Camden County College’s Alpha Nu Mu Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) was recently designated a Five-Star Chapter for the first time in nearly five years. This is the highest level of achievement a PTK chapter can attain, signifying exceptional engagement in campus and community activities, academic excellence, and leadership development. Five-star status honors outstanding achievement across five core areas identified by PTK: Reach, Engage, Network, Lead, and Discover. To earn this status, chapters must complete a time-intensive research project, known as the Honors in Action project, while fulfilling their chapter’s programming and service requirements.
The Honors in Action project is a research project led by PTK members with the goal of benefiting their community while enhancing students’ research, critical thinking, and leadership skills. Through this effort, students gain hands-on experience in teamwork and problem-solving while making a meaningful impact on campus. The highly motivated PTK board, which included Linda Blay-Owusu, Adriana Jasmin Santiago, Michelle Leon, Alejandra K. Rios, and Ari Avalos-Analco, chose the topic of ‘Fostering Connection,’ focusing on the impact of interconnectedness on student success as their project topic and the group embarked on the seven-month-long research process involved conducting student focus groups and presenting their findings to Dr. Lovell Pugh-Bassett, president of Camden County College, and the College’s Department of Institutional Research.
“PTK is a student-driven organization, and the chapter’s accomplishments are a direct reflection of the hard work and tenacity of its board and members,” said Dr. David Nugiel, Alpha Nu Mu Advisor. “I’m very proud of the board’s accomplishments, and I’m a better person for having the opportunity to interact with such motivated and insightful students.”
As a Five-Star Chapter, members of the Alpha Nu Mu Chapter at Camden County College will be recognized at the annual PTK convention and are eligible for additional awards and scholarships. But beyond the accolades, earning this distinction was about making an impact on their fellow students, and returning the 5-star distinction to the Alpha Nu Mu chapter.
“I’m proud to be part of this project, and I believe it’s a great way to make a difference in our community,” said Linda Blay-Owusu, Vice President of Leadership for the Alpha Nu Mu Chapter.
Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society that recognizes and encourages scholarships through activities promoting fellowship, leadership, and service. Eligible students must maintain a 3.5 GPA and have completed all remedial classes.
