By. Lawren Miller

Chinook Writer

Phi Theta Kappa is a resource for many, offering students the opportunity to advance their education through scholarships, hands-on experience, and leadership development.

Fiona Kerkes, Art major and officer said, “Phi Theta Kappa is just one more student organization that gives students that ability to go out and, to be honest, relax and enjoy being here in college.”

The student can choose how involved they want to be in PTK, whether that’s just going to the meetings, activities, or even going as far as finding a way to have hands-on experience in the topic or field the student desires. 

“PTK was founded with the idea that these students have earned their place in order to be recognized for their scholarship so we never have any requirements for what they have to do. We just give them opportunities,” said Jared Bowden, a physics instructor and PTK’s chapter advisor. 

Kerkes reflected on her experience at a different college.

She said, “I was the member who did nothing and as soon as I got into it here, I was like, ‘man, I really wish I would have done this earlier’ because it’s done a lot for me in the professional development setting and just leadership.”

Students qualify simply by being a full time student at CC or are getting a one year certificate. Something that might hold back some students when they see the invite in the mail are the fees to join. 

Bowden said fees are around ninety to ninety-five dollars but a majority of the fee goes to PTK headquarters.

Bowden stressed that the fees will not hold a student back from joining. 

Kerkes said, “For students in financial need, they can always talk to the advisers, Jared Bowden and Erich Frankland.”

The steps to join are pretty straightforward. 

After the student receives the invite in the mail, Kerkes suggests reaching out to Bowden or Frankland. She said the PTK advisors will then get all of the information together and provide next steps.

“Go to ptk.org and check out the website and look at all of the things that you have available to you and just kind of get a foothold for what PTK is,” Kerkes said.

PTK holds optional weekly meetings. The meetings give the students the opportunity to choose how involved they want to be within the organization.

One example of involvement is a story about a past student named Ahnya Ivie Moody who received over $5000 in scholarships through PTK. 

Bowen said, “An officer last year, Ahnya Ivie Moody, who was one of our Zeta Alpha officers and then was a regional officer in the fall semester, won two PTK scholarships. One was Wyoming’s 2026 New Century Transfer Scholar and the other was a scholarship for the All-USA Academic Team membership from FTHEA Kappa.”

Another way to get involved in the chapter is by becoming an officer. Officer elections are held every year during the spring semester. 

If one becomes an officer, they are a little more involved.

Kerkes said, “Honestly, I like to think of PTK like it’s a class. As an officer position, I would say you have your one-hour in-person meeting time and then you have your couple hours outside to do your coursework, which would be projects, events, and all that good stuff.”

For their time and dedication, each of the four officers receive a scholarships.

Bowen said, “Our officer positions are scholarshiped. They are under scholarship each semester so part of what they’re doing for their scholarship is they’re promoting PTK, they’re holding events, they’re talking to the chapter members, all those things.”

Another ‘perk’ of PTK is it helps unify all types of students past their major, hobbies, and passions. It’s a place for everyone.

“I’d probably say that there isn’t really a mold for the honor society,” Kerkes said. “I’m an art student. I like to do art and education, and you’ll have students who are philosophy majors or chemistry majors. And we all managed to be here, and we all managed to get along just fine.”

The support that people feel in PTK transcends differences.

Kerkes added, “Every single day that I go to a meeting somebody says something and I’m like, ‘oh my gosh, I never knew that.’”

PTK also provides a way for students at CC to support each other in their school work.

“If somebody needs help with their chemistry homework, they can come to you and be like,’Can you help?” said Kerkes on helping other members of PTK.

PTK is meant for every student that wishes to add to their resume and experience, so one of CC’s PTK’s goals is to break the ‘know it all’ stereotype.

“Part of the thing that we’re always concerned with being an honor society is people hear honor society and they’re like, ‘Oh, it’s a bunch of hoity-toity know it all’s,’” said Kerkes. “But I think we are very much down to earth, and we want to show people that.”

Not only does PTK connect people while they’re in college, but also when they move on to get jobs and go on to trades.

Kerkes shared an example. 

She said, “My sister for example went on to a trade profession. She’s a draftsman. And people in her drafting office, like some of the welders, were like, ‘oh yeah, I was also in PTK.’ So it built a lot of connections.”

Another PTK goal is to help members unwind with fun activities that they can enjoy without feeling stressed and just get away from the pressure that school work can bring.

“A couple years ago, one of our Honors in Action projects had to do with play, and we found a lot of high-achieving students or honor students in something like Phi Theta Kappa didn’t really understand how to play, how to enjoy their life,” Bowden said.

PTK can bring many opportunities and perks to a student’s life inside and outside of school. So when that invite comes, consider the impact of PTK.