SANFORD - Academic achievement and service were celebrated April 11 as Central Carolina Community College's Beta Sigma Phi Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society held its spring induction ceremony.

Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education. In 1929, the American Association of Community Colleges recognized PTK as the official honor society for two-year colleges. The CCCC chapter sets a higher standard for membership eligibility than the national organization: a 3.7 grade point average rather than the 3.5 GPA that national requires.

Nicole Thompson, Phi Theta Kappa Alumna, was the speaker for the event held at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center. "You have accomplished something great; you have shown the dedication and promise that this honor society desires," she told the inductees. "Be immensely proud of how hard you've worked to get to this point."

Thompson talked about the PTK family. "Most of all, I'll never forget all the happiness and joy this organization gave to me," she said. "Because of this family, I now have a network of people I can lean on through thick and thin. Because of this family, I have become the strong, dedicated, confident woman that I am today.

"So, on this amazing day, I just have one last thing to say to you: Welcome to our family."

Dr. Rodney Powell, Chapter Advisor, gave the welcome and introduction of guests.

CCCC President Dr. Lisa M. Chapman offered her congratulations to the new PTK inductees.

Phi Theta Kappa is composed of Greek words symbolizing wisdom, aspiration, and purity. A white rose on the table symbolizes purity, beauty of life, and intellectual associations, while the oak and laurel leaves on the PTK emblem represent stability, character, achievement, and success.

CCCC had its own honor society, Alpha Theta Tau, from 1986 until the chartering of the Phi Theta Kappa chapter in 2010.

Phi Theta Kappa officers - Daniel Painter (President), Paula Funes (Vice President), and Karmisha Hernandez Luciano (Secretary) -- conducted the induction ceremony.

In its years of existence, the college's Beta Sigma Phi Chapter has garnered a number of prestigious recognitions from PTK. These include the Five-Star ranking -- the highest ranking a chapter can receive for excellence, and awards at regional PTK conferences. It has also reached out to the community with service projects, such as assisting food banks and shelters.

The 2019 spring inductees are:

Angier: Kaitlyn Barbour, Nicholas Horne, Taylor Smith

Apex: Joseph Knight, Emily Schofield

Bear Creek: Crystal Johnston, Tanner Whitt, Jamie Wilson

Broadway: Domingo Campos

Bunnlevel: Deborah Wilkerson

Burlington: Dorena Miller

Cameron: Gabriel Garcia, Cindy Gilman, Breanna Potter, Ivie Sumner, Josephina Taylor

Carrboro: Anika Morrone

Carthage: Cecilia Horner, Molli Tallant

Cary: Rebecca Dillon, Paulina English, Christina Thrasher

Chapel Hill: Michael Cunningham, Tim Frei, Samuel Montoya, Erika Shelton, James Stewart, Aki Takemoto

Dunn: Crystal Williams

Fuquay Varina: Alexander Blanco, Benjamin Falero, Lisa Kim, Abigail Kraska, Gareth Pollard, Faith Price, Sarah Sherman, Ashtyn Zimmer

Godwin: Kassandria Williams Sanders

Holly Springs: Jessica Maynard

Hope Mills: Jill Jensen-Martinez

Laurel Springs: Kelsey Lyall

Lillington: Mindi Avery, Andreniki Ray, Lydia Russell

Linden: Justin Cornish

Lumberton: Mary Thompson

Pinehurst: Deidra Wells

Pittsboro: Roman Furze, Caleb Staley

Raleigh: Carolyn Broedel, Haley Jennings

Sanford: Bryan Aguirre, Evan Aldridge, Taylor Baile, Tonya Bourgeois, Christopher Bowen, Suzy Brito, Bertha Brown, Megan Bullard, Sheila Chamblee, Bailey Coffer, Jasmine Coney, Jordan Coney, Starlene Cooner, Matthew Cottrill, Angela Crowder, Rebecca Dominic, Megan Duhon, Emily Hare, Emily Harrison, John Hill, Samuel Hill, Mackenzie Hulsey, Jennifer Huynh, Ryan Janis, Cassidy Kellam, Kaitlyn Kelly, Mia Knecht, Crystal Kohli, Lauren Love, Daniel Matangira, Diana Mattson, Kayla McCorrison, Damian Pearson, Lisa Ryan, Taylor Schwab, David Smoak, Marleeah Stackhouse, Angel Uy, Kathleen Windley

Siler City: Caroline Clapp, Bella Ocampo, Dania Rosales Santos

Southern Pines: Tiffany Bohon

Spring Lake: Sierra Cook, Annamarie Musso

Wrightsville Beach: Laura George

San Antonio, TX: Vicki Stein

For more information about Phi Theta Kappa at CCCC, visit the college's Web site, www.cccc.edu, click on "Site A-Z," then "P" for "Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society."