SMCC’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society has been recognized as being in the top tier of all PTK chapters at community colleges internationally.
Alpha Chi Nu was named to the Top 100 list of local PTK chapters at the PTK 2021 Hallmark Awards Ceremony, held virtually April 10 during PTK’s annual Catalyst conference. Phi Theta Kappa, the official honor society for two-year colleges, has a presence on about 1,300 campuses in 11 nations.
Alpha Chi Nu was the only PTK chapter in Maine, and one of only five in New England, to be named to the Top 100 list.
SMCC has 550 students who are members of Phi Theta Kappa, whose mission is to recognize the academic achievement of students and provide opportunities for its members to grow as scholars and leaders. To be eligible for membership, students must have completed at least 12 credits and have a 3.5 GPA.
At the Hallmark Awards, Alpha Chi Nu also received a Distinguished College Project Award for its work with the Root Foundation, a nonprofit in Rwanda that helps vulnerable children go to school and provide them with the materials they need to pursue their studies. Jason Saucier, SMCC’s Director of Residence Life and Student Involvement, was also named among the Top 30 new PTK chapter advisors.
Saucier credited Alpha Chi Nu President Andrea Atkinson for her leadership during the challenges of the pandemic.
“Andrea held regular meetings, recruited new officers and worked to develop a plan to get our chapter to five-star status,” Saucier said. “It was not an easy road as the pandemic created several barriers to some of the original projects, but the group persevered adapting the approach to the resources at hand. I am excited to see what PTK will be able to do as we head into a second year with Andrea’s leadership on the team.”