For the second year in a row, the Ybor City campus’ Alpha Beta Beta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa has earned the organization’s highest honor, “5-Star Chapter” status. 5-Star status is awarded to chapters that achieve a high level of involvement and recognition, not only on the campus level but throughout the international Phi Theta Kappa community.

  Each HCC campus has its own Phi Theta Kappa chapter, as do campuses of other two-year colleges throughout the world. The 5-Star Chapter plan was conceived, not to have chapters compete against one another, but to encourage all chapters to meet the “four hallmarks” of PTK to the greatest extent possible. Those hallmarks are Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Fellowship. In working toward those goals, PTK chapters undertake projects and challenges that benefit individual students, the campus, and the community.

  For the second year in a row, the Ybor City campus Alpha Beta Beta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa has earned the organization’s highest honor, “5-Star Chapter” status. 5-Star status is awarded to chapters that achieve a high level of involvement and recognition, not only on the campus level but throughout the international Phi Theta Kappa community.

  Each HCC campus has its own Phi Theta Kappa chapter, as do campuses of other two-year colleges throughout the world. The 5-Star Chapter plan was conceived, not to have chapters compete against one another, but to encourage all chapters to meet the “four hallmarks” of PTK to the greatest extent possible. Those hallmarks are Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Fellowship. In working toward those goals, PTK chapters undertake projects and challenges that benefit individual students, the campus, and the community.

  How does Phi Theta Kappa address those hallmarks? It’s a multi-tiered approach. First, PTK recognizes, honors, and fosters individual achievement of students. Inspired by the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa, which serves four-year colleges and universities, Phi Theta Kappa was founded in 1918, to honor and serve students at two-year colleges. 

  At the student level, Phi Theta Kappa honors the academic achievements of students, and encourages them to strive for more. It’s an incubator for the leaders of tomorrow, with professional development programs including “5-Star Competitive Edge.” Through the program, students complete learning and development tasks, refining skills that will benefit them not only in school but also in the workforce and in life. Organized on 5 levels, each with successively more challenging tasks, students reaching the 5-star level achieve an enviable level of academic and leadership skills.

  At the campus level, chapters work to promote academic excellence, participate in chapter-wide projects and challenges, and work with students of all academic levels to meet their goals and potential. Alpha Beta Beta has hosted mentorship programs to help new and returning students navigate the college system and prepare them for academic success. Through Phi Theta Kappa’s “C4” or Community College Completion Corps program, the chapter has encouraged students to make a pledge to complete their degree program.

  At the community level, Phi Theta Kappa chapters participate in PTK’s Honors in Action program. Each year, Honors in Action presents chapters with a broad theme for study and action. The 2013-2014 academic year’s theme was The Culture of Competition. The chapter worked with children ages 3 to 5 at HCC Ybor City’s Child Development Center, exploring the topic of competition. It culminated in a show and sale of the children’s art, titled “From a Child’s Perspective.”

  All chapters start at the one-star level. To advance through the levels, a chapter must connect with and serve its campus and community in various ways. Activities include attending regional and international PTK conferences, developing a college project to serve the campus, and completing an Honors in Action project.

  Unlike the individual 5-star plan which, once completed, maintains a student at 5-Star status, the 5-Star Chapter Plan must begin anew for each chapter, each year. Students graduate and move on to further their education or enter their career field, so there is constantly an influx of new members and leaders. By approaching the 5-Star Chapter Plan anew each year, more students have the opportunity to participate, to learn, and to better their campus and communities.