Phi Theta Kappa chapter earns high honors at regional convention

Brazosport College’s Psi Psi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa recently earned multiple awards, including being named the No. 3 chapter in the state, at the Phi Theta Kappa Texas Regional Convention in Abilene. BC Phi Theta Kappa members and advisors attending the conference were, front from left, officers Kimberli Ruddick, Gilbert Mwihaki, Laysha Jimenez, Caitlyn Freshour and Angela Elder; members Audrey Young and Melenie Niemeyer; and, back, co-advisors Cassie Bruner and Alicia Hodge. PTK officer Amy Madrigal is not pictured.

Brazosport College’s Psi Psi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa recently brought home a multitude of awards and accolades from the Phi Theta Kappa 2020 Texas Regional Convention in Abilene.

Among the top honors awarded to the BC program was being named the No. 3 Chapter in Texas out of 92 chapters statewide.

The BC group was also recognized as a Continued Excellence Chapter, an honor that includes chapters that have earned Texas Top Chapter or Most Distinguished Chapter awards for three consecutive years.

This was the sixth consecutive year BC has earned accolades in the Top Texas Chapter category.

As a group, the BC Psi Psi officer team, which consists of Caitlyn Freshour, Laysha Jimenez, Gilbert Mwihaki, Angela Elder, Kimberli Ruddick and Amy Madrigal, was named a Distinguished Chapter Officer Team. Individually, Freshour, who is the BC Psi Psi president, was inducted into the Hall of Honor for Chapter Officers.

One of the reasons BC is regularly ranked among the state’s top chapters is the high-quality work achieved by its students. As a result, this was recognized at the conference, as well.

One of the biggest of these honors was receiving the Award of Distinction for its Honors in Action Project in Theme 7. The BC team had the highest-scoring project for its theme out of all Texas chapters that were submitted in the same theme. The Honors in Action Project is an in-depth project that includes academic research, analysis, planning and collaboration, all based on a particular theme.

The BC group also received an Award of Merit for its College Project.

“Each year I am amazed and impressed with the projects and activities completed by our PTK officers and members,” said PTK co-advisor Cassie Bruner. “However, this year’s team raised the bar with their outstanding projects which resulted in our chapter being named the No. 3 chapter in Texas. These projects are no simple tasks, yet this team was able to give it their all on top of school work, jobs and family responsibilities. I am so proud of all they accomplished and am thankful for their dedication and enthusiasm to this organization.”

Before the conference ended, BC’s team also earned a College Project and Honors in Action Participation Award and was named a Five-Star Chapter.

In addition to the student awards, BC’s PTK advisors and administrators were also recognized at the conference.

Alicia Hodge and Bruner were named a Distinguished Advisor Team. Bruner was also inducted into the Hall of Honor for Distinguished Advisors, along with earning a Horizon Award for Advisors. Rounding out BC’s accolades, Kelli Forde Spiers was inducted into the Hall of Honor for College Administrators.

For more information about Phi Theta Kappa at Brazosport College, call (979) 230-3259 or e-mail cassie.bruner@brazosport.edu.