Phi Theta Kappa

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:About Template:Infobox fraternity Phi Theta Kappa (Template:Lang or PTK) is an honor society for students of associate degree-granting colleges. The society was established in 1918 at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. It has more than 4.3 million members in nearly 1,300 chapters in eleven nations. Its headquarters are in Jackson, Mississippi.

History

Kappa Phi Omicron honor society was established in 1910 at Stephens College, a two-year college for women in Columbia, Missouri.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">Shepardson, Francis Wayland, ed. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 12th edition. Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company, 1930. p. 325. via Hathi Trust.</ref> After similar honor societies formed in Missouri, the college presidents and students of eight Missouri women's colleges met at Stephens College in the spring of 1918 to create a single honor society—Phi Theta Kappa.<ref name=":1" />

Phi Theta Kappa's mission is to recognize the academic achievement of community college students and to provide opportunities for them to grow as scholars and leaders. Phi Theta Kappa was named after Phi Beta Kappa and modeled after many aspects of the senior college honor society.<ref name=":1" />

Phi Theta Kappa's charter chapters, established in 1918, were Central College, Christian College, Cottey College, Hardin College, Howard Payne College, Lindenwood College, Stephens College, and William Woods College. Each chapter drew out of a hat to determine the order of their Greek letter chapter names.<ref name=":1" /> The name Alpha was originally selected by Hardin College. However, the Harden became a baccalaureate-granting institution, the Stephens College was renamed Alpha.<ref name=":1" />

The society continued to expand in Missouri.<ref name=":1" /> In 1926, the Kappa chapter was chartered at St. Joseph Junior College, the society's first co-ed chapter.<ref name=":1" /> The Mu chapter at Northeast Junior College in Oklahoma was its first chapter outside of Missouri.<ref name=":1" /> Kappa Phi Omicron was incorporated in the State of Missouri on April 29, 1920.<ref name=":2" />

On November 19, 1929, Phi Theta Kappa petitioned the American Association of Junior Colleges (now the American Association of Community Colleges) to be recognized as an official national honor society for junior colleges, alongside Phi Rho Pi and others.<ref name=":1" /> While not historically accurate, Phi Theta Kappa now celebrates its "Founder's Day" on November 19 each year.

In 1930, the society had sixteen active chapters and five inactive chapters.<ref name=":2" /> In 1930, alumni member Margaret James Mosal was elected as the first National President of Phi Theta Kappa, the society's only position not held by students.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":1" /> Mosal oversaw the operations of Phi Theta Kappa from a makeshift office in the back of her husband's hardware store, where she notably stored all of the organization's records in a shoebox. In 1953, she moved the operations of Phi Theta Kappa to her home, underscoring the meager beginnings in the first fifty years of the society<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The society's second national president, Rod Risley, first joined Phi Theta Kappa as a student, becoming national president in 1974, and subsequently joined as an employee in 1977. His career culminated in over three decades as executive director and CEO, during which he was recognized in the American Association of Community Colleges Hall of Fame in 2008.

Today, the society's headquarters are in Jackson, Mississippi. It has initiated more than 4.3 million members.

Symbols

Phi Theta Kappa acknowledges that it copied its name after Phi Beta Kappa,<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> and it was modeled after many aspects of the senior college honor society. The society adopted blue and gold, the golden key insignia, and modeled the name directly after Phi Beta Kappa. While similar in name, color scheme, and symbols, it is important to note that no formal relationship between the two societies has ever existed.

Members are referred to as "Phi Theta Kappans." The first membership pin was designed in 1921: a blue triangle containing three Greek letters surrounded by pearls. The distinctive gold key membership pin was adopted in 1930 and features a black enamel band upon which the three Greek letters appear. Behind the band is a wreath composed of oak leaves on one side, denoting stability and strength of character, and laurel on the other side, signifying achievement and success. Above the band is a representation of the head of Athena, Goddess of Wisdom; in the base appear the mystic Greek letters meaning light, the light of learning, and knowledge. The colors of the society are blue for scholarship and gold for purity. Its hallmarks or pillars are ''Scholarship, Leadership, Service, Fellowship''.

Activities

Phi Theta Kappa offers transfer scholarships for its members and scholarships to help members complete associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees and to help workforce-bound member pay for certification costs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> The society publishes the literary journal Nota Bene, Civic Scholar: Phi Theta Kappa Journal of Undergraduate Research, and Change Makers: Phi Theta Kappa Journal of Student Leadership.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> PTK also offers an online program to help students develop job skills.

Membership

Membership in Phi Theta Kappa is by invitation only.<ref name="ptk-constitution" /><ref name="ptk-dues">Template:Cite web</ref> Students must complete twelve hours of coursework toward an associate degree, six hours toward a one-year certificate, or twelve hours toward a bachelor's degree and have a minimum 3.5 grade point average (GPA) according to the society bylaws.<ref name="ptk-constitution">Template:Cite web</ref> Members are required to pay an initial membership fee.

