The Madison College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) brought home two top awards and two high level scholarships at this year’s International convention in Orlando, Florida. The President of our college, Dr. Jack Daniels III, also brought home the prestigious Shirley B. Gordon award of Distinction for his work with, and in support of, the chapter.

Although awards are nothing new to the Madison College PTK chapter, this year achieved a new level of excellence. PTK has maintained a chapter at Madison College since the 1995. The Madison College chapter, Beta Beta Psi, has upheld a high bar of engagement for its officer team and members since its founding. The PTK Honor Society at large, was founded in 1918 in Colombia, MO, and now boasts 1350 chapters worldwide. It is the largest and most prestigious Honor Society for two-year colleges in the world.

This might all seem heady for the average college student, but the work PTK is doing at our college is exactly for the average student. The awards PTK won were for their work here. PTK encourages all its chapters to complete two annual projects. The projects create opportunities for members to effect change at their college or in their community. The projects are named The College Project and Honors in Action (HIA).

This year’s College Project focused on student food security and included the development of a resource guide, which was launched as part of a food resource fair. The chapter also collected donations in support of local pantries that provide food security options for our students. The Madison PTK chapter placed in the top 30 chapters internationally in the College Project competition.

The Beta Beta Psi chapter was also recognized as a top 50 chapter in the world overall. This award is based on placement of both annual projects. This year’s HIA project focus was campus safety.

A timely issue, the project team coordinated and hosted the first-ever active shooter training for students. This event brought together Madison College public safety officers as well as police from three local precincts and crisis counseling professionals.

Dr. Daniels also achieved well deserved credit this year when he won the Shirley B. Gordon award of Distinction. The award honors college presidents who demonstrate outstanding effort in promoting PTK’s leadership and engagement principles. Dr. Daniels has been a tireless supporter of the Beta Beta Psi chapter since becoming President in 2013.

In his inaugural year, he worked with the PTK leadership team to create an enhanced membership program called “The President’s Challenge.” New members of the honor society are introduced to the “Challenge” as a part of PTK’s semi-annual induction ceremony.

“The President’s Challenge” provides a framework to engage in PTK projects here at our college and receive recognition at a local, regional, or international level. The Gordon award recognizes the engagement and incentives Dr. Daniels has provided to the Beta Beta Psi chapter, and its work with students at our college.

Even though the students at our college are benefiting from the work PTK does, it also carries real world rewards for participants. In the long tradition of PTK recipients, Andrew Allison PTK’s Vice President of Fellowship, was awarded the All-USA Scholarship and New Century Workforce Pathway Scholarship totaling $6,500. These awards will help Allison achieve his personal goals.

In summary, the work PTK and Dr. Daniels have done to achieve these awards is not only a feather in their respective caps, but it benefits the college student body at large.