18 March ICC's Phi Theta Kappa chapters receive multiple regional awards March 18, 2025 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 Both the Beta Tau Sigma (Tupelo) and Upsilon Sigma (Fulton) chapters of Phi Theta Kappa at Itawamba Community College received multiple awards at the organization’s Mississippi/Louisiana Regional Conference, Mar. 6-7, at the University of Mississippi. Both chapters were awarded five-star status, for which chapters must fulfill the following stars or milestones within a calendar year: Reach, Network, Engage, Lead and Discover, according to Makaela Salmon, adviser for the Upsilon Sigma chapter. Beta Tau Sigma’s awards included Jenny Bowers, Tupelo Campus adviser, Horizon award; Honors in Action Theme 8 award; 5-Star Chapter award and Allyson Johnson of Nettleton, Golden Key. Bowers said that in the summer, advisers meet with officers and review the themes in the Honors Program Guide. “We make a list of topics that students are interested in and then we vote. Folklore, Fables, and Fairy Tales was selected. It centered around the traditional stories of the Chickasaw, who inhabited our area before us. We gave a presentation in November, and the Chickasaw Heritage Tree that we made is still on display in the Academic and Student Center on the Tupelo Campus.” Upsilon Sigma’s awards included Distinguished Chapter officer award, Wesley May of Pontotoc; Scarlett Garrison of Tremont, Golden Key; Honors in Action Theme 5 Award; Top 10 Honors in Action Project Award (top 10 scoring regardless of theme placement) and Most Distinguished Chapter Finalist, which is the one with the highest combined score of Honors in Action and College Project scores. Salmon said that the Honors Study Topic for Upsilon Sigma was The Power of Stories. “Within this topic, eight themes were provided from which students could select. Upsilon Sigma chose to study Theme 5: Representation through Stories. Our officer team decided to focus our project on the reintegration of incarcerated juveniles, specifically in Mississippi. After researching this topic, they created a resource guide of services, educational opportunities and organizations that may be of assistance to the incarcerated juveniles reintegrating into society. Their desire was for these individuals to receive this resource guide and utilize it for their benefit.” May is vice president of Scholarship for Upsilon Sigma as well as the regional reporter for the MS/LA regional officer team. Other college involvement includes STEM Club president, STEM tutor for ICC Instructional Support, pianist for CenterStage and team member for Community College Innovation. The winners of the regional awards will advance to national competition and will be announced at the annual Catalyst convention, April 3-5, in Kansas City, Mo. Sponsors in addition to Bowers and Salmon include Allyson Cummings of Blue Springs, Beta Tau Sigma; and Anna Catherine Daher of Fulton and Riley Morgan of Tupelo, Upsilon Sigma. Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for the two-year college. Its hallmarks are leadership, scholarship, fellowship and service, which are the criteria for selection as recipient of the Golden Key award. Members are afforded opportunities for personal and professional growth and to provide service to the community and society at-large. Related Articles ICC's Phi Theta Kappa chapters receive multiple awards at district conference Both the Beta Tau Sigma (Tupelo) and Upsilon Sigma (Fulton) chapters of Phi Theta Kappa at Itawamba Community College received multiple awards at the organization’s Mississippi/Louisiana Regional Conference, Feb. 29-Mar. 1, at William Carey University. Both chapters were awarded five-star status. Beta Tau Sigma’s awards included Jenny Bowers of Tupelo, Outstanding Adviser; Bowers and Dr. Delena Hukle of Mantachie, Horizon award advisers; Serra-Avery Erwin of Tupelo, Golden Key Award; Most Distinguished Chapter finalist; Top 10 and theme finalist for Honors in Action; and Top 10 College Project. The chapter’s Honors in Action project, which is research-based, was Theme 6, The Soul of Play. It centered around spoken word performances, Bowers said. Members of the chapter read to ICC’s preschool, sponsored a poetry night at a local coffee house as well as a “write it down, let it go” box in the lobby of the Academic and Student Center. “All of the parts of our project reflected the concept that we use words to play, and play can be therapeutic,” Bowers noted. The College Project, which is requested by ICC’s administration, focused ... ICC's Upsilon Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa receives multiple regional awards The Upsilon Sigma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Itawamba Community College received multiple awards at the organization’s Mississippi/Louisiana Regional Conference, Mar. 2-3, at Mississippi State University. They include, all for 2023, Horizon (advisers Robin Lowe of Amory, Jay Humphries of Vina, Ala. and Bradley Howard of Saltillo); Distinguished Chapter Officer (Lexi Tabbs of Red Bay, Ala.); Distinguished Adviser Team (Robin Lowe, Jay Humphries, Bradley Howard); Order of the Golden Key (Lexi Tabbs); Honors in Action second place; Theme 6 for Honors in Action, The Nostalgia of Play; Regional Reporter Emory Reinhard of Mantachie; (Distinguished Chapter Finalist (ranked sixth in Region) and Five Star Chapter. The chapter has had a regional officer every year since 2010. Upsilon Sigma selected The Nostalgia of Play: Theme 6 from among seven Honors in Action themes. The projects require substantive academic investigation of a theme related to the Society’s current Honors Study Topic. Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for the two-year college. Its hallmarks are leadership, scholarship, fellowship and service, which are the criteria for selection as recipient of the Golden Key ... ICC's PTK chapters win regional awards Both the Beta Tau Sigma and Upsilon Sigma chapters of Phi Theta Kappa at Itawamba Community College received awards at the organization’s Mississippi/Louisiana Regional Conference, Mar. 1-2, at Mississippi State University. Beta Tau Sigma’s recognition include Nathan Kwasinski of Tupelo, Golden Key recipient; advisors Jenny Bowers and Betsy White, both of Tupelo, Horizon award, and Five-Star Chapter. Bowers was also runner-up for Distinguished Chapter Advisor. Awards presented to Upsilon Sigma are Regional Officer position, reporter; Distinguished Scrapbook award; runner up for advisor team including Amber King of Tupelo, Jay Humphries of Vina, Ala., Heather McCormick of Fulton and Robin Lowe of Amory, all of whom received Horizon awards; Five-Star Chapter; and Makaela Dickerson of Smithville, runner-up for Distinguished Chapter Officer and Golden Key recipient. Humphries also was runner-up for the Paragon award. Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for the two-year college. Its hallmarks are leadership, scholarship, fellowship and service, which are the criteria for selection as recipient of the Golden Key award. Members are afforded opportunities for personal and professional ... ICC's Bowers receives 10-year service pin from Phi Theta Kappa Jenny Bowers of Tupelo, English instructor and Phi Theta Kappa adviser for the Beta Tau Sigma chapter at Itawamba Community College, has been honored by the society for 10-years of service. “We at Phi Theta Kappa owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to our chapter advisers whose dedicated service is responsible for the success of our local chapters,” said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, president and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. “Advisers are truly the lifeblood of our organization, and we are delighted to recognize them for their years of service. On your Tupelo Campus, we are proud to honor Jenny Bowers for 10 years of service as adviser of the Beta Tau Sigma Chapter.” Bowers joined the ICC faculty in 2002 as an adjunct instructor and became full-time in 2011. Also, she has served as Writing Center consultant and director. She earned both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mississippi State University. Her PTK awards and honors include the 2024 Distinguished Adviser and Horizon Award Adviser, PTK Mississippi/Louisiana Regional Advisory Board for 2023-25, Five Star Adviser, Bennie Warren ... ICC's Beta Tau Sigma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa receives Honors in Action grant Itawamba Community College’s Beta Tau Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa has received a $1,000 Honors in Action grant to enhance its 2024 Honors in Action project, according to a recent announcement by the honor society. Adviser Jenny Bowers said that the chapter is researching Native American stories, specifically the Chickasaw story of Itawamba, and a tentative title is ‘Native American Folklore.’ The multilevel endeavor includes a presentation at ICC on Nov. 6, which the chapter hopes to repeat at the Natchez Trace Visitor’s Center, and construction of a story tree for the events that they plan to donate to the Lee County Library at the project’s conclusion. Other components include a children’s book about Itawamba for ICC’s Early Learning Center students. The grant will cover materials for the tree, honoraria for speakers and additional supplies needed for the presentation or book. “We are excited to be among the select few Mississippi/Louisiana PTK chapters that received the grant,” Bowers said. “We so appreciate your willingness to go above and beyond with your Phi Theta Kappa engagement to apply ... ICC's Phi Theta Kappa chapters induct new members Several area students are new members of Phi Theta Kappa chapters at Itawamba Community College. New members of the Beta Tau Sigma chapter at the Tupelo Campus include Klarissa Sykes of Aberdeen; Jacob Ray of Amory; Dasom Ha of Belden; Vanessa Lopez of Ecru; Derek McMillen of Mantachie; Madison Baker, Teraney Lansdell, both of Mooreville; Summer Holley, Claire Oswalt, Dakota Payne, all of Nettleton; Jennifer Aguilar, John Enlow, Tristen Hargrove, Daniel Martin, all of Pontotoc; Julie Moore of Randolph; Elizabeth Gregory, Hunter McBride, Clayton Patterson, Bentley Stephens, all of Saltillo; Madison Collins of Shannon; Noor Almasri, Dakota Brents, Bethany Clark, Shuntavis Johnson, Jo Anne Mooneyhan, Shavonar Patterson and Morgan Robbins, all of Tupelo. Those who have joined the Upsilon Sigma chapter at the Fulton Campus are Kamya Howard, David Wright, both of Aberdeen; Mattie Knox, Morgan Mitchell, Bryce O’Fallon, all of Amory; Michael Mize, Abby Pennington, Shailon Roberson, Harleigh Roberts, all of Baldwyn; Mykia Cannon, Breia Foster, both of Belden; Rebecca Foster of Blue Springs; Mary Leslie Cranford of Covington, Tenn.; Heidi Clark ... Comments are closed.