Chapters

Phi Theta Kappa has nearly 1,300 chapters in eleven nations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable members

Following are some of the notable members of Phi Theta Kappa.

Member	Chapter	Notability	References
Oula A. Alrifai	University of Maryland	Syrian writer	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Hamza Arsbi	Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Programs	social entrepreneur	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Carol M. Browner	University of Florida	lawyer, environmentalist, and businesswoman	<ref name="Reynolds Induction program 2020-11-07">Template:Cite web</ref>
Anne Carlsen	University of Minnesota	special educator	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Thomas Matthew Crooks	Community College of Allegheny County	attempted assassin of Donald Trump	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Linda Dominguez	Nassau Community College	Nigerian publisher, public relations officer, and tourism promoter	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Christopher G. Donovan	Capitol Community College	politician	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sylvia Earle	St. Petersburg College	oceanographer, explorer, and diver	<ref name="Reynolds Induction program 2020-11-07" /><ref name="prestigious">Template:Cite web</ref>
Evan Edinger	Salem Community College	YouTuber	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Alexander Gamelin	Michigan State University	ice dancer	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Alberto Gutman	University of Miami	politician	<ref name="Reynolds Induction program 2020-11-07" />
Fred Haise	Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College	NASA astronaut	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Rich Karlgaard	Stanford University	journalist and author	<ref name="Reynolds Induction program 2020-11-07" />
Jeane Kirkpatrick	Stephens College	diplomat and political scientist	<ref name="prestigious" />
Jim Lehrer	Victoria College	journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and playwright	<ref name="prestigious" />
Carolyne Mas	Cochise College	singer-songwriter and performer	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Doug Mastriano	Mercer County Community College	politician	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Wes Moore	Valley Forge Military Academy and College	politician, businessman, author, and veteran	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Francine Irving Neff	University of New Mexico	35th treasurer of the United States	<ref name="Reynolds Induction program 2020-11-07" />
Mirta Ojito	Florida Atlantic University	author and journalist	<ref name="Reynolds Induction program 2020-11-07" />
Modupe Ozolua	Southwestern College	Lebanese-Nigerian-American philanthropist and entrepreneur	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Ross Perot	Texarkana College	businessman, politician, and philanthropist	<ref name="prestigious" />
William L. Roper	University of Alabama	physician and former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)	<ref name="Reynolds Induction program 2020-11-07" />
Walter Rundell Jr.	Lee College	author, academic, and historian	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Venetta Seals	Tyler Junior College	politician and businesswoman	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gerald Steichen	Oklahoma City University	music conductor, pianist, and stage actor	<ref name="Reynolds Induction program 2020-11-07" />
Dan Stoenescu	College of Alameda	Romanian diplomat, political scientist, and journalist	<ref name="COA Today">Template:Cite news</ref>
Bill Sinkin	San Antonio College	community activist and founder/chairman of Solar San Antonio	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sela Ward	Meridian Community College	actress	<ref name="prestigious" />
Steven Whitehurst	South Suburban College	author, poet, and educator	<ref name="Reynolds Induction program 2020-11-07" />
Trisha Yearwood	Young Harris College	singer and author	<ref name="Reynolds Induction program 2020-11-07" /><ref name="prestigious" />

Controversies and member misconduct

In 2015, national PTK president Rod Risley took a paid leave of absence following claims of sexual harassment, intimidation, and unprofessional behavior from two former student international officers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These allegations prompted the Phi Theta Kappa board of directors to initiate an investigation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Risley announced his retirement, leading to the termination of the inquiry and his receipt of a multi-million dollar retirement package.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In February 2024, Robin Lowe, a former advisor for the PTK chapter at Itawamba Community College, was charged with embezzlement of public funds meant to benefit the PTK chapter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Lowe was the chapter advisor for Phi Theta Kappa for fifteen years, from 2008 to May 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In April 2024, Phi Theta Kappa entered into two lawsuits over false advertising, attempted monopoly, and trade dress.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> Honor Society sued PTK, claiming it misrepresents its membership criteria and potentially deceives students into joining under false pretenses, by falsely asserting that it is limited to the top ten percent of students.<ref name=":0" /> PTK filed a lawsuit against the Honor Society, alleging trademark infringement and the use of similar visual elements and marketing materials, namely blue and gold colors, gold stoles, and the use of wreaths.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2025, PTK sought an injunction against Toni Marek, a former employee who wrote a book critical of the organization.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The district court of Victoria County granted a temporary restraining order preventing publication of the book on March 26, 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Phi Theta Kappa Website