Above (L-R): Hayley Younce, PTK International vice president – Division III; John Miller, Pi Epsilon chapter co-adviser; MGCCC students Rachel Pugh, Olivia Schwartz, Cory Kiper, Tristan Ruppert, Danielle Kuper, Charles Gipson, Jade Richardson and Nicholas Girod; Dr. Kimbra Sellers, Jackson County Campus instructor; and MGCCC student Dan Hudgens.

The Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Pi Epsilon chapter at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College won three prestigious international awards at the Phi Theta Kappa NerdNation convention in National Harbor, Maryland, April 6-10. The chapter received the Distinguished Honors in Action Project Award, the Distinguished Chapter Award and Distinguished Member Award.

“Our students learn so much from these programs,” said Dr. MaryAnn Sison, MGCCC instructor and co-advisor of the campus Phi Theta Kappa chapter. “Aside from gaining so much content information, the students emerge from these endeavors with research, speaking and leadership skills, plus a sense of community responsibility and self-confidence.”

The chapter received the Distinguished Honors in Action Project Award for its work with biodiversity on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The project included the creation of an informational video, a children’s book, and a calendar each of which highlighted history and facts about local plant and animal life, conservation efforts, and displayed the beauty of the area. Although many were involved in the planning, execution and presentation of the project, the chapter’s officer team included students Tristan Ruppert, Jenna Swift, Caleighn Bernard, Cory Kiper, Hallie Nettles, Amber Schulze, David Green, Dylan Spencer, Vy Vu and Hunter Johnson. Many hours of special help and instruction were provided by video consultant Jason Poirier and College Project consultant Dr. Brad Bailey.

The Distinguished Chapter Award is given based on the average of the scores for the Honors in Action and the College projects; only 25 of more than 1,250 chapters both inside and outside the United States are honored in this way.

Jackson County Campus student Nicholas Girod was honored with a Distinguished Member Award based on his exceptional and significant contributions to the chapter. Girod played roles in both the College Project and the Honors in Action Project, along with other service functions.

Advisors for the Jackson County Campus chapter are John Miller and Dr. MaryAnn Sison.