PTK launches completion challenge at PJC

Published or Revised May 02, 2014

Members of Paris Junior College's Phi Theta Kappa, the two-year college honor society, returned from a recent regional meeting fired up to implement a new PTK Completion Challenge. The campaign kicked off bright and early at breakfast recently with PTK members handing out pledge cards to fellow students and asking them to sign the pledges and a banner. By signing, students promise to complete their certificate or degree at PJC. The event was repeated at different times and locations across campus. Later, PTK members at the PJC centers in Greenville and Sulphur Springs will also hold Completion Challenge events. "We learned at the regional PTK conference that schools doing these campaigns have a 10 to 15 percent increase in completion rates," said PJC history instructor and PTK sponsor Ty Welborn. "PTK's nationwide goal is a 50 percent increase in college completion by 2020." The pledge cards are split and half remains with the student to stress the benefits of completing college. Those reasons include earning more - as much as $500,000 more in a lifetime than a high school graduate, better job prospects with a 30 percent lower unemployment rate than for high school graduates, easier transfer to four-year universities, likelihood the graduate's children will be more likely to graduate from college, improved health, and other benefits. After kicking off the completion campaign, PTK members plan to help out regularly at PJC registration to inform students of resources and tutoring available to help them succeed in college. As part of the campaign, PJC faculty and staff also signed pledges stating support for student success and the completion agenda. Good-paying jobs exist, but they need workers with the right skills. Studies show that over the next eight years, the majority of jobs in high-growth industries will require some training beyond high school. That is the kind of education PJC excels in delivering - everything from nursing to plumbing to biomedical sciences to electromechanical industry training. Cutline - PTK Completion Signing: Paris Junior College President Dr. Pam Anglin was the first to sign the Phi Theta Kappa Completion Challenge banner. PTK, the two-year college honor society, is encouraging students to sign pledge cards and the banner as a promise to complete their certificate or degree at PJC. Studies show this simple act boosts student completion rates. Shown, from left, are PTK Vice President Destiny Mullens, Dr. Anglin, PJC history instructor and club sponsor Ty Welborn, PTK historian/secretary Paula Vaughan, and Treasurer Stuart Edris.