Sixty-five students from Northern Marianas College pledged to distinguish themselves through academic excellence by contributing to the community and the Commonwealth through various community service and leadership activities as new members and officers of the Beta Lambda Psi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa or PTK International Honor Society.
The new members of the PTK Honor Society were inducted on Wednesday, September 21, 2021 at the Pacific Islands Club.
In order to qualify for membership in Phi Theta Kappa, students must distinguish themselves by maintaining a 3.5 cumulative grade point average, in addition to serving and contributing to the community through various community service and leadership activities.
“The advisors would like to recognize and applaud our newly-inducted members and officers for their hard work and commitment to leadership, scholarship, service, and fellowship. And to their family members and friends, we thank you for being a strong support system to our Kappans,” PTK Advisor Kaelani Demapan said.
“In fact, it has been over two years since we revitalized our Phi Theta Kappa local chapter after Super Typhoon Yutu and since then, our chapter has seen a tremendous increase in membership with about 284 lifetime members,” Demapan said. “We look forward to recognizing more and more scholars in the years to come.”
The PTK honor society also inducted its new officers: Tahani I. Mafnas (president), Chloette Cabrera Villazon (vice-president), Emirina Luisa Fernandez Chong (treasurer), Kierah Kisha Ilesiuglam Lee (recording secretary), Laurina Sebaklim (public relations secretary), and Laealdrie Jesslynne Deleon Guerrero Sablan (membership secretary).
In her closing remarks at the induction ceremony, incoming PTK President Tahani Mafnas told her fellow Kappans that being inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor society is a milestone.
“We are proud of all of you,” Mafnas said. “You all are more than just a part of an Honor Society, but a part of a family. A family who supports your achievements, goals, and advocates for you every step of the way. We are the Phi Theta Kappa Family and we are proud to see our family continuously grow.”
NMC President Galvin Deleon Guerrero said that the College is very proud of the new inductees.
“It is great to see PTK’s membership increase every year,” NMC President Galvin Deleon Guerrero said. “Congratulations to all the new inductees. I look forward to hearing more about each of the inductees’ successes and achievements in the years to come.”
Established by Missouri two-year college presidents in 1918, the PTK Honor Society serves to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students and provide opportunities for individual growth and development through honors, leadership, and service programming.
Currently, PTK is the largest honor society in American higher education with more than 2.5 million members and 1,275 chapters located in fifty United States and territories as well as Canada and Germany.