PJC’s PTK honor society inducts new members

Published or Revised April 12, 2011

Eligible students from all three campuses of Paris Junior College were inducted into the Beta Zeta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the national two-year college academic honor society, in ceremonies held Sunday at DeShong Chapel. Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education with more than 1.7 million members and 11,000 chapters throughout the 50 states, territories, Canada and Germany. To be eligible for membership, a student must have completed one regular semester at Paris Junior College, accumulated 12 semester hours, have a grade point average of 3.5, and be within the upper 10 percent of the regularly enrolled student body. PJC's Beta Zeta Chapter was begun in 1932 and has remained active since that time. Dr. Cynthia Steward, PTK advisor, welcomed students, their families and friends to the ceremony. PTK advisor Marsha Dennis introduced Derald Bulls, PJC director of institutional development and alumni affairs, who gave the keynote address. "There have been many interesting and influential people who have passed through Paris Junior College," Bulls told the students and guests. "Many of them have expressed how much they have been helped by our outstanding faculty and staff to succeed." He told of many successful PJC alumni and described what his office does in alumni outreach. Beta Zeta Chapter President Audra Blythe and Vice President Johnny Thompson explained the symbols of Phi Theta Kappa. The induction concluded with the PTK pledge and lighting of candles. Students inducted in PTK and their hometowns include: [b]Avinger:[/b] Cassidi Alford [b]Arthur City:[/b] Rita Davis and Bryan Parham [b]Blossom:[/b] Cody Upchurch, Juana Zermeno [b]Brookston:[/b] Billie Duvall [b]Caddo Mills:[/b] Debra Allen, Rebecca Gumpert, Gladys Jimenez [b]Celeste:[/b] Courtney Reeser [b]Clarksville:[/b] Shane Hausler, Jessica Taylor [b]Commerce:[/b] Shonda Hines, Christi Michell, Mallorie Taylor [b]Cooper:[/b] Barbara Starnes [b]DeKalb:[/b] Lisa Robertson [b]Emory:[/b] Ericka Godwin, Cameron Terry [b]Greenville:[/b] Jacob Allen, Olivia Ash, Robin Ashmore, Briana Brooks, Lauren Calderilla, Edward Carlile, Rhonda Davis, Rahat Khan, Heather Lipsey, Mandy Lormand, Billy Miller, Matthew Ponto, Emelda Speights [b]Hugo, Okla.:[/b] Jeff Hinkle, John Kidwell, Tabitha Searles [b]Idabel, Okla.:[/b] Larry Wesley Jr. [b]Ivanhoe:[/b] Britney Brakebill [b]Ladonia:[/b] John Hackler [b]Lone Oak:[/b] Hope Strang [b]Mount Vernon:[/b] Kenneth Smith [b]Paris:[/b] Charles Allee, Angela Archbold, Jarred Archer, Gayle Barrios, Dakota Caraway, Louis Carrell, Dustin Coursey, Martin DeRemus, Heather Groux, Keiunta Jones, Rachel Keenum, Kent Kirby, Robyn Lott, William Metzger, Anthony Murillo, Aaron O'Hearn, Anne Scamardo, Kenna Scamardo, Malik Stevenson, Linda Towers, Shelby Womack [b]Pattonville:[/b] Gwendolyn Bernard, Laney Jackson, Zachary Wickes [b]Powderly:[/b] Britney Stevens [b]Quinlan:[/b] Tiffinie Abrego, Jennipher Roe, Crystal Worley [b]Quitman:[/b] Jennifer Bayne [b]Royse City:[/b] Terra Tatum [b]Sherman:[/b] John Welborn [b]Sulphur Springs:[/b] Nickole Brown, Isaac Carr, Juan Delgado, Aminta Fuentes, Angela Fuentes, Krista Geraw, Misty Hester, William Johnson, Mireya Santacruz [b]Sumner:[/b] Matthew Vrba [b]Three Rivers:[/b] Wanda Huston [b]Winnsboro:[/b] Sara Ross [b]Yantis:[/b] Kimberly Wehmeir