CCRI's Phi Theta Kappa chapter earns numerous awards at international convention
April 19, 2022
The Community College of Rhode Island’s Phi Theta Kappa Pi Omicron chapter won a Distinguished
College Project Award at this year’s International PTK Convention, capping a wildly-successful
academic year for Pi Omicron at the regional and international level.
PTK is the national honor society for two-year colleges with more than 250,000 members
nationwide, providing opportunities for students to grow as scholars and leaders.
Approximately 1,300 worldwide PTK chapters compete for awards at the annual international
Catalyst convention, held in person this year in Denver for the first time since prior
to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and CCRI’s chapter was one of 50 to earn a
Distinguished College Project Award.
A year after finishing ninth overall in the running for Most Distinguished Chapter
at Catalyst 2021, Pi Omicron earned this year’s award by creating a series of videos
in collaboration with the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) to support mental
health awareness.
Pi Omicron members Cassandra Santos, Ryk Mcintyre, Alicia Vallette, Margaret Quillin,
and Angela Vescera joined CCRI English Professor and PTK Faculty Advisor Laurie Sherman to accept the award at this year’s convention in Denver.
Chapter member Daniel Blanchette also contributed to the video project, which, weeks
prior to the Catalyst convention, earned Pi Omicron a Distinguished College Project
Award at the 2022 PTK New England Regional Convention.
“We’re so proud of our chapter’s accomplishments,” Sherman said. “Our officer team
is truly outstanding and represents the college, the New England region, and Phi Theta
Kappa well. Their dedication and concern for members of the college community is spotlighted
by our award-winning college project.”
In addition to the Distinguished College Project Award at the regional convention,
Pi Omicron also earned the Distinguished Honors in Action Project Theme Award; the
Distinguished Chapter Officer Team Award in honor of chapter officers Santos, Mcintyre,
Vallette, Quillin, and Vescera; and maintained its Five-Star Status. The latter is
the highest level of achievement a chapter can attain through its participation in campus,
local, regional, national and international activities.
English Department professor Sue Apshaga earned the region’s Recognition of Service
and Dedication Award for her work as a PTK advisor and Vallette was re-elected as
New England Regional President in addition to earning the Camaraderie Award, which
recognizes excellence in fellowship.
This year’s Distinguished College Project Award adds to CCRI’s impressive list of
victories at the international level; through the years, the college’s Pi Omicron
chapter has won international awards for College Projects, Honors in Actions Projects,
Distinguished Advisors, Distinguished Administrators, and has achieved Five-Star Status
multiple times.
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