For Rowan College of South Jersey’s (RCSJ) Alpha
Psi Pi chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society, an unwavering commitment
to one another throughout a year of virtual education – and to their chapter’s
goals – has proven to be rewarding.
The Alpha Psi Pi chapter and their advisors,
Shawn Rutter and Jackie Thomasson, began the spring semester with a reason to
celebrate – their designation as a “5-Star Chapter” for the second consecutive
year. As the premiere international honor society recognizing students
at associate degree-granting colleges, PTK provides scholars the opportunity to
grow and encourages dialog with college leadership and active participation in
the college community. A 5-Star status
is the highest level of achievement a chapter can attain for their
participation on campus and in local, regional, national, and international
activities.
“This is my first full
year as a Phi Theta Kappa advisor,” said Thomasson. “The officers and members
of Alpha Psi Pi have surpassed my expectations and impressed me in so many ways.”
As part of their efforts to earn the 5-Star
designation, the chapter completed an “Honors in Action” project that involved
research, problem-solving and efforts to educate the community. They addressed
the question: “Are Individuals Raised to Criticize People Based on
Stereotypes?” After much research and discussion, one theme was clear – people are
not always aware of the stereotypes they hold. Students took it upon themselves
to create an eye-opening video to expose this issue, which has been shared across multiple RCSJ
platforms.
The Alpha Psi Pi chapter was also a recent
recipient of the “Recognizing Excellent in Acceptance and Completion with Honors
(REACH) Reward.” This program recognizes
the recruitment efforts of chapters that grow their membership over the academic
year. Currently, the Alpha Psi Pi chapter
has more than 240 active members.
“We were really excited to achieve this honor,”
remarked Rutter. “Enhancing our membership during this past year was challenging
to accomplish while the campus was offering a remote learning environment. The
Alpha Psi Pi chapter’s continued growth is a credit to the enthusiasm and
dedication of its officers and members.”
For information about Alpha Psi Pi and how to become a
member visit RCSJ.edu/PTK or view Phi Theta Kappa’s international website at PTK.org.
