Sue Small-Kreider – In Motion Staff Writer
Daytona State College’s Mu Rho chapter (pronounced “Moo Row”) of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is aiming to be a five-star chapter in 2020.
“Phi Theta Kappa is an international honors society that any two-year college can join,” said Zoey Gurvich, Executive President of the Mu Rho chapter and a non-degree DSC student.
As part of Mu Rho’s five-star requirements, they took on the issue of addressing how non-Floridian visitors are affecting the area beaches, by surveying guests at the Ponce Inlet Marine Science Center, learning about sea turtles, microplastics and nutrient pollution and doing several beach clean-up days during the Fall 2019 semester. One PTK officer was extremely knowledgeable and helpful with connections was Megan Martin, Vice President of Service for the chapter and Be Floridian Now and Resilience Outreach Coordinator for Volusia County.
“Our advisors are angels for all that they do,” said Breanna Nax, Executive Vice President of the Mu Rho chapter and a photography major at DSC as she explained that the chapter had nominated all three advisors, Lori Lemoine, Jennifer Bell and Jennifer Thomas for awards.
They also nominated DSC President Dr. Tom LoBasso for the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction, which honors college presidents who have shown strong support of student success by recognizing academic achievement, leadership and service among high-achieving students. Dr. LoBasso will be one of 13 college presidents recognized at the PTK Society’s annual convention, in April in Dallas, Texas.
Last semester Mu Rho took on a college project to provide peer-to-peer mentoring for first year students by providing survival gift bags at the beginning of the semester and during finals week. They developed this project after meeting with Dr. Lobasso.
Most of the officers of PTK also serve on DSC’s Student Government and have been active with lobbying the Florida legislature on topics that effect college students.
To become a five-star chapter, Mu Rho has had to be organized with elected officers, updated bylaws and constitution that are registered with the national PTK office. They must hold two membership recruitment campaigns a year to ensure the chapter has on-going members and leadership. Writing and submitting articles to the national magazine is another requirement as well as submitting nominations for their advisors and college leadership. The chapter needs to have representatives attend and participate in regional conferences and activities as well as attend the national conference. And lastly, the chapter has identified and completed a college project (peer-to-peer mentoring) and the Marine life Honors and Action project.
Scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship are the four pillars that PTK, as a student-led club, tries to uphold by requiring members to hold a 3.5 or higher grade-point-average, be active in-service projects each year, and attend weekly Wednesday afternoon meetings. Members are invited to join and there is a one-time, lifetime membership fee of $75. On March 31 the Induction Ceremony will be held at the News-Journal Center for all new PTK inductees.