Phi Theta Kappa to increase community involvement

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), Piedmont Virginia Community College’s honor society, kicks into gear with a new president as they look toward a more productive year. On Sept. 19, the society will hold its first meeting in room M248.

The PVCC chapter spent last year planning and developing rules. This year, “we plan to become really active,” said the chapter’s president, Anastasia Hvaleva, adding that last year, more time was spent “establishing the website and bylaws.” Hvaleva plans to take advantage of the groundwork already laid by going back to the chapter’s usual focus of “having a lot of activities and developing leadership in our students.” The president also plans to have members promote the group in Piedmont’s SDV orientation classes to increase student awareness of the long-running society.

This year, PTK will be more involved in community service.  Hvaleva aims to implement more “5k runs and volunteer jobs that won’t be exclusive to PVCC, but available to the community as a whole.” Food drives, toy drives, and community landscaping are also expected during the school year.

Acceptance into PTK has many benefits. Graduating members will wear the signature gold and blue colors with multiple identifiers, such as cording and stoles. Members’ diplomas will include the PTK seal, which, according to Hvaleva, “is recognized nationwide.”

PTK Faculty Advisor Kit Decker said students value their membership because of the “opportunity to serve, to organize, to direct and to be involved in a club for diverse, yet like-minded, serious and supportive students who are determined to get the most out of their education at Piedmont.”

Joining PTK can be difficult, however, as students must complete an application process that involves an essay, as well as submitting two references. Students must also have a 3.50 GPA if they have completed 12 to 30 credit hours and a 3.25 GPA if they have completed more than 30 credit hours.

Those interested in joining Phi Theta Kappa can contact Chapter President Anastasia Hvaleva or Chapter Advisors Kit Decker and Bruce Robinson at kdecker@pvcc.edu and brobinson@pvcc.edu, respectively. The application can be found on PVCC’s website, and meeting dates are available on the Piedmont PTK website at sites.google.com/site/pvccptk/.