Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is doing more than just honoring students.
By: Caroline Frank
Art & Life Editor
Phi Theta Kappa is an International Honor Society that aims to recognize students for their academic achievements and encourage them to excel in their community.
To be eligible to join PTK, students must complete at least 12 credit hours at his or her campus and hold a 3.5 cumulative GPA. 
Once a student has met this criteria, he or she must pay a onetime fee of $95 to join, which allows them to access automatic scholarships from several local universities, including Missouri University of Science and Technology, University of Missouri-Saint Louis, Saint Louis University, and Missouri Baptist University.
PTK held an induction ceremony for new members of the Xi Lambda chapter on Oct. 5 at Saint Louis Community College-Meramec, at 7 p.m. in the Student Center cafeteria. One of the new members described the perks of being involved in PTK.
“We can experience community college more fully and become more active within our community,” Shafiq Alsayed Allaham said.
Another student described the financial benefits for those who are members of PTK. “You get scholarships to most universities,” Aathif Shamail, Vice President of Membership said. “Being part of Phi Theta Kappa trains me for leadership roles and future jobs.”
PTK sets high standards for its participants, providing opportunities for them to perform acts of service and take on honorary roles of leadership.
“There’s a lot of responsibility and accountability that comes with it, but [there is] so much to learn and gain from it,” Emily Fischer, President of Xi Lambda said. “The more you put into it, the more you get out of it.”
