Students, alumni, and advisors from Mid Michigan College’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Chapter recently attended the Michigan Region and National Catalyst Conventions.
At these annual conventions, Phi Theta Kappa recognizes the outstanding achievements of its members, advisors, college presidents and administrators, alumni, and chapters.
Mid’s chapter was recognized for achieving the highest level of development for a chapter, receiving a 5-star rating. A 5-star rating recognizes chapter excellence and progress in the attainment of goals set by the chapter.
“Our students earned top honors out of more than thirty chapters at the state level based on their scores for their College Project and Honors in Action research project,” noted Tammy Alvaro, Director of Student Advancement and PTK Advisor at Mid.
The PTK College Project is designed to help students develop and/or strengthen a supportive working relationship with college leaders giving students the opportunity to offer a hand with whatever the college needs to support its mission.
“This year the chapter chose to focus on building a sense of belonging and community on campus,” noted Alvaro. “For this project, students created a campaign called #LakersBelong and gathered stories to help students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members know that they are part of the Mid family.”
The PTK Honors in Action (HIA) project combines academic research, problem solving, and action-oriented service to address real-world challenges in our communities. Mid students chose to learn about how pow wows and Native American teachings evoke memories that challenge, inspire, and heal, how teachings help Native Americans enhance and/or cope with everyday life, and how anyone could embrace those cultural teachings in their own lives.
Below is a summary of the awards received by the chapter and member students at the recent conventions.
National Catalyst Convention Awards
- 5 Star Chapter Development Award
- Reach Rewards Chapter
Michigan Region Convention Awards
- Michigan Region Most Distinguished Chapter – Top Ten, 7th Runner Up
- Michigan Region Most Distinguished Chapter Officer Award – 5th Place Mary Hathaway
- Michigan Region Most Distinguished Chapter Officer Award – 7h Place Logan Romatz
- Honors in Action Award – Top Ten, 3rd Runner Up
- College Project – Top Ten, 6th Runner Up
“Students set goals as a team, selected project topics, developed an action plan, completed the research, and then reviewed and reflected on what they learned and accomplished as well as, the impact the project had on themselves and others,” shared Alvaro. “They worked with college administrators and served on the President’s College Council giving a voice to the student perspective. Through these experiences, students have developed soft skills and leadership expertise that they will take with them as they continue their education.”
The mission of PTK is to recognize the academic achievement of two-year college students and to provide opportunities for them to grow as scholars and leaders.
Mid launched a Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter in 1989—one of nearly 1,300 PTK chapters in 11 nations. Over the past 34 years, Mid’s chapter has earned and maintained the highest level of achievement—a 5 Star Chapter. Through chapter and individual projects, members have served the College and surrounding communities.
For more information about Mid’s Phi Theta Kappa Chapter, visit midmich.edu/ptk or contact Tammy Alvaro at talvaro@midmich.edu or (989) 386-6634.
