Phi Theta Kappa is America's most prestigious scholarly organization for two-year colleges and the largest student organization at Central Piedmont. It is an honor to be invited to join, and we hope that you will become an active member in order to take advantage of everything we have to offer. Once you are invited, Phi Theta Kappa is easy to join, has lifetime membership, and a one-time only membership fee; once you become a member, you keep your membership as long as your GPA meets the requirements. You may be as active in the organization as you like or have time for.

The Central Piedmont Phi Lambda chapter is dedicated to local community service and service to our college community through education and hands-on activities. From scholarships to service and leadership experience, Phi Theta Kappa is a great way to learn the skills that will make you a valuable employee and an asset to your community.

Phi Theta Kappa is open to any student at the Central Piedmont that meets the following requirements:

• has received an invitation letter from the college president
• has completed 12 hours of curricular (college-level) work at Central Piedmont
• is registered for at least one curriculum course in the current semester
• has a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher (for example, if you meet the academic requirement of a 3.5 cumulative GPA in the spring semester, you will be invited to join in the following fall semester)

You must be eligible and invited before you may join. If you have received your Phi Theta Kappa invitation letter or email:

• Complete the special spring 2020 Phi Theta Kappa application.
• After you submit the application, Student Life will contact you at the phone number and time you provide on the application to accept your $100 dues (a one-time fee). Due to limited campus access, only debit/credit card payments are accepted at this time. All transactions are secure.
• Your application is complete after you submit your payment. The new deadline for applications for the spring 2020 semester is Sunday, April 26.
  • The membership fee covers the regional and international cost for membership, golden key pin, and membership certificate.
  • No further dues or payments will be charged, unless a late fee is added (after the deadline).
  • Phi Theta Kappa graduation regalia is not currently available for purchase from our chapter during the state-wide stay at home order.

We assess eligibility for Phi Theta Kappa every fall and spring semester and issue invitations to students who meet at least the minimum criteria. The invitation to join is valid only in the semester it is offered, as your eligibility may change with your enrollment status or GPA. Late applications may be charged a late fee and/or held until the next induction cycle. If you have questions about your specific situation, please contact a Phi Theta Kappa advisor.

If you are a Phi Theta Kappa member who was inducted at a different school, you are welcome to participate in events with our chapter. However, your records remain with your original school unless you transfer your membership. Officially transferring your membership to our chapter may be important if you would like Phi Theta Kappa noted on your Central Piedmont transcript, your Central Piedmont degree/diploma, or if you want to become an officer on the executive committee at Central Piedmont. The cost to transfer your Phi Theta Kappa membership is $30. If you were already inducted into Phi Theta Kappa at another community college and wish to request to transfer your membership, complete the membership transfer form (PDF) in order to have Phi Theta Kappa listed on your Central Piedmont transcript or have Phi Theta Kappa noted on your Central Piedmont diploma.

The Phi Lambda chapter also offers a fee waiver to a select number of students as semester. Fee waivers are awarded in a competitive selection process, so application for the fee waiver is not a guarantee that it will be awarded. Students wishing to apply for the fee waiver must:

• Complete the membership fee waiver application (PDF).
• Write an essay and perform at least 10 hours of community service.

Fee waiver applications must be received by the Central Campus office by Wednesday, April 1 for the spring 2020 induction period. If turning in fee waiver applications at a different campus, please allow extra time for your essay to be sent to Central Campus. Students chosen for the full fee waiver will be inducted into Phi Theta Kappa without having to pay the $100 fee. Partial fee waivers may also be offered. If you are not chosen to receive the fee waiver, you may still pay the $100 to join before the deadline.

The traditional PTK Induction Ceremony was canceled for April 2020. The officers of our Phi Lambda chapter put together a virtual induction ceremony video for new members. New members inducted in spring 2020 will also have the option to participate in the fall 2020 ceremony in-person, currently scheduled for the end of November 2020.

