Sesundus Seaton | Staff Writer
seatons@imail.losrios.edu
Most City College transfer students have met with counselors to develop an educational plan. However, these educational plans can only get students so far. After that it’s up to them to excel academically and in their extracurricular activities.
To do this, some students at City College have joined Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society for two-year colleges. Phi Theta Kappa offers City College students the opportunity to stand out among a group of highly competitive applicants.
Phi Theta Kappa is under the umbrella of the City College Honors Program, which offers a variety of honors courses. The full list of honors courses offered by the City College Honors Program as well as the online membership application can be found at: http://scchonors.us/index.html
Another aspect of the honors program is the Honors Club, which is open to any City College student and focuses on Phi Theta Kappa-themed extracurricular activities.
“[Phi Theta Kappa] is a lot more service and scholarship oriented than Phi Beta Kappa, which is the four-year equivalent,” says Anna Joy, Phi Theta Kappa recruiter, Honors Club adviser and City College English professor.
“Phi Theta Kappa gives you the opportunity to participate in conferences, learn leadership skills and develop projects,” says Joy.
During the fall semester the City College Honors Club hosted various events to raise awareness about domestic violence, world hunger and environmental issues, which included partnerships with organizations such as Women Escaping a Violent Environment (WEAVE), Heifer International and Sacramento Tree Foundation.
“What I like most is really the community involvement and just being involved, not only for the exchange of intellectual ideas, but sharing ideas about service projects that serve our faculty and our community,” says Charles Limzie, a Phi Theta Kappa member since the fall semester.
City College students should also be aware that lifetime membership to Phi Theta Kappa is free for students who qualify for financial aid. For those who do not qualify for financial aid, membership is $55.
Students must also complete at least four honors courses with a minimum “B” average.
Upon successful completion of this requirement and entrance into Phi Theta Kappa, students are granted a certificate, a cash award and a transcript notation: “Honors Scholar.” According to Joy, this program continues thanks to donations from Honors Club projects, The Sacramento City College Foundation, and former City College President Dr. Robert Harris.
“If I had known about the club earlier, I would have joined,” said Kathy Klimushkin, a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the Honors Club vice president of Leadership.
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