Students Make International Honors Society

The local Alpha Alpha Epsilon chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honors Society recently inducted 15 new members into the prestigious ranks of the student organization during a special ceremony held Nov. 3.

Established in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society is the largest honor society in American higher education. It promotes the academic achievement of the two-year college student and provides growth opportunities through honors, leadership and service. As part of their induction into this elite membership, each student received a white rose to symbolize purity and lit a ceremonial candle to represent knowledge and wisdom prior to being sworn in by PTK leadership.

The honor is especially meaningful for two GateWay students.

A few years back, Maha Alduhi packed up her belongings and moved her family – including her two teenage children – to Arizona. Alduhi, who relocated from Yemen, immersed herself in her schoolwork as a nuclear medicine technology student at GateWay to offset the dramatic transition in her life, and it paid off with her induction into PTK.

"I'm very proud for what I’ve accomplished," she said. "Being able to attend school in the U.S. and work incredibly hard to earn a spot in this honor society has set a great example for my two kids."

For Audrey Copeland, her health provided a temporary setback, requiring her to quit school in 2006, with no real plans to return. However, inspiration hit when she was exposed to the profession of physical therapy. In 2010, she began taking classes at GateWay Community College to obtain her associate of arts degree and will pursue a bachelor’s degree through the MCCCD Connect2NAU program. But for now, Copeland is simply enjoying the ride.

"I'm really excited to join the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society because it's been a long struggle to get to this point," she said. "I guess you could say I've come back with a vengeance."

Their fellow inductees include:

• Berenice Buenavida
• Marilyn Combo
• Luis Garcia
• Hassan Hassan
• DeAnna Jurek
• Walter Norman
• Kristi Nowicki
• Carolyn Purcell
• Jeramy Reid
• Caitlyn Scanlon
• Osman Varela
• Ingrid Vazquez
• Candace Velasco

For more information or to learn how to apply for membership, visit PTK online or contact Ferdinand Hunter at (602) 286-8732.

Greg Bullock can be reached at bullock@gatewaycc.edu or (602) 286-8229.