PTK inducts new members on Wednesday

Published or Revised December 11, 2009

Paris Junior College held induction ceremonies for students into Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of the two-year colleges, Wednesday, Dec. 4, in DeShong Chapel on the PJC campus. PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin welcomed the students, their families and friends, and extended congratulations on their achievements. Vice President of Academic Studies Dwight Chaney; Marsha Dennis, PJC English instructor; and Allen Williams, Social Science Division chair, presided over the ceremony. They, along with Ruth Ann Alsobrook, PJC government instructor, serve the Paris campus PTK as advisors. Dennis shared with those in attendance the chapter's active role and support for the Relay For Life cancer walk that is held annually. The national PTK society has been challenged to raise $10 million in support of cancer research. During the previous year the local chapter raised $2,225 to help in this drive. Dennis encouraged the students to become active in the local chapter meetings and special events. 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. Phi Theta Kappa celebrates its 91st anniversary this year. The Beta Zeta Chapter at PJC was begun in 1932 and has remained active since that time. 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 scholastic 10 percent of the regularly enrolled student body. Students inducted and their hometowns include: Logan Anglin, Donna Bauder, Mallory Beshirs, Jessica Chappelle, Kathy Glover, Nicole Hall, Coydean Harmon, Anna Hayes, Christi Jorski, David Kick, Michaylah Malone, Bradd Nutt, Nalini Patel, Lindsay Pearson, Trey Russell, Jordan Sims, Glenda Tucker, Ashley Walker and Chace Wilson, all of Paris; Kiley Harmening of Bagwell; Kristy Hancock of Blossom; Vernon Smith of Campbell; Kelly Meredith and Jordan Penny of Clarksville; Patrick Calabria of Dallas; Lindsey Terrell of Detroit; John Dudley of Greenville; Katherine Elizondo of Honey Grove; Karissa Anderson of Italy; Norma Ramirez of Mount Vernon; Christian Elliott of Pattonville; Courtney Ballard and Heather McEntyre of Powderly; Chesney Dunn of Reno; Nathan Newman of Roxton; Misty Jackson and James Womack of Sumner; and George Richards of Soper, Okla.