The Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society at Hillsborough Community College Ybor campus has partnered with the Community College Completion Corps (C4) to influence students in achieving a personal goal.

  It is PTK’s college project to encourage 1,000 students to commit to complete their associate degree.

  Doug Evans, the president of the Alpha Beta Beta chapter of PTK is just one of the many students who have already committed to complete his associate degree.

  Upon graduating from HCC, Evans plans to transfer to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) to play football. Being an athlete, an honor student and the son of an educator, he knows of the many benefits to completing a degree.

  Evans has already been guaranteed admissions to FAMU after he completes his degree at HCC.

  After high school, he did not plan to attend community college and had his sites set on a university.

  In 2013, Evans was being recruited to play football straight out of high school, but an injury put him of the sidelines for over a year.

  Surgery was the only option.

  It was during that time that he was persuaded by his mom, Myria Evans, to enroll at HCC while he recovered from surgery and recovered from his injury.

  Graduating from HCC wasn’t something he planned either, “I was going to take my first year of credits, transfer to FAMU and play football” Evans says.

  But in early August of 2014, he reinjured his knee, and was forced to turn down several scholarships.

  He had to have surgery again, and add another year of rehab.

  In the process of completing his degree at HCC, he met the requirements to join PTK and became a HOPE Scholar. Both of these student organizations stress the importance of good grades and acquiring an associate degree before transferring to a University.

  Evans stayed at HCC and became the president of PTK; he continued to be a HOPE scholar recipient, and received a Student of Excellence award from the Criminal Justice department.

  Afterwards, the academic scholarship offers came rolling in for Evans. He was now being recruited for his academic achievements.

  He had acceptances to USF, UCF, FAMU, FIU and many other universities that were interested in recruiting him to finish his degree at their university.

  “If I had not made the commitment to complete my degree and graduate from HCC, many of these doors would have never been open to me,” Evans says. “I am grateful to the HOPE Scholars program, PTK and HCC’s initiatives to encourage students to finish their associate degree.”

  PTK needs your help and wants your commitment. Whenever you see the Commit to Complete Banner in the courtyard during any SGA events, stop by and sign it.