March 9, 2023
The Iota Mu Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa welcomed 48 students at a ceremony held at Pearl River Community College on Monday. The induction ceremony was held at the Brownstone Center for the Arts with family members and other guests in the audience.
Phi Theta Kappa is the foremost honor society for two-year colleges with over 1,300 chapters worldwide. This evening was the Iota Mu Chapter’s 66th induction ceremony. The chapter covers both the Hancock and Poplarville campuses.
Students selected for membership are considered academically successful having completed at least 12 credit hours of non-remedial courses with a minimum cumulative 3.4 GPA.
Scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship are the four hallmarks of PTK. The current officers briefly shared how those hallmarks have played out for them as members of PTK.
Attendees heard from Dr. Amy Chasteen, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at The University of Southern Mississippi. She shared that an associate degree is a significant first step toward a great career. For many, it is the first step in their educational journey with a bachelor’s degree offering additional benefits like increased pay and job security.
For students considering the transition from community college to a four-year institution, PTK serves as a transfer resource to its members. Many colleges and universities, especially those in Mississippi, offer special scholarships to PTK members with additional value for PTK officers.
“When you are struggling, take the list of things we know about the benefits of this educational experience and tape it to your wall,” said Chasteen. “Look at it every day and remind yourself when you’re tired or frustrated with the class that you can do it and it’s going to be worth it in the end.
“Life is going to present you with challenges. It’s all about whether you’re ready to fight through them and to get the successes that you want in life.”
Dr. Ryan Ruckel, Dean, Dr. William Lewis Honors Institute and advisor to the Beta Tau Gamma Chapter at Forrest County Campus, serves as PTK Mississippi-Louisiana Region Coordinator. He spoke about the value of being a member of PTK.
“About a quarter of a million students are inducted every year, so you are joining an enormous organization,” said Ruckel. “I want to encourage you to think of this time as sewing. You are planting within yourself; you’re planting in your life and you’re sewing and planting and giving into the lives of the people around you.”
Ruckel shared the recent awards received by the PRCC chapters at the Mississippi-Louisiana Gala the previous weekend. Iota Mu was named Most Distinguished Chapter for the region, a highly competitive designation.
After the ceremony, inductees were able to meet with representatives from Belhaven University, Mississippi College, Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi, and The University of Southern Mississippi for the Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses.
PRCC students inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Iota Mu Chapter for spring 2023 semester are:
Carmin Acker, Pearlington
Susana Argueta, Picayune
Stephen Armstrong, Lumberton
Ethan Aultman, Sumrall
Elijah Barberi, Ocean Springs
Landon Berryhill, Mt. Olive
Madison Burge, Picayune
Samuel Burge, McNeill
Nicholas Busbin, Hattiesburg
Stacy Christopher, Diamondhead
Trista Carawan, Kiln
Jeremy DeJean, Picayune
Solis Dewease, Hattiesburg
Ladd Gex, Kiln
Lane Gex, Kiln
Allison Gobuzzi, Picayune
Lauren Gobuzzi, Picayune
Lawrence Greer, Hattiesburg
Harley Harrell, Carriere
Emma Grace Hart, Picayune
Sophie Heartin, Foxworth
Aden James, Brandon
Amanda Kelly, Poplarville
Kaylyn Kelly, Picayune
Dominick LaMartina, Picayune
Brooke Larsen, Picayune
Devyn Lee, Carriere
Michael Mims, Carriere
Mikayla Newell, Waynesboro
Makenzie Paul, Purvis
Timothy Popwell, Richton
Makenzie Putnam, Picayune
Erica Rabalais, Bay St. Louis
Dariel Recasner, Columbia
Victoria Seymour, Slidell, LA
Isabel Shivers, Columbia
Allee Smith, Poplarville
Caleb Smith, Hattiesburg
Jala Stogner, Foxworth
Caroline Taylor, Irvington, AL
Kyleigh Tolar, Hattiesburg
Brooke Walker, Slidell, LA
Madison Warren, Slidell, LA
Noah Webb, Pearl
Christian Welch, Carriere
Wendy Welch, Carriere
Kelby Wingo, Purvis
Sydney Wood, Picayune
For the latest news on Pearl River Community College, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on Twitter (@PRCC_Wildcats), Instagram (PRCCWILDCATS), Facebook (@PRCCMKTG), and TikTok (@prcc_wildcats).
Article and photography by Laura O’Neill.
