SANFORD — Academic achievement and service were celebrated April 20 as Central Carolina Community College’s Beta Sigma Phi Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society held its virtual spring induction ceremony.

Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education. In 1929, the American Association of Community Colleges recognized PTK as the official honor society for two-year colleges. The CCCC chapter sets a higher standard for membership eligibility than the national organization: a 3.7 grade point average rather than the 3.5 GPA that national requires.

The CCCC Beta Sigma Phi Chapter has achieved the PTK Five-Star ranking — the highest ranking a chapter can receive for excellence — for six consecutive years.

Pattie Van Atter, PTK National Chapter Development and Outreach coordinator, was the speaker for the event.

“I hope right now wherever you are sitting and watching this that you feel a very huge sense of pride for yourself,” said Van Atter, adding that being inducted into the largest honor society in the country is definitely an honor. Van Atter noted that PTK provides opportunities for members to grow as scholars and leaders. She said, in concluding, “I want to congratulate all of you.”

Dr. Rodney Powell, CCCC Chapter adviser and executive director of the Center for Academic Excellence, was master of ceremonies for the program. He is a recipient of the PTK’s prestigious Horizon Award.

CCCC President Dr. Lisa M. Chapman offered her congratulations to the new PTK inductees, saying that this is not only a recognition of academic accomplishment but of overall excellence.

Current Phi Theta Kappa members Audrey Thomas and William Tucker participated in the program.

Phi Theta Kappa is composed of Greek words symbolizing wisdom, aspiration and purity. A white rose symbolizes purity, beauty of life, and intellectual associations, while the oak and laurel leaves on the PTK emblem represent stability, character, achievement and success.

CCCC had its own honor society, Alpha Theta Tau, from 1986 until the chartering of the Phi Theta Kappa chapter in 2010.

In its years of existence, the college’s Beta Sigma Phi Chapter has garnered a number of prestigious recognitions from PTK. These include the Five-Star ranking — the highest ranking a chapter can receive for excellence, and awards at regional PTK conferences. It has also reached out to the community with service projects, such as assisting food banks and shelters.

The 2021 local spring inductees are:

• Angier: Caleb Denning, Kelly Ennis, Arianna Mellardo, Cora Shelltrack-Miller and Bristol Wilson.
• Broadway: John Danh, Aaron Garcia, Sydney Hickman, Tyler Moller and John Patterson.
• Cameron: Keana Belfor, Shubricca Bell, Tina Blue, Natasha Galloza Rosado, Adrianna Graulau, Elyse Johnson, Kristie Lassitter, Dominique Madonna, Emily Pittman, Cristian Ramirez, Zainab Shinaba and Isabella Walters.
• Coats: Amanda Ivey and William Newton.
• Dunn: Alexis Cordero, Thomas Hovey, Danya Musleh, Claude Pope, Kensie Smith and Taylor Wilson.
• Erwin: Nicholas Clayton and Hailey Kessler.
• Fuquay-Varina: Christian Brandt, Asbel Chilel, Sunnie McDonald and Haley Millard.
• Lemon Springs: Amy Cochran.
• Lillington: Natalia Brocious, Micah Ellington, Reid Gregory, Cheyenne Happ, Suzanna Hobbs, Nicole Kida, Logan Martin, Billy Riggsbee, Steven Schlink, Barbara Taylor and Brianna Veres.
• Sanford: Benjamin Armstrong, Camryn Armstrong, Gabrielle Bass, Raymond Biehl, Anna Boone, Debriana Brazzanovich, Mackenzie Brisendine, Cody Cameron, Madeline Cantrell, Anna Crowder, Angela R. Dagondon, Kaycee Davis, Mauro Di Ilio, Eileen Dove, Elizabeth Eckert, Clara Galeano, Jazmine Gutierrez, James Holley, Callie Hughes, Jacob Kimble, Jessica King, Erik Lamothe, Jailene Lemus-Hurtado, Darlene Lizotte, Melisa Marquina, Jessica McGinty, Hannah McGuire, Erica McLean, Samuel Nickens, Kayla Olivares, Evan Pruette, Yanira Rivera, Melissa Rae Rodriguez, Samantha Sama, Nina Sikora, Mia Sosa-Dejesus, Alexis Spruiell, Ethan Stanley, Grier Staples, Grace Stewart, Audrey Thomas, Julie Thomas, Stewart Thomas, William Tucker, Jackie Vollbracht and Macie Watson.
• Spring Lake: Aliyah Calhoun, Vanessa Campos, Khalya Green, Taylor Meldrom, Jenna Skinner, Azan’Ah Teague and Michaela Wilson.