SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College's chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society celebrated the induction of 28 new members during an Oct. 29 ceremony at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center.

Phi Theta Kappa is the official honor society for two-year colleges and the largest honor society in American higher education. It has more than two million members and 1,200 chapters in the United States, U.S. territories, Canada, and Germany.

"Phi Theta Kappa encourages academic achievement and provides opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service and fellowship programming," said Mark Hall, the chapter's co-advisor and the lead humanities instructor at CCCC. "The chapter's activities and projects give its members a space and a process to address needs they see in our communities. In this way, PTK is a catalyst for its members' ideas and interests."

During the induction ceremony, Mike Neal, chapter co-advisor, lit a large candle symbolizing knowledge as the servant of wisdom. He then explained the Phi Theta Kappa name: Greek words symbolizing wisdom, aspiration and purity. A white rose, symbolizing purity, beauty of life, and intellectual associations, was placed on a table. The inductees lit candles they held and recited the oath to uphold the standards of Phi Theta Kappa.

CCCC had its own honor society, Alpha Theta Tau, from 1986 to the chartering of the PTK Beta Sigma Phi Chapter in 2010. President Bud Marchant brought the idea for establishing the chapter when he became CCCC president in 2008.

"The Phi Theta Kappa induction is one of the highlights of the year," he said. "It's a relatively new chapter, but already the group has done great things."

The Beta Sigma Phi Chapter officers are President Mary Cooper, of Lee County; Vice President-Harnett County Koren Hailey; Vice President-Lee County Eric Brinkman; and Recording Secretary Nathalia Cruz and Treasurer Seth Tom, both of Lee County.

"PTK members are recognized as hard-working students, as people who go above and beyond academics," Hailey, a Criminal Justice Technology major, said before the ceremony. "We also do extra-curricular activities that help the college do well. You learn to collaborate and work together. Being in PTK is also definitely a boost when you go looking for a job."

Margaret Murchison, News and Public Services director for WWGP Broadcasting Corp. and a former CCCC trustee, was the guest speaker for the event. She spoke of applying the four principles of PTK: Service, Scholarship, Fellowship and Leadership.

"Everybody has talent, use yours to make a difference," she told the inductees. "When possible, stay in your communities and spread that talent."

To join PTK, students must complete 12 semester hours of associate degree coursework, achieve a Grade Point Average of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale, and adhere to the Student Code of Conduct. As members, they must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

At commencement, Phi Theta Kappa members wear an honor stole with their graduation robes.

The fall inductees of CCCC's Phi Theta Kappa Chapter are: Eric Brinkman, Elizabeth Budny, Erica Davidson, Scott Duff, Lori Dunlap, Oscar Hernandez, Michael Johnson, Anastasia Krick, Madison Lilly, Amy Mauldin, Teresa Priestner, Tonia Rogers, and Katelin Zimmerman, all of Lee County; Patricia Nettles, Logan Brooks, Ronnie Ross, Ashley Crosby, Emily Humphries and Angela Humphries, all of Chatham County; David McAllister, of Harnett County; Leah Dannelley and Laura Diver, both of Moore County; Ashley Alderson, Rhonda Hamilton, Nicholas Heurich, Jeremy Knoll, and Elma Matthews, all of Cumberland County; and Erin O'Rawe, of Wake County.

For more information about Phi Theta Kappa, contact Mark Hall at mhall@cccc.edu or 919-718-7422; Mike Neal at mneal@cccc.edu or 919-718-7337, or visit www.cccc.edu and click on "Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society" in the "A-Z Index."