VGCC Students inducted into Honor Society


Vance-Granville Community College recognized 90 students who were inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for students of two-year colleges, on April 15 in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus. VGCC students honored with induction into Phi Theta Kappa must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5 (3.75 for part-time students) in associate degree curriculum programs and have completed at least 12 credit hours toward their degrees.

As advisors for VGCC’s PTK chapter, instructors Dan Miller, Maureen Walters, Julie MacDonald and Kristi Ellenberg conducted the ceremony. Walters told the new inductees and their families and friends in attendance that since VGCC’s chapter of PTK, “Alpha Sigma Chi,” was chartered in 1991, more than 1,000 students have been selected for induction. She said that while scholarship is the first aim of PTK, the society also encourages fellowship, leadership development and service to others, and she noted that the letters Phi Theta Kappa stand for the Greek words for “Wisdom,” “Aspiration” and “Purity.”

For the first time, the ceremony featured remarks from a student, Theresa Chiplis of Norlina, who serves as chapter president. Chiplis applauded the new members on accepting the opportunity to join Phi Theta Kappa, which she described as “a network of over 2.5 million fellow scholars and servant leaders on more than 1,270 campuses worldwide.” She encouraged students to take advantage of the organization’s resources and to take on leadership roles locally.

Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of VGCC, also congratulated the new inductees and introduced the guest speaker, Biology instructor and 2014 President’s Leadership Award recipient Button Brady. In her remarks, Brady gave students a few reflections on leadership. She advised students to realize that “being a leader doesn’t necessarily mean that you are right, it simply means that you are in front….Surround yourself with people who don’t think like you do, and listen to them.” Brady added that VGCC students were fortunate to have good role models for leadership among the college’s faculty and staff. She praised students for their dedication to their education, imploring them, “Don’t slow down, embrace challenges and go into the future boldly!” Following her speech, chapter advisors and Chiplis announced that Brady was awarded an honorary membership.

 

This year’s inductees into the Alpha Sigma Chi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa are:

 

From Durham and Orange counties

 

Angela Garrett of Durham;

Brian Bishop of Hillsborough;

Autumn Gruber and Amberly Stepp, both of Rougemont.

 

From Franklin and Nash counties

 

Cassandra Nicholson Griffin of Castalia;

Kini Heyl of Bunn;

Amie Elizabeth Annis, Tommy Hicks, Timothy Edward Nine, Valerie Jane Reid and Deborah Rogers, all of Franklinton;

Imani Burwell of Kittrell;

John Kirkland, Melissa Liming, Ethel M. Sims and Elizabeth Velazquez-Gil, all of Louisburg;

Donna Marie Beasley, Courtney Michelle Mitchell, Ashley Seagroves, Katie Sumner, John Thomas and Donna Webb, all of Youngsville.

 

From Granville County

 

Christopher Bryan Nicholson and Aaron Elizabeth Vaughan, both of Bullock;

Christina Barron, Caleb Barron, Amber Batten, Diane Bell, Darian Boyd, Brandi Nicole Celia,

Caleb Liddell Cozart, Jacob Andrew Deweese, Sharon Nicole Glenn, Lindsey Hinkle, Donnie B. Jones, Carmen Pate, Kristie Pulliam, Mary Selvidge, Brooke Shepherd, Tanya Thomas and Crystal Ann Williams, all of Creedmoor;

Nancy Stanton Long of Kittrell;

Geoffrey Arnott, Sara Belville, Lauren Devore, Andrew Gill, Caitlin Glover, Shiona MacLean and Oliva Prezas Garces, all of Oxford;

Jerry Priddy of Rougemont;

Kimberly Elliott and Janelle Howell, both of Stem.

 

From Vance County

 

Rebecca Lynn Anderson, Tiffany Felicia Barnes, Trever Lamar Durham, Jackie Easterling, Katie Edgerton Floyd, Sierra Hanks, Nicholas Franklin Hoyle, Ashley Nicole Junk, Sarah Gray Layton,

Christina Marra, Jacqueline Ruth McGovern, Cornisha Shirletta Mitchell, Allyssabeth Noel,

Julleah Norton, Kierah L. Owens, Tony Pendergrass, Kaitlin Hope Robertson, Treyvon Antonio Rogers, Shannon Satterwhite, Amy Stockinger and Alison Lenea Yarborough, all of Henderson;

Adam Jon Gray and Aqueria T. Hargrove, both of Kittrell;

Hazel Alston Baskett of Middleburg.

 

From Wake County

 

Sarah Cook, Tabatha Dickerson, Jonita Leah Garnes, Amia Jones, Marie Andree Lauriault,

Tammy Pipkins, Angelique Storer and Eric Swart, all of Wake Forest;

Steven Pearce of Wendell;

Tanya Sustarsic of Zebulon.

 

From Warren County

 

Kimberly Alston of Macon;

Angela Whitney of Norlina;

Jacqulea Quantae Anderson and Melissa Gibb, both of Warrenton.