October 5, 2023
The Iota Mu Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Pearl River Community College welcomed 38 students into the honor society. The induction ceremony was held at the Brownstone Center for the Arts with family members, friends, faculty, staff, and administration filling the audience.
Phi Theta Kappa is known as the foremost honor society for two-year colleges with over 1,300 chapters worldwide. This evening was the Iota Mu Chapter’s 65th 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. Lance Nail, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at The University of Southern Mississippi. He shared how important it is to consider what the next steps will be with an eye on the relationships you will build.
“Attending Community College opened up opportunities for me,” said Langston. “I’ve had the opportunity to positively impact students’ lives in the last 30 years, and that’s so important to me.”
PRCC Vice President for Poplarville Campus and Student Services Jeff Long encouraged students to stretch themselves for greatness. Becoming a member of PTK can help on that path to greatness with the scholarship opportunities as transfer students.
“You have shown the ability to have pride in what you’re doing,” said Long. “The ability to put your greatness forward at a young age; that’s only going to bode well for your future.”
After the ceremony, inductees were able to meet with representatives from The University of Southern Mississippi. Along with learning about the many programs offered at the school, students were told about the generous scholarships for transfer students. PTK members who transfer to USM after completing 48-119 transfer cumulative hours with a minimum 3.25 GPA qualify for a $3000 per semester scholarship for up to four semesters.
PRCC students inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Iota Mu Chapter for the fall 2023 semester are:
Gabriela Adams, Kokomo
Deamy Alvarado, Hattiesburg
Abigail Bilbo, Picayune
Audrey Bolin, Poplarville
Noah Bowman, Varnado, LA
Megan Butler, Picayune
Roderick Brent, Columbia
Julionna Clark, Hattiesburg
Cooper Corr, Kiln
Abigail Cothern, Franklinton, LA
Chloe Ezell, Ocean Springs
Shelby Fontenot, Franklinton, LA
Breana Paige Green, Greene County
Monica Hill, Picayune
Olivia Hilliard, Bay St. Louis
Juliana Jennings, Mendenhall
Payton Johnson, Columbia
Lane Ladner, Poplarville
Aidan Levy, Bay St. Louis
Vennessa Littleton, Sumrall
Tucker Lucas, Columbia
Jorge Eduardo Luna, Kenner, LA
Hannah Melendez, Covington, LA
Ethan Merwin, Picayune
Capri Miller, Carriere
Maddison Moore, Picayune
James Murray, Carriere
Elizabeth Ola, Picayune
Breanna Parham, Diamondhead
Aidan Rasmussen, Bay St. Louis
Payton Rayborn, Waveland
Bishop Smith, Hattiesburg
Karly Smith, Poplarville
Mari Stogner, Franklinton, LA
Wyatt Thomas, Franklinton, LA
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.
