lifetime.
Of course, the benefits of PTK are not limited to the ones mentioned in this post, and those are just a few, but important, ways that you can use to make the full out of your membership. Remember: as a member, it is up to you to create your best Phi Theta Kappa experience!
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