Phi Theta Kappa International headquarters mails membership packets to the address you provide on your application form. Their headquarters may be experiencing some delays during this time. You will receive an email from ptk.org with directions to create a login to their website once they have you on record as a member. You will receive your certificate and your Phi Theta Kappa golden key pin approximately eight weeks after the spring 2020 application deadline. If you have not received your packet after this time, please contact member.services@ptk.org.

Watch this video to learn why you should join Phi Theta Kappa.

Benefits of Phi Theta Kappa include:

• the Golden Key of Phi Theta Kappa Membership pin
• membership certificate
• recognition of Phi Theta Kappa on your Central Piedmont diploma upon graduation
• privilege of wearing the monogrammed golden honors stole and tassel at graduation
• "Member of Phi Theta Kappa" included on Central Piedmont transcript
• access to "PTK Connect" for opportunities to apply for (mostly transfer) scholarships that are exclusively for Phi Theta Kappa members ($100 now may turn into much more in scholarships at a university)
• automatic enrollment in the Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Database, which is made available to four-year and senior-level institutions that actively recruit transfer students

The Phi Theta Kappa stole and the Phi Theta Kappa tassel are the only Phi Theta Kappa items that graduates are allowed to wear at graduation in addition to the Central Piedmont purchased cap, gown, and GPA cord. The Phi Theta Kappa cords are not allowed because Central Piedmont issues you a cord based on your GPA with your cap and gown order. Therefore, to avoid confusion, the Phi Theta Kappa cords are not permitted. If you wish to wear approved regalia at graduation, that is a separate purchase from the Phi Theta Kappa membership fee.

The Phi Lambda chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Central Piedmont is also interested in retaining students and helping them meet their academic goals. Our officers have been working with the Graduation Office to encourage students to follow through on their education and complete all the requirements for graduation. The Phi Theta Kappa Executive Committee created the "I Will Graduate!" campaign, and are encouraging students to sign the Graduate Pledge of Allegiance (the G.P.A., get it?) that they will persist with their studies at Central Piedmont Students that sign the Pledge get an "I Will Graduate!" sticker for their student ID. Watch a video of the Phi Theta Kappa graduation flash mob.

Phi Theta Kappa has scholarships for members while you're at Central Piedmont and if you're transferring. There are more than $90 million dollars in awards for Phi Theta Kappa students, the majority for when you transfer to a 4-year institution. A list of Phi Theta scholarships is available on the organization's website. Queens University of Charlotte, Wingate University, High Point University, and Appalachian State University are some of many local four-year institutions that offer scholarship exclusively for society members. For a complete listing of all available scholarships for Central Piedmont students, please visit the Financial Aid website.

Once you become a member and have your Phi Theta Kappa membership number (have been inducted), you will have access to the Phi Theta Kappa scholarship Search Engine called PTK Connect. You also have these opportunities:

• opportunity to apply for Guistwhite Scholarship totaling $60,000, to be used for baccalaureate studies
• opportunities to be nominated for the All-USA Academic Team. Nationally, sixty winners will receive national media recognition. Stipends totaling $50,000 will be awarded
• opportunities to receive National Dean's list scholarships totaling $7,500, awarded only to society members, and the opportunities to be considered for an additional $25,000 in scholarships

Join our Central Piedmont Phi Theta Kappa Facebook page for additional fellowship event, service projects, and meeting information. To view the complete listing of off-campus service opportunities, please visit the Service Learning website.

There are many opportunities to engage in service both on campus and in the community. The Service-Learning Center maintains an up-to-date listing of all the community agencies that work with Central Piedmont students. Students may focus on service with animals, women's issues, the elderly, the disabled, health and wellness, education, and more.

Annual Project: American Cancer Society

Phi Theta Kappa has long supported the mission of the American Cancer Society. Each semester, our Phi Lambda chapter engages in a fundraiser with all proceeds supporting this worthy cause. Thank you to everyone who donates through this fundraiser!

Annual Project: Classroom Central

Being academically successful is important to Phi Theta Kappa members, and we believe that great impact can be made in the K-12 system. Our Phi Lambda chapter supports the mission of Classroom Central, through various projects throughout the year.

