Phi Theta Kappa inducts 31 new members, endowment announced at ceremony
May 9, 2023
ASHLAND, Ky. – The Alpha Omega Gamma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) recently held their induction ceremony on April 28, welcoming members from the 2022-2023 class.
Speakers at the ceremony included Dr. Todd Brand, Chief Academic Officer at Ashland Community and Technical College and James Allen Pauley-Barker, Co-President of the Kentucky Region of Phi Theta Kappa.
Dr. Brand, who is a Phi Theta Kappa certified instructor and whose son was a member of PTK at the Mississippi college he attended, asked inductees what role they wanted to play in the PTK story.
“The sky’s the limit. And tonight’s ceremony is evidence that you are on your way,” he said. “You truly represent excellence, and my hope is for that to continue as you serve with each other at this institution as a part of the Phi Theta Kappa family.”
In an emotional speech, Pauley-Barker discussed how his childhood experiences got him to where he is today.
He said that PTK taught him to be more reflective of who he was and helped him to learn how to overcome life’s twists and turns.
“It was a tremendous honor to be asked by ACTC and PTK Alpha Omega Gamma Chapter to be their keynote speaker on the night of PTK's 2023 induction ceremony, the very location where it all began for me, and to now share my journey with them in the hopes of encouraging all new PTK inductees to simply take the next step,” Pauley-Barker said following the ceremony. “I was overjoyed to be granted this wonderful chance to encourage and motivate the new PTK inductees as they begin on their own path to achievement. My aim is that my narrative and experience will inspire others to value perseverance, hard work, and determination in reaching their objectives.”
The induction ceremony was conducted by officers Blessing Eleazu and Ashley Casey.
Inducted students included: Lisa Barager, Evan Boggs, Ashley Casey, Karyn Chaffin, Christopher Cordle, Charles Cox, Scott Davis, Blessing Eleazu, Misty Fannin, Brendan Fisher, Lily Fogle, Jayde Henry, Gino Herrera, Katlyn Howell, Amanda Humphries, Shaina Jaggers, Miclaya Jones, Coleman Kraft, Carrie Leachman, Tao Lin, Kalissa Lindsey, Aaron Lundy, Garry Ellis Massie II, Nyx Nichols, Daniel Robinette, Chloe Shelton, Jessica Slone, Jeffery Slusher, Edward Smith Jr., Melissa Sparks, Abigail Vanhoose, and Veronica Vanover, Charles Yates.
Advisors for the Alpha Omega Gamma chapter, which was chartered in 1994, include Janet Thompson, Cindy Shelton and Dan Bailey.
During the ceremony, Bailey was recognized for an endowment fund created specifically for ACTC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter.
“It was an honor and a privilege to have been one of the charter chapter advisors to the Alpha Omega Gamma Chapter when it was chartered over 29 years ago,” he said. “My wife, Gloria, was one of the 55 charter members of the Alpha Omega Gamma chapter.”
Since then, Bailey and his wife have had the opportunity to participate in activities at the local, Kentucky Region and the international levels of the organization. At the Kentucky Region level, he was the charter advisor to the Kentucky Region Alumni Association when it was chartered in 2001 and his wife was one of the 17 charter alumni members.
“We trust that this endowment fund will allow students at ACTC the opportunity to participate in the activities of this great student organization at the local, Kentucky Region and international levels,” Bailey said.
The endowment will provide support for programming, scholarships, awards, and operational expenses for leadership conferences and conventions related to ACTC’s PTK honor society.
For more information about Phi Theta Kappa, contact Thompson by emailing janet.thompson@kctcs.edu.
