“Student, you did it!
You’ve earned an invitation to become a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.”
If you have received an email that starts like this, you may have noticed you could
join for a “one-time, lifetime membership fee” and promptly thrown it in your spam
folder. With how many scams there are these days, this action is not only reasonable but
even highly encouraged when you are unsure of what the email is. I, in fact, applaud you
for taking such precaution. However, this honor society is not a way to make a scammer
quick money but an actual academic, nationally recognized honor society. The Phi Theta
Kappa honor society is an honor society that is specifically for two-year transfer schools
to provide students with support and resources to succeed in joining the workforce and in
transferring to four-year schools.
Corning Community College’s local Phi Theta Kappa group, the Beta Beta Zeta
chapter, was started in 2007. Our chapter has been quite active in the community and on
campus through the years. Some of our activity in the community includes roadside
cleanups, book drives, and Operation Green. A few of the activities that we have done on
campus are the Growing Connection and clothing drives. Our chapter is currently
planning even more exciting, great ways to give back to the community and campus!
The Phi Theta Kappa honor society can assist members in earning scholarships
and successfully transferring to a desired four-year college. Phi Theta Kappa provides
access to many additional scholarships that are only available to members. Being a
member of this honor society shows that you are a committed student and academically
succeeding. Eleven of our Beta Beta Zeta chapter members received scholarships from
Corning Community College’s general scholarship application. Additionally, because this
honor society shows that you are a committed student, many four-year colleges attempt to
attract Phi Theta Kappa members to attend their school. Some colleges offer scholarships
exclusively available to Phi Theta Kappa members.
Likewise, Phi Theta Kappa also helps those who are looking to enter the work
force after earning their associates degree. Many employers know that if you have earned
an associate degree or earned a certificate as a Phi Theta Kappa member, you are a hard
worker and could thus increase your desirability to prospective employers. Phi Theta
Kappa also provides resources to help you further succeed in college, transfer to a four-
year college more successfully, and smoothly enter the work force.
If these community involvement and benefits interest you, and you are unsure of
whether you received an invitation (because it was a while ago) or if you think it is an
opportunity you would be interested in, this is what you need to know. To be eligible for
the Phi Theta Honor Society you must be enrolled in a college or university that has a Phi
Theta Kappa chapter. If are currently attending Corning Community College, you can
check off that requirement. You must have completed a minimum of twelve hours of
coursework toward an associate or bachelor’s degree, or a minimum of six hours of
coursework toward a 1-year certificate. If you are currently in your second year at
Corning Community College or took a semester worth of classes, you will have met this
requirement. And, finally, you must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5.
If you believe that you are eligible and would like to join, please reach out to the
delightful and talented Skylar Kellar, our local Beta Beta Zeta chapter president at
ekellar@corning-cc.edu or contact Professor Elmarine Jimenez, our wonderful faculty
advisor at ejimene2@corning-cc.edu. You can also reach out to our chapter’s email
By M.C.
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