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Phi Theta Kappa Upsilon Delta Chapter incorporates new members at 2022 induction ceremony

By Chris Caldwell 

New members and their chapter leaders at the Phi Theta Kappa Upsilon Delta Chapter induction ceremony April 24, 2022.
New members and their chapter leaders at the Phi
Theta Kappa Upsilon Delta Chapter induction
ceremony April 24, 2022.

Southwest’s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Upsilon Delta Chapter inducted a new crop of academic scholars during a candlelight ceremony at the Southwest's Farris Auditorium April 24, 2022. 

Family, friends and loved ones joined PTK Faculty Advisers, Dr. Melanie L. Jones and Douglas Branch, to usher in the new inductees as lifelong members of the prestigious, international honor society. “It has been such an honor for Mr. Branch and I to work with these high-achieving students,” Jones said. “We congratulate them on their well-deserved success as stellar scholars.”

Guest speaker and Director of Student Development Phoenix Worthy’s heart-felt message to the inductees reaffirmed their commitment to represent PTK as a leader and servant in their communities. “Leadership is not a position, it is an action. You are called upon to help make the world a bigger and better place through your leadership and professional skills,” Worthy said. 

Worthy's words held special significance for inductee Angelina Rose who is attending Southwest to earn her associate of science degree in psychology. “I chose Southwest because it is assessable and affordable for me coming from a low-income part of Memphis, and because of the small classrooms where I felt I could excel and make long-lasting connections that could help me in the future,” Rose said. “PTK is prestigious. It’s a national honor society that will give me opportunities to further my leadership skills and develop even stronger connections with like-minded individuals.”

Students at Southwest are invited to join the chapter if they have accumulated 12 college-level credit hours toward a degree with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher.

PTK Upsilon Delta Chapter President Connor Taylor lights a candle with PTK Vice President KaTanya Warner during the chapter’s 2022 induction ceremony.
PTK Upsilon Delta Chapter President Connor Taylor
lights a candle with PTK Vice President KaTanya
Warner during the chapter’s 2022 induction
ceremony.

Speechless. That’s what Connor Taylor described the moment when he found out he would be the next president of the PTK. “I was so honored to get this position. I came to Southwest because it’s close to home and affordable and because I felt it would be an institution where I could thrive. This recognition for me has reaffirmed that I made the right choice.” 

Taylor graduated in Spring 2022 with an A.S. in psychology and plans to pursue a Doctor of Medicine. In addition to his PTK presidency, his time at Southwest has earned him the privilege of being the Class of 2022 student commencement speaker and honoree at the 2022 Tennessee Board of Regents’ (TBR) Phi Theta Kappa and National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) Student Honors Luncheon in Nashville, Tennessee.

Congratulations to all the inductees! 

Aronson, Megan Hube, Caroline Phillips, Tyuanna Teamer, Aprilelle
Anderson, Bryan Jackson, Sherry Robinson, Maigan Thomas, Destiny
Bastidas, Kelli Jenkins, Kennedy Rose, Angelina Traylor, Katherine
Benchamkha, Mahmoud Johnson, Kae-Mia Schmuck, Martha Warner, KaTanya
Brenner, Gabriella Mitchell, Christy Scruggs, Kia-Marie West, Priscilla
Gregory, Jennifer C. Moreno, Karen Sean, Terrell Whaley, Nicholas
Harris, Shanice Munoz, Adrian Squire, Kimberly Wotengo, Nenert
Hodge, Kayla Nelson, Fabian Taylor, Connor