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June 8, 2018 – The Tau Beta chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society has been on the campus of Davidson County Community College since 1969. Yet in the past four years, the chapter has grown to be recognized on the regional and national levels for their scholarship and service to Davidson and Davie Counties.
During the national Phi Theta Kappa Catalyst conference in April, members of the Tau Beta chapter won the “Top 100 Chapters” Award with over 1,300 chapter candidates. Tau Beta was also recognized as a Five Star Chapter, the highest designation awarded.
“The ceremony kind of feels like you’re at the Academy Awards,” Tau Beta chapter advisor and DCCC faculty member Sharon Carter said. “It was a huge honor to be recognized and go up on stage in front of a room of thousands of students from across the country.”
Candidates for the award must meet particular guidelines to be considered for the award. Chapters had to complete the following three projects: an Honors in Action project, a College Project and an Outside Service project. Chapter members were able to choose the focus of each project.
For their Honors in Action project, members chose to plan natural learning environments for childhood development centers. Student pitched their ideas to 11 centers, with some are now working to implement these plans at their locations.
Members also worked with a team of DCCC Administration leaders to discover what globalized skills were needed for incoming job candidates and employees. To complete this College Project, members reached out to local business leaders and human resources representatives.
The Outside Service Project featured numerous activities, such as helping the DCCC Advising Center with their Call-A-Thon event and “Adopt a Highway” for Old Greensboro Road.
The Tau Beta chapter also received the “Paragon Award for New Advisors” given to Tau Beta advisor Kendra Guffey and the “Distinguished Chapter Advisor Team Awards” for both Carter and Guffey.
Phi Theta Kappa is an international scholastic society that recognizes the academic achievement of two-year college students. To be eligible for membership, a student must be enrolled in an associate degree program, have successfully completed at least 12 semester hours by the end of the fall semester, have attained a cumulative grade-point average of 3.6 or higher and possess outstanding traits of character and citizenship.
This year’s Phi Theta Kappa members have already begun planning their projects for the upcoming year.
“At the end of the year, students usually say, ‘I never knew I could do these things,’” Carter said. “It’s amazing to see these students accomplish things they never thought possible.”
Photo Caption:
Pictured left to right: Ricky Swing, Kendra Guffey, Sharon Carter, Brandi Smith, Kelsie Hatherlee and Chris Whitaker attend the Phi Theta Kappa Catalyst national conference in Kansas City, Missouri. The Tau Beta chapter representing DCCC won multiple awards including “Top 100 Chapters.”
About Davidson County Community College
Founded in 1963, Davidson County Community College is a fully accredited, multi-campus college where students of all ages and backgrounds pursue academic and career-focused education in order to build successful futures. As one of 58 institutions within the North Carolina Community College System, DCCC offers more than 40 degree and professional certificate programs to students in Davidson and Davie counties, as well as affordable college-credit coursework to students who plan to transfer to 4-year universities. With a mission to serve the changing needs of students competing in a global environment, DCCC is committed to quality education, innovative and equitable learning experiences, training, and support across a wide range of 21st-century career fields. Visit Davidson County Community College at DavidsonCCC.edu.