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PTK students with DCCCD Board of Trustees

For immediate release — May 11, 2010

(DALLAS) — In addition to the daily routine of classes, exams and work, some college students also reach out to contribute to their communities and other students through volunteer opportunities, mentoring, leadership programs and organizations that provide both personal and professional growth. Their success in scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship makes them stand out in the crowd — hallmarks that international honor society Phi Theta Kappa members share.

Two of those student leaders from Dallas County Community College District have been honored nationally and internationally — and they also were recognized by the DCCCD board of trustees for their achievements during the group’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 11.

PTK International President

Matthew Detweiller, a student at Richland College and a resident of Frisco, takes those PTK hallmarks seriously. In fact, he recently ran for international president of PTK and — with the help of campaign manager D.J. Walsted of Cedar Valley College — won the top leadership position in the largest honor society in American higher education. His speech to PTK members who attended the organization’s annual conference in Orlando, Fla., titled “The Democratization of Information: Perils, Power and Promise,” brought most of the delegation to its feet only hours before he was installed as the group’s new international president. More than 3,600 representatives attended the conference.

Jennifer Wisdom

Honored by USA Today during the annual conference of the American Association of Community Colleges in Seattle this spring, Wisdom and 19 other students were featured in the national newspaper for their citizenship, scholarship and commitment to community service. “We applaud these citizen-scholars for their commitment to helping others, especially their peers, in creative and useful ways,” said Susan Weiss, managing editor of USA Today’s Life section. “Education is more important than ever, yet college remains elusive for many students for any number of reasons.” 

USA Today said in its April 19, 2010, announcement that “Jennifer Wisdom, 23, a student at Cedar Valley College in Lancaster, Texas, tapped into her love of theater to write and perform plays and parodies aimed at encouraging children from low-income families to think about college.” Wisdom recently learned that she has been accepted as a student at Columbia University in New York, where she will transfer this fall. 

This year’s 20 team members “showcase the multiplicity of backgrounds and experiences found at many two-year colleges,” said USA Today. “They range in age from 19 to 53. Some are children of immigrants or have recently served in the military. Two were home-schooled; several graduated at the top of their high school senior classes; others say they barely made it through.” Phi Theta Kappa administers the selection process for the USA Today All-USA Team. Many nominees hold leadership positions in their PTK chapters, but membership is not a requirement for eligibility to receive the award.

A passion for making a difference in other people’s lives has become a hallmark of USA Today’s All-USA Community College Academic Team, an annual award that recognizes student excellence; the program celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. More than 1,500 students, representing 856 community colleges from across 48 states, Guam and American Samoa, were nominated for this year’s award, which considers leadership, service and academic excellence. Team members each receive a $2,500 check from USA Today.

Former Richland College PTK chapter president Dharmesh Patel, who was DCCCD’s previous USA Today All-USA Team member, is graduating this spring from Cornell University.

More PTK Honors for DCCCD

Seven of PTK’s 1,250 chapters are active on the main campuses of Dallas County Community College District: Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake and Richland. Several DCCCD chapters and student leaders took home PTK honors as well, from the Distinguished Chapter Advisor Award to the Top Chapter Award and more.

Here are some of those PTK honors brought home by DCCCD colleges that competed with more than 400 other PTK chapters in the society’s capstone awards competition, which recognizes PTK’s hallmarks of scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship:

Additionally, Brookhaven College PTK chapter members attended the Texas Regional Conference in Houston last month and received both the Pinnacle Award and the Texas Top Chapter Award. Andrea Pinto was inducted in the Hall of Honors for outstanding members and officers. Both Pinto and Kim Smith were honored as distinguished members.

For more information, contact Ann Hatch in the DCCCD office of public and governmental affairs at (214) 378-1819.

Photo captions:

Top (L-R): Bob Ferguson, Diana Flores, Kitty Boyle, Matthew Detweiller, Dr. Wright Lassiter Jr., Jennifer Wisdom, Charletta Compton, Jerry Prater, Sonny Williams

Center: Matthew Detweiller, a student at Richland College and a resident of Frisco, recently was elected international president of PTK, the top leadership position in the largest honor society in American higher education.

Bottom: Cedar Valley College student and Lancaster resident Jennifer Wisdom, also a PTK member, was named to the USA Today All USA Team — an honor reserved for only 20 community college students each year in the United States.

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Press contact: Ann Hatch
214-378-1819; ahatch@dcccd.edu
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