Students, Advisors Recognized for Academic Excellence and Leadership at PTK Regional Meeting

Rowan College of South Jersey’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society students from Alpha Psi Pi (Gloucester Campus) and Rho Gamma (Cumberland Campus) chapters attended the 36^th Middle States Regional Convention in Baltimore, Maryland from March 10-12, 2023. To become a RCSJ PTK member, students must be enrolled and have completed at least 12 credits while earning a minimum GPA of 3.5. To remain a member, students must maintain a 3.25 GPA.

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) recognizes the academic achievement of college students and provides opportunities for its members to grow as scholars and leaders. Established in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa has a presence on almost 1,300 community college campuses in 11 nations. The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) recognized Phi Theta Kappa as the official honor society for two-year colleges in 1929. More than 3.8 million students have been inducted since 1918, with approximately 250,000 active members in the nation’s community colleges.

Regional meetings allow chapters to network with neighboring chapters and experience Phi Theta Kappa programs with minimal travel and costs. Chapters and students are also recognized for their academic excellence and leadership. This year, RCSJ’s students and advisors from both campuses were recognized for their accomplishments.

RCSJ’s Gloucester campus Alpha Psi Pi chapter awards include:

RCSJ’s Gloucester campus Alpha Psi Pi student/advisor awards include:

Megan Rinaldo, Alpha Psi Pi’s Executive Vice President, shares her PTK experience. “My family has been my biggest motivation for accepting this role. As a mom of two boys under 7, I wanted to show them that if you set goals and work hard to achieve those goals that anything is possible. Phi Theta Kappa has helped me gain confidence to grow as a person, student, and a leader while gaining more professional skills with writing and research as well,” says Rinaldo.

Alejandra Valencia, PTK Advisor, Gloucester Campus reflects, “PTK has seen me grow from the time I was a student at RCSJ. They were the first ones to give me the opportunity to become involved in campus and feel included. Thus, I am happy to know give that back to current and future students as an advisor. This award is for them, for inspiring me to achieve my highest potential. Helping them is my life’s purpose.”
RCSJ’s Cumberland campus Rho Gamma chapter awards include:

RCSJ’s Cumberland campus Rho Gamma advisor awards include:

Lemon, PTK Advisor, Cumberland Campus, shares, “It has been fulfilling to me to see PTK officers work together as an official team and make everyone around them inside and outside of the PTK organization feel a part of the RCSJ family.”

In addition to these awards, Kayla Ortiz, Executive Vice-President for the Cumberland Campus chapter, will now serve as the 2023 East District President for the Middle States Region for the next year. She will be traveling to Jackson, Mississippi in November 2023 for a three-day training session with other regional officers and the CEO of Phi Theta Kappa, Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner.

Ortiz shares, “PTK has helped me grow personally, professionally, and as a student leader. Throughout my time in PTK, I had the opportunity to hone my leadership, effective communication, and active listening skills. I have been able to strengthen my writing and research skills while working alongside a team of high-achieving and motivated students. I am so proud to be a part of the first team in RCSJ Cumberland’s history to reach Five Star status, the highest status a chapter can achieve! This recognition represents our chapter’s hard work and dedication throughout the year as engaged student leaders.”
For more information on RCSJ Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society visit https://www.rcsj.edu/PTK-site.