SANFORD - Academic achievement and service were celebrated March 28 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 with more than two million members and 1,200 chapters. 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.

Sarah Shannon-Mohammed, Phi Theta Kappa Alumna, was the speaker for the event held at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. A student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she was the only undergraduate selected to speak at the Women's Initiative Conference presenting research about social adversity on campus, chosen to serve on the Carolina Women's Center Advisory Board, serves as a Transfer Student Ambassador, elected president of Sigma Alpha Pi (The National Honor Society of Leadership and Success), and chosen as a presenter at the celebration of undergraduate research which takes place on April 27. She also became a member of the Golden Key Honor Society and Sigma Alpha Lambda Honor Society.

Shannon-Mohammed said that being a part of Phi Theta Kappa was a challenge for her at first, but a great challenge because it forced her out of her comfort zone. "Phi Theta Kappa helped me refine my own toolbox through leadership development courses like competitive edge, and research-based projects like Honors in Action which taught me to collaborate with others," she said. "I became more involved on campus and in the community, and was brought together with others who inspired and supported me. I participated in the Honors Case Study Challenge, completed a college project, and took part in many other activities that took dedication, time, and effort. I was able to attend regional and international conventions and shared my experience and knowledge with others. I served in leadership roles for the chapter, and I challenged myself by participating in the regional debate and international prepared speech competition. All of these activities and experiences are derived from Phi Theta Kappa's hallmarks of Scholarship, Leadership, Fellowship, and Service.

"My time with Phi Theta Kappa culminated with an aha moment, in which I realized that each and every one of us, rather than a select few, are born with the tools to help us succeed. The secret is knowing what to do with those tools, and figuring out how the pieces fit together in order to achieve one's goals. Phi Theta Kappa was the key that allowed me to unlock the door that has led me to my current and future success," said Shannon-Mohammed.

"And that's what I want all of you to realize as you sit here today. It is up to you, how much you gain from this society, and its experiences. While your induction into Phi Theta Kappa acknowledges your hard work, and a quality of mind that has helped you to succeed here at CCCC, there is more to your story. Those qualities that brought you here today, your toolkit, will help you to be successful wherever you go and in whatever you do," she said.

Dr. Rodney Powell, Chapter Advisor and Chemistry Instructor, gave the welcome and introduction of guest speakers. He was awarded an honorary membership into Phi Theta Kappa.

"As advisor of Phi Theta Kappa, Rodney has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to his students and chapter members, continually encouraging them to rise above barriers and become leaders," said CCCC President Dr. T. Eston Marchant. "Through his communication, dedication to students, and thoughtfulness, Rodney has demonstrated how positivity and hard work can help overcome challenges and achieve goals, These qualities of leadership encompass what Phi Theta Kappa represents, and so it is my pleasure to present Rodney with an honorary membership to the Phi Theta Kappa honor society."

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.

Each of the inductees recited the Oath of Membership to uphold the standards of Phi Theta Kappa and signed their name in the membership book.

CCCC had its own honor society, Alpha Theta Tau, from 1986 until the chartering of the Phi Theta Kappa chapter in 2010. The idea for joining PTK was brought to the college when Dr. T. Eston Marchant became president in 2008.

Phi Theta Kappa officers conducted the induction ceremony. They are: Rogelio Salvador, President; Lauren Vann, Vice President; Janely Rivera, Public Relations Secretary; and Yolanda Leach, Recording Secretary.

In its few 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 2017 spring inductees are:

Angier: Tina Riley

Apex: Laura Hinckley, James Knight

Bear Creek: James Gaddis, Angela Payne

Bennett: Bailey Brewer, Lisa Phillips

Broadway: Christian Charlson, Denise Curtis, Teresa Echeverria, Tiffany Edwards, Karmisha Hernandez Luciano, Charles Patterson, Alexa Reichelderfer, Stuart Rose, Hunter Watson

Cameron: Ashley Bailey, Corbyn Harris, Heather Mabry

Cary: Courtney May

Chapel Hill: Laney Flaugher, Rebecca Macklin, Daniel Mazanec, Noah Mehringer, Garrett Montoya, David Reynolds, Sreedevi Sreekumarvanmathi

Coats: Atlana Dayton, Ashley Smith

Fayetteville: Teresa Boler, Yeida Casais, Jazmyne Hughes, Cherish Nance, Yasarai Rodriguez, Kaitlyn Witt

Fort Bragg: Isabell Perkins

Godwin: Stevi Jacobs

Goldston: Joseph Holliday

Graham: Samantha Medley

Hillsborough: Joshua Calhoun

Liberty: Caylin Murphy

Lillington: Kelly Conrad, Brittany Gilbert, Nickolas Jorgenson, Alison Plumley, Cayla Staggs

Morganton: Irina Fein

Pittsboro: Elizabeth Baker, Wil Charles, Conner Drake, Kathleen Johnson, Kori Johnson, Rebecca Rover, Garima Sinha, Katelyn Thompson, Conner Tomlinson

Raleigh: Amanda Carr, Daria Ilchenko

Sanford: Gazal Alowdi, Enna Alvarez, Chantal Arthurton, Selina Boehm, Sarah Boone, Jana Casteel, Ashley Cox, Danielle Downey, Zachary Gordon, Micaela Hunt, Justin Pedley, Jonathan Pegram, Lori Radnoczi, Jamie Shaw, Savannah Shockey, Joshua Smith, Nicole Thompson, Shaina Toomer, Julia Trimberger, Cindy Vorholt, Erin Walker, Jessica Walshaw

Siler City: Jessica Corona, Landin Eldridge, Dani Hearn, Katya Langdon, John Shoun

Snow Camp: Debra Larios

Spring Lake: Jordan Graham, James Moore III, Kaylee Vranish

Willow Springs: Jamie Dupree

Chapter officers are: President Rogelio Salvador, Vice President Lauren Vann, Public Relations Secretary Janely Rivera, and Recording Secretary Yolanda Leach.

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."