Annual Project: Adopt-A-Street and Environmental Projects

Phi Theta Kappa teamed with Keep America Beautiful, Inc. for our 2007-08 International Service Project, and we have continued to work with environmental activities ever since, adopting Elizabeth Ave. through the Charlotte Adopt-a-Street program. We are responsible for the stretch from Presbyterian Hospital to McDowell Street. Volunteers are always needed on clean-up days to help pick up trash and other debris. Pick-up sticks, buckets and bags are provided.We advocate for taking care of our campus and our community through Adopt-a-Street, Big Sweep, and other environmental service projects.

Traditional meetings are not being held at this time. Phi Theta Kappa officers and advisors are meeting virtually to work through changes to our process.

Fellowship opportunities may become available, which will be communicated via email to current and new members.

Have questions or need to get in touch with someone from Phi Theta Kappa at Central Piedmont?

• Central Piedmont Phi Theta Kappa Facebook page
• location: Central Campus, Worrell Building, Room 1114
• phone: 704.330.6744

Officers

• President Briany Santos Villalobos, bsantos3@email.cpcc.edu
• Executive Vice President: Nicole Aguero, naguero0@email.cpcc.edu
• Vice President of Communications: Anna Graham, agraha35@email.cpcc.edu
• Vice President of Service: Jacob Boger
• Vice President of Scholarship: Lindsey Cohan
• Vice President of Records: Peitra Knight
• Vice President of Fellowship: Phillip Jordan

Advisors

• Jennifer Conway, Student Life, jennifer.conway@cpcc.edu
• Beau Bowers, faculty, beau.bowers@cpcc.edu

Executive officers hold office hours in between classes and work. If there is no one in the Phi Theta Kappa Office when you stop by, please find Student Life staff in Central Campus, Worrell Building, Room 1120 or Overcash Center, Room 241, or call 704.330.6584.

In support of our continued excellence, Phi Theta Kappa has established four ideals (we call them hallmarks): Scholarship, Leadership, Fellowship, and Service. The following is a condensed summary of the activities in which members of the Phi Lambda chapter of Phi Theta Kappa participate.

Scholarship

Members must remain enrolled in at least one curriculum-level class per semester, accumulate an overall 3.5 GPA to get in, then maintain an overall GPA 3.25 to stay in. They are also encouraged to participate in events hosted by our chapter. Millions of dollars in scholarships are available for members for transfer institutions.

Leadership

There are service events and on-campus opportunities to get involved through the Phi Lambda chapter. In addition, each year, new officers are elected from the general membership. Phi Theta Kappa members are in the top 1% of the school and are a part of the largest student organization at Central Piedmont. Phi Theta Kappa members are also encouraged to participate in the annual Student Leadership Conference and the Student Leadership Academy.

Fellowship

Meetings are conducted on campus every week to discuss and plan upcoming events and activities and the current honors topic. Opportunities to socialize with other members are scheduled throughout the year.

Service

There are numerous agencies and several on-campus activities where members can perform service through out the year. Ongoing chapter activities include Fall Fest/International Spring Fest, Student Resources Day, and other Student Life and Service-Learning sponsored events. Some projects may revolve around the year's International Service Project.

The purpose of Phi Theta Kappa shall be to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year college students. To achieve this purpose, Phi Theta Kappa shall provide opportunity for the development of leadership and service, for an intellectual climate for exchange of ideas and ideals, for lively fellowship for scholars, and for stimulation of interest in continuing academic excellence.” Phi Theta Kappa was founded in 1918 by two-year college presidents in Missouri. The founders were seeking to recognize scholastic achievement by their students, and to establish a common purpose and standard for honors organizations on their different campuses. The founders chose to model their new Society after the prestigious senior honor society, Phi Theta Kappa. The name “Phi Theta Kappa” was taken from the initial letters of the three Greek words meaning “wisdom,” “aspiration,” and “purity.” Eleven years later, Phi Theta Kappa was officially recognized by the American Association of Junior Colleges on November 19, the date now traditionally observed as the Society’s Founders Day.

Review the Phi Theta Kappa constitution (PDF).