A culture of engagement

Growing partnerships and giving opportunities to lead

PTK Scholar Dash

In September, runners and walkers across the country joined Phi Theta Kappa for its first virtual 5K run/walk, PTK Scholar Dash, to benefit PTK’s Golden Opportunity Scholarship, which waives the $60 international membership fee for in-need students. This event was one of our most successful fundraisers to date and led to a record-breaking 2,176 individual donors in 2020.

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GOS Scholarships

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Thank You Partners

A $350,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation ensured that PTK’s honors program is more accessible than ever, especially for those colleges that don’t have a standalone honors program. A hundred Mellon-sponsored mini-grants of $1,000 each were awarded to chapters to support their Honors in Action Projects.

Phi Theta Kappa received a $100,000 grant from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation to support its 2021 Transfer Honor Roll program, which recognizes the top 25% of transfer-friendly four-year colleges and universities.

International Honorary Member

Dr. Martha Kanter, executive director of the College Promise Campaign, was named Phi Theta Kappa’s 2020 International Honorary Member for her leadership of the national initiative to increase college access, affordability, quality, and completion in American higher education, beginning in community colleges. This is PTK’s highest honor for a non-member and is only awarded to those who have provided exceptional support to student success. Fewer than 40 International Honorary Members have been named.

Dr. Martha Kanter

College Promise Campaign, Washington, D.C.

Student Success Champions

MJ Dolan

Former Executive Director, Iowa Association of Community College trustees

MJ Dolan retired in 2020 as executive director of the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees (IACCT) following 13 years at the helm of the organization. In her work, she was a strong advocate for Iowa’s community colleges and the students they educate. We wish her all the best in her retirement.

Dr. Steve Robinson

President of Lansing Community College, Michigan

Dr. Steve Robinson became the seventh president of Lansing Community College in Michigan in July 2020. He is a passionate advocate for community colleges and founder of the popular social media hashtag, #endccstigma, which he uses to spotlight the important work of these institutions and their communities. He has dedicated his nearly 30-year career to community colleges, most recently serving as president of Owens Community College in Ohio.

Dr. Amanda Waterstrat

Somerset Community College, Kentucky

Dr. Amanda Waterstrat was named PTK’s Kentucky Regional Coordinator in August. She is a biology professor at Somerset Community College, where she is also advisor to the award-winning Omicron Zeta Chapter. She is the Honors Program Director at her college and is a consistent advocate for student success. She previously served as Kentucky’s Associate Regional Coordinator, organizing the region’s first-ever virtual meeting in the summer of 2020, which provided a new level of regional engagement.

Lynnae Selberg

Grand Rapids Community College, Michigan

Lynnae Selberg was named PTK’s Michigan Regional Coordinator in September. She has served more than 24 years in higher education as an advisor, counselor, faculty member, and associate registrar, and she is currently an associate professor and academic advisor in the Academic Advising and Transfer Center at Grand Rapids Community College. She is an award-winning advisor to the Alpha Upsilon Kappa Chapter and is known as a passionate student advocate, dedicated advisor, and supportive team member.

2020 Shirley B. Gordon Awards of Distinction

Thirteen college presidents received the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction during PTK Catalyst 2020 for their strong continued support of student success on their campuses and their recognition of academic achievement, leadership, and service among high-achieving students at their colleges. This is PTK’s most prestigious award for college presidents, and recipients are only eligible to receive the award once over the course of their career.