Established in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society of two-year colleges that serves to recognize and encourage academic achievement of two-year college students. It provides opportunities for individual growth and development through honors, leadership and service programming.
“I’m grateful to have the opportunity to share this with my family,” TSC graduate Perla Meléndez said. “Even though they (family) don’t speak English, they understand how important this is because it opens a lot of doors. This is a great thing for students that try to get good grades and work hard to pursue their education.”
Meléndez graduated from TSC in fall 2015 and transferred to the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley in spring 2016. She is currently majoring in English with a Teacher Certification.
“Having an honor society at TSC allows students to aim for something a lot higher than just attending college,” PTK Co-Adviser George Flores said. “It will prepare them to become future leaders. We don’t want students to go on and become complacent. We want them to strive for something a lot bigger than what their mother’s and father’s dreamed for them.”
Prior to the induction of the new members, guest speaker and attorney Frank Pérez motivated the inductees to get to know each other. Pérez, a Phi Theta Kappa member, told the students how the contacts he made through the honor society helped him during his college and professional careers.
Inducted into TSC’s Alpha Mu Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa were: Rosa Almazán, Christina Ãlvarez, VÃctor Ãlvarez, Pablo Benavidez, Shandra Bruson, Josefina Cammack, Nora León Carranco, Roxanne GarcÃa, Ivette Garza, Desiree González, Joyce González, Martha González, Yosselin González, Noé Guerrero, Thelvy Gutiérrez, Deborah Hernández, Gabriel Hernández, Judith Herrera, Traci Hoekema, Hiroshi Hull, Paquita Mandaca Kimbro, Perla Meléndez, Brian Miller, Kristen RamÃrez and Dalia Zamora.
About Texas Southmost College
Originally established in 1926, Texas Southmost College currently offers the first two years toward a bachelor’s degree, along with career and technical education leading to certificates and associate degrees, college preparatory studies to prepare students for college-level work, workforce training, and continuing education. Recently selected as a Bright Spot by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, TSC offers 53 programs of study leading to an associate degree or certificate.