Alpha Iota Chi named among PTK’s top two chapters

The Alpha Iota Chi chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society continues to raise the standard for excellence with each new year. The chapter earned several top awards at the PTK Catalyst 2020 event held online as a virtual streaming event April 16th-17th.

Alpha Iota Chi was named the 1st finalist in the top Most Distinguished Chapter category for PTK chapters worldwide. That places the chapter second only to Most Distinguished Chapter international winner, Beta Lambda Delta of Jefferson State Community College, in Shelby/Hoover/Birmingham, Ala. The top finalists are ranked based on the highest overall score in combined Honors in Action Project and College Project Award rankings. The winning chapter must also earn 2020 REACH chapter designation and be a 2020 Five-Star chapter.

For their Honors in Action project entitled Networks of Life: Transforming Culture through Trauma-Informed Practices, the Chapter researched the connections between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adult involvement with the criminal justice system. After finding a close connection, they researched solutions, which led them to trauma informed practices. They discovered Tennessee’s trauma-informed schools initiative and partnered with state and local officials to develop a trauma-informed near peer mentoring program at Kingsport’s Cora Cox Academy alternative School.

For their College Project, the chapter established Students HOPE, the first registered collegiate recovery program at a community college in Tennessee, which began offering support to students in recovery or who have loved ones suffering from substance abuse disorder.

“I am honored to have been able to work with these fine students who will most certainly make the world a better place moving forward,” said Dr. Jane Honeycutt, vice president for Teaching Excellence and Academic Services at Northeast State. “These projects have been the most powerful and impactful projects I have ever seen our students tackle.”

Alpha Iota Chi earned the Distinguished Chapter Award for 2020. The chapter also earned the prestigious Continued Excellence Award for being named as a Distinguished Chapter for three consecutive years. To be considered for a Distinguished Chapter award, chapters must submit Hallmark Award applications for both the Honors in Action and College Projects. The award is determined by the average of those two scores. Phi Theta Kappa recognizes the top 40 chapters and the top ten.

In addition to the finalist selection, the chapter racked up several team awards for students and faculty advisors. Those awards include:

• Distinguished Advisor Team: Dr. Teressa Dobbs, Erin Ferris, Dr. Jane Honeycutt
• Top 30 Distinguished Chapter Officer Team
  • Summer Hunley: President
  • Taylor Wexler: Vice President of Leadership
  • Madison Collins: Vice President of Fellowship
  • Brittany Rowell: Communications Officer
  • Kaytlin Stout: Secretary/Treasurer and Tennessee Regional Vice President-East
  • Zachary Staton: Honors in Action Chair
  • Tuan Nguyen: College Project Chair
• Top 30 Distinguished College Project: Students HOPE Collegiate Recovery Program
• 2020 Honors in Action Theme Award: Top 3 for the Theme Networks of Life
• Top 30 Distinguished Honors in Action Project: Cora Cox HOME Trauma Informed Mentoring Program
• Top 3 Distinguished Honors in Action Theme Project for Theme 1: Networks of Life.

Northeast State President Dr. Bethany Bullock was also recognized among 28 new college presidents to earn the Paragon Award during the PTK Catalyst event. More than 500 college presidents were eligible to receive this award. The Paragon Award is presented to new college presidents serving three years or less for their outstanding efforts given toward promoting Phi Theta Kappa and its mission.

For the College Project, Alpha Iota Chi officers collaborated with faculty and the College’s Office of Counseling Services to create Students Hold. On. Pain. Ends. A Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP). The program consists of two support groups: a recovery group and a family support group. The project includes a student-led organization to support their peers. The CRP launched as a recovery and family support group in February.

“These students have learned that research-driven action can lead to meaningful change,” said Honeycutt.

Alpha Iota Chi has long distinguished itself among the region’s top PTK chapters. The chapter’s PTK Catalyst award wins follow an impressive showing at the regional PTK convention in February. At that competition, the chapter won 1st Place awards in the categories of Distinguished Honors in Action Theme; Distinguished Honors in Action Project; Distinguished College Project; Distinguished Chapter; and Distinguished Chapter Advisor Team.

Headquartered in Jackson, Miss., the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society is the largest honor society in higher education with 1,250 chapters worldwide. More than 3 million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918, with about 134,000 students inducted annually.