Omicron Psi, Grayson County College’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), brought home a slew of awards from the international honor society’s Texas Regional Convention. In addition, the chapter received its first-ever international awards during the organization’s International Convention.
For the second year in a row at the Texas Regional Convention, Omicron Psi was recognized as a Five-Star Level Chapter for its activities and services projects. The chapter first achieved the level in 2010, after reaching that distinction in only one year.
“Chapter members complete an exhaustive system of about 50 benchmarks to achieve the rating,” said “Mary Linder, GCC government professor and PTK adviser. “I couldn’t be prouder of our chapter members who go above and beyond in their service to Omicron Psi and the students of GCC.”
Linder, a Denison resident, received back-to-back honors as well when she was presented the Horizon Award, which is given to outstanding advisers based on their chapter’s status and activities. For a second consecutive year, a GCC chapter president was inducted into the Texas Hall of Honors. Sophomore Corine Terrell of Telephone was lauded for her outstanding service and leadership as an officer.
The chapter earned several new honors for 2011. It received a coveted Texas Top Chapter Award, which is given to the top 15 of the 81 chapters in the region, and a Pinnacle Award for chapter growth. Omicron Psi was one of only 38 chapters to complete projects necessary for an Honors Studies Issues Award. The chapter placed second for the Icarus Award, which is given for an Honors in Action project.
Dr. Jean Sorensen of Sherman was recognized with the Friend of Texas Award for her continued support of Phi
Theta Kappa. An English professor, Sorensen also is coordinator of GCC’s Honors College.
Also during the convention, Terrell and sophomore Cammie Casarez of Denison presented a workshop titled “Five-Star Competitive Edge.” Casarez, who was inducted into the 2010 Texas Hall of Honors for her leadership in bringing the chapter to five-star level in only one year, also presented the workshop at PTK’s International Convention.
2011 marked the first time the chapter received awards during the International Convention. Linder won a Horizon Award for Outstanding Advisers. Jarrod Renfro of Van Alstyne, the chapter’s vice president of special projects, received a Distinguished Member Award. Only 25 awards are presented in each of those categories, and winners are selected from advisers and members of PTK’s 1,275 international chapters.
Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for students of two-year colleges. To become PTK members, students must have completed at least 12 hours of coursework and have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. For more information about the GCC chapter, contact Linder at linderm@grayson.edu.