Laker Nation News

For the first time in the history of Lake Land College, Phi Theta Kappa has been recognized as a Five Star Chapter. The Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society is a national organization that ranks campus chapters on a five star system.

With more than 50 hours of scholarly research, writing and community service, the Lake Land College Phi Theta Kappa chapter took a lead role in assisting with the opening of the Laker Food Pantry in the fall of 2018. This act of community service has opened up the opportunity for Phi Theta Kappa to be nominated for three awards at the national level, including Honors in Action Project Award, College Project Award and the Paragon Award for outstanding advisor.
Reaching five star status is not an easy task. Even maintaining a two star status takes preparation such as establishing chapter leadership and chapter engagement in Honors in Action.

This year’s Honors in Action project was on the topic of food and security in the community. “We considered food insecurity in the community a worthwhile topic to tackle, as nutrition is needed for both physical and mental growth,” said Phi Theta Kappa Honors in Action Co-Chair Tanner Clark of Strasburg.

This year’s goal for Phi Theta Kappa was to contribute to the college in a way that would make a difference in the lives of its students. By doing so, Phi Theta Kappa participated in several community service acts such as Special Olympics, Girls on the Run and the PB and J drive where the club collected 52 jars of peanut butter, 22 jars of jelly and several pounds of miscellaneous non-perishables for the Laker Food Pantry.

“We were able to accomplish this goal because of the students’ contributions. The club understood it needed to be a group effort that contributed to our campus and local community,” said Phi Theta Kappa Advisor and Academic Counselor Krista Burrell.

Phi Theta Kappa began its journey at Lake Land College in May of 1983. “For more than 30 years, the Lake Land College Phi Theta Kappa chapter has hovered around one and two stars. With each new academic year, we have a new set of students, which means that reaching five stars is not permanent. We must start over each year, making this accomplishment all the more impressive,” said Burrell.

Reaching five star status includes recognizing academic excellence by creating awareness of Phi Theta Kappa among the college community, establishing chapter leadership and engagement, developing an Honors in Action project and a college project such as maintaining a chapter Facebook page, increasing the Phi Theta Kappa presence on campus and increasing engagement in the region, and submitting at least three entries in the Hallmark Awards Program including the Honors in Action Project Award, College Project Award and at least one other individual award. To top it off, the chapter must attend the annual convention. The Lake Land College Phi Theta Kappa chapter will attend the National PTK Catalyst Convention in Orlando, Florida in early April.

Phi Theta Kappa sends invitations each year to students that have completed 12 credit hours at the collegiate level with a 3.25 GPA or exceptional high school students passing with a 3.5 GPA.

“Getting involved was a priority of mine when I started at Lake Land College. Being that Phi Theta Kappa is nationally recognized, I knew this would be a community that pushes me to do better,” said Phi Theta Kappa Public Relations Officer Bailey Fleshner of Windsor.

Additional members of the Honors in Action team are Phi Theta Kappa President Sterling Howard of Windsor, Phi Theta Kappa Vice President and Honors in Action Co-Chair Krista Taylor of Mattoon, Honors in Action Committee Member Trevor Elder of Sullivan, Phi Theta Kappa Treasurer Rhyta Hooks of St. Elmo and Phi Theta Kappa Secretary Kyra Jackson of Findlay.