Craven Community College's Phi Theta Kappa chapter inducts 77 new members

Craven Community College recognized several of its best and brightest students last week by inducting them into the college’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.

Seventy-seven high-achieving students were honored in the latest round of inductions. The honorees represented a wide range of ages, backgrounds and programs of study.

“This has been an extraordinary year for the Alpha Phi Nu chapter,” said Kate Amerson, the chapter’s advisor. “The officers and members have created a climate of excellence on campus, and I believe these new inductees will demonstrate the same level of scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship that the college and community have come to expect.”

Also at last week’s ceremony, the group recognized Margaret Lamb as the first-ever honorary member of Craven’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter.

Phi Theta Kappa is an international organization that honors the academic achievements of students at two-year institutions. To be eligible, a student must complete a minimum of 12 hours of curriculum course work at Craven and earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

Craven’s chapter has been active lately. Its members recently brought home an amazing 10 awards from the Carolinas Regional Phi Theta Kappa Convention in Clemmons. Also at the convention, chapter official Joe Nevels II was elected to a one-year term as Phi Theta Kappa Vice President for North Carolina.

Closer to home, the group has grown its membership and has worked to increase its profile on campus and in the community. Chapter members helped commemorate New Bern’s 300^th anniversary by researching and recording a series of historical “minutes” that were broadcast on Public Radio East.

They also designed a series of historical placards to highlight significant figures and events in the city’s history. Chapter members now are working on a historical documentary.

Lamb has assisted the chapter with many of these projects, so even though she holds a master’s degree and is therefore ineligible to be a Phi Theta Kappa member, the chapter decided to salute her with an honorary membership.

“Margaret Lamb embodies the hallmarks of Phi Theta Kappa,” Amerson said. “Margaret Lamb, or ‘Mother Lamb’ as she is affectionately called, is the first person to be inducted as an official honorary member of the Alpha Phi Nu chapter."

The 77 new members of the college’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter are: Christine Margo Albertsen, Candace Lacy Allen, Samantha Eve Annunziata, Patrick M. Baker, Stacie M. Bell, John Mark Bender, Robert Pollock Bender, Heather Danielle Bentley, Allison Denise Bingham, Charlie Francis Blakely, Amanda Maeline Boos, Jay C. Bradbury, Linda Muriel Braswell, Blair Alexandra Brown, Samantha Rae Bruggema, Nikeia Bryant, Stephanie Michelle Bryant, Andrew Daniel Buckner, Elizabeth Dawn Buljat, Krielow Chamberlain, Brenna Dorcas Chisholm, Scott Edward Coleman, Caitlin Cooley, Tashika Yontique Cribb, Lisa Edwards Crocker, Dakota Danyel Daniels, Kelly M. Elbertson, Neslie L. Feltz, Kaya M. Fraser, Grace Love Fulcher, Kellie Nicole Fulcher, Kandi Raschelle Gardner, James W. Gaskill, Chris David Gillikin, Kelly Elizabeth Gomez, Courtney Tryvon Harper, Thomas Martin Harris, Travis Evan Henke, Christopher Lee Howe, Cynthia Kay Ipock, Jeff Jackson, Erin Lea James, Toney Valerie Johnson, Sophia Raquel Jordan, Bonnie Koylu, Mary Travis Kruer, Brandy Nichole Lail, April Jean Laskovitch, Reed Emerson Liles, Frank Linville, Elizabeth Ann Lopez, Michelle Leigh McRoy, Ryan G. Monteleone, Fiona Heather Moore, Robert E. Murray, Neal O’Rourke, Rebecca Oney, Whitney Olivia Pagano, Bernard C. Pannell Jr., Heather Anne Parrish, Joshua A. Pearson, Mary Camilla Reynolds, Brandy Nicole Rhyne, Norman L. Rice, Jonathan P. Russo, Ricardo Sanchez, Matthew Scott Schachtely, Kathryn Jean Sheedy, Teresa M. Swinson, Alexandra Inez Terry, Louis Eric Vega, Sean Michael Wade, Candace Marie Walski, Ashley M. Watts, Mary Piner Willis, Jennifer M. Wilson and Cathy Elaine Wilson.

Sandy Wall is the public information officer at Craven Community College. He can be reached at walls@cravencc.edu.