Boot camp for Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society held at Colorado Mountain College

 

PTK Ahn
Gene Ahn, regional vice president of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, spoke at the opening of the PTK Chapter Officer Boot Camp held recently at CMC in Leadville. Ahn, a student at Aurora Community College, gathered with fellow student PTK officers and their mentors to hone their leadership skills. Photo Brent Neumeier

Colorado Mountain College in Leadville recently served as the base camp for 32 Colorado leaders of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. Nine PTK chapters from across the state were represented at the first Chapter Officer Boot Camp to be held at a CMC campus.

“This is a selective group of students,” said Leigh Bessey, PTK regional director. Over the course of the weekend, they learned how the honor society works, envisioned new projects and determined how they might contribute to the success of their local chapters. They were also invited to join CLIMB (Colorado Leadership Institute: Motivation and Beyond) to help foster their growth as leaders throughout the coming academic year.

Phi Theta Kappa is the only international honor society specifically for community college students. Since 1918, PTK has encouraged and recognized the academic achievement of students pursuing completion of associate degrees.

In addition to gaining valuable support while pursuing their associate degrees, members of PTK often become candidates for lucrative scholarships. As more four-year schools look to recruit the best and brightest transfer students, PTK helps high-achieving students stand out.

PTK Boot Camp 3 on ropes training
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society student officers honed their leadership skills on the low ropes course at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville recently. Pictured, left to right, are: Katherine Rico, regional president, Front Range Community College; Samona Doeman, Alpha Gamma Alpha Chapter, Pikes Peak Community College; and John Whatley, Alpha Mu Mu Chapter, Community College of Denver. Photo Steven Medina

Recent CMC graduate and PTK scholar Christine Mott credited her active membership in the honor society and her high GPA for the full academic scholarship she recently earned to attend Western State University. “It’s never too late to start,” said the 63-year-old grandmother. “You can’t go anywhere without a college degree these days, and if I can do it, anyone can.”