SCC’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Earns Distinguished Chapter Award

Surry Community College’s Alpha Xi Tau Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society has earned international recognition as a Distinguished Chapter for 2023, ranking it in the top 3 percent of 1,300 PTK chapters in 12 nations.

This is the fourth time Surry Community College’s chapter has earned this distinction in the past five years. It is also the fifth consecutive year the chapter has been designated as a Distinguished Chapter at the regional level.

Awards were announced at the PTK Awards Gala held in Columbus, Ohio, on April 22-23. Co-advisor of SCC’s chapter, Dr. Kathleen Fowler, attended the event which is PTK’s premier annual event bringing together members, advisors, and their supporters to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of different chapters.

SCC’s Alpha XI Tau Chapter was recognized at the event, earning the Distinguished College Project Award, The Distinguished Honors in Action Award, and the designation of Distinguished Chapter. To be considered for a Distinguished Chapter Award, a chapter must submit entries for both the College Project and the Honors in Action Project awards. Selection is then based on these written entries, with awards only being presented to the top percent of chapters entering.

SCC’s chapter was awarded the Distinguished College Project Award as a result of videos created to help bridge language barriers in the community by adding a Spanish-language translation program to the college’s website, www.surry.edu, and by creating Spanish-language videos describing seven of the more popular programs: Certified Nursing Assistant, Cosmetology, Early Childhood Education, Electrical Systems, Spanish Interpreter, Truck Driver Training and Welding.

The Distinguished Honors in Action Award was given as the result of the creation of an art therapy coloring book the PTK chapter helped create in conjunction with Fowler’s Writing and Research in the Disciplines class, the Knight’s Alliance, and the Math Club. Based on research which suggests art therapy helps teens process emotions, students produced an 88-page collection of images which were bound into books that were donated to local organizations that routinely help teens and young adults recovering from trauma or abuse.

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 12 nations.

For more information about Phi Theta Kappa and their projects, contact PTK's faculty co-advisors Dr. Kathleen Fowler at (336) 386-3560 or fowlerk@surry.edu or Kayla Forrest at (336) 386-3315 or forrestkm@surry.edu or go to www.ptk.org. You can also follow the local chapter on Facebook @surryPhiThetaKappa.