In the school's first appearance at the Phi Theta Kappa regional awards, Gateway Community and Technical College brought home top national honors.
Gateway’s Beta Pi Tau chapter received the Distinguished Chapter award, Honors in Action award, and College Project award along with various chapter development awards. Bobbie Stubbeman of Walton, Gateway chapter president, won the Distinguished Chapter Officer award for the Kentucky region.
The chapter also earned one of only four nationally awarded Honors Case Study Challenges. This was the first time a Kentucky region chapter earned one of these awards. The Honors Case Study Challenge was awarded for the chapter's case study on The Effects of Information and Perceptions on US-Mexican Foreign Policy.
"This project really gave our students a way to go beyond what they were learning in class," says Jessica Glover, the Gateway graduate who started the chapter in 2008.
Phi Theta Kappa was formed in 1918 as a way to recognize and encourage students at two-year colleges. Since her graduation, Glover has been employed by Gateway as a student affairs assistant and is the Phi Theta Kappa advisor. Since founded, more than 600 students have accepted membership and the chapter now has between 25 and 30 active officers and members.
Beyond education, Beta Pi Tau also works to serve as ambassadors to fellow students, which won them the College Project Award. Members also participate in fundraisers for various causes. The most recent fundraiser was the Kenton County Relay For Life, which raised more than $1,000 for the American Cancer Society and brought more than 50 students and faculty members out to walk from 6 pm until 6am.
"One of the biggest benefits we see is that when people are more engaged in projects outside of class is the increased graduation rate," says Margaret Thomson, director of marketing and public relations for Gateway. "Being a part of Phi Theta Kappa gives is important to give students scholarly and relevant ways to grow."
Do Good:
Give: to Gateway and help with everything from scholarships to building funds.
Become: a member of your Phi Theta Kappa Chapter.
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