PTK Takes Home Hallmark Awards

By Terri Attridge

The Raritan Valley chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa national honor society won two major awards at the regional competition held Feb. 21 in Harrisburg, PA. The team took home two Hallmark awards in Fellowship and Service. They also received the title of a five-star chapter. Due to their enrollment increase of 10% they also took home the scholarship award of $100. This award money will help to fund and continue PTK’s service to the community.

Phi Theta Kappa at RVCC is made up of 120 students and 30 active members. This years’ officers include Danielle Miller, Randi Kemmler, Adrian Ashbourn, Christine Serra, Joshua Price, Christine Slack, Gary Ketselman, Rebecca Britland, Lauren Slack. All year these students participate in service organizations; each year chapters from the Middle States Region (Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania) compete to win the Hallmark Awards.

There are four Hallmark awards and two winners per category. These awards are for Leadership, Fellowship, Scholarship and Service. Winning two of the four Hallmark awards is an extreme accomplishment.

To compete for these Hallmark awards each chapter must submit one essay for each of the three categories. Five of the officers for Raritan Valley’s PTK team wrote the essays that were entered.

In addition to the essays, each chapter must list the events that their chapter participated in and organized. For Raritan Valley’s chapter this list included 26 events. Students could also submit art with a short description about it and how it pertained to the Honors Study Topic of Dimensions and Directions in Health. PTK took First Prize (Christine Serra) and Honorable Mention (Gary Ketselman) in Art.

PTK President Danielle Miller has been a part of the honor society for two years and explains what it means to win. “New Jersey is always strong. We haven’t won in four years. Colleges that normally win have 18 advisors and a large active membership. We have [a few] advisors and not as active a membership.”

After winning the regional awards, the Raritan Valleys Chapter of PTK will go on to the national awards and compete against the world. Schools as far as Japan will compete in the National Awards.

To read a copy of the essays written, stop by the Phi Theta Kappa office in the Student Activities Center,. The art work and awards will be in the arch way of the school.

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