Polk State College sweeps Phi Theta Kappa awards

Polk State College is celebrating more than 30 awards and recognitions received by students, faculty, and staff during Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s annual awards ceremonies.

Polk State’s Xi Pi and Beta Upsilon Upsilon chapters maintained Five Star Chapter status, with Xi Pi ranking No. 1 out of 85 chapters in the Florida region for the third consecutive year, and No. 7 out of approximately 1,300 chapters internationally.

Also, at the international level, Xi Pi received a Beta Alpha Continued Excellence Award, Distinguished Honors in Action Project Award, Distinguished College Project Award, and Distinguished Chapter Officer Team Award.

Anthony Cornett, Xi Pi Advisor and Professor of Biology, and Beta Upsilon Upsilon alum Robert Gerber each received an Alumni Award of Appreciation, and Melvin Thompson, Director of the Student Activities and Leadership Office (SALO) and honorary member of Beta Upsilon Upsilon, received an Honorary Member Medallion in honor of his consistent support of Phi Theta Kappa.

“I am truly proud of our students, alumni, and advisors. Their commitment, leadership, and service are invaluable to the College and our Phi Theta Kappa chapters,” said Polk State President Angela Garcia Falconetti, who received the Paragon Award for New Presidents and Florida Regional Distinguished Service Award at the Phi Theta Kappa International Catalyst Convention.

Falconetti strongly supports Polk State’s Phi Theta Kappa chapters, resulting in her nomination by the students for the Paragon Award for New Presidents. Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate student Hope Potteiger, Vice President of Communications and Historian for Beta Upsilon Upsilon, presented Falconetti with the award during the Florida College System’s All-Florida Academic Team ceremony April 4 in Orlando.

“We nominated Dr. Falconetti because she has been a steadfast supporter of Phi Theta Kappa and all of Polk State’s students since joining our College in July 2017,” Potteiger said. “In a short amount of time, she has become a familiar and approachable face on campus for students, and she continues to encourage us to soar to new heights.”

Potteiger also joined Polk State students Ellie Borah, Felicia Slaney-Greene, and Camryn White in being named to the 2019 All-Florida Academic Team sponsored by the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. They are four of 158 Florida College System students named to the team for demonstrating academic excellence, workforce readiness, and commitment to community service.

“I am thrilled to recognize these students who represent the very best in our colleges. Because of their determination to achieve academic excellence and their passion to serve others, these students are role models in their families and communities and examples for all of us,” Chancellor Kathy Hebda said in a press release. “I am proud to celebrate their accomplishments and the colleges that have helped ready them for great opportunities in career and life.”

Below is a full list of Polk State’s awards and recognitions from Phi Theta Kappa.

International Awards

Sixth finalist for Most Distinguished Chapter – Xi Pi
Beta Alpha Continued Excellence Award – Xi Pi
Distinguished Honors in Action Project – Xi Pi
Distinguished College Project – Xi Pi
Distinguished Chapter Officer Team – Xi Pi (Isabella Diaz, Lauren Garner, Issac Gee, Andrea Gutierrez, Pamela Hopper, Sean Taber, and Robert Wade)
Alumni Award of Appreciation – Xi Pi (Anthony Cornett)
Alumni Award of Appreciation – Beta Upsilon Upsilon (Robert Gerber)
Alumni Medallion – Beta Upsilon Upsilon (Robert Gerber)
Regional Award for Excellence: Transfer Readiness – Xi Pi (Andrea Gutierrez)
Regional Award for Excellence: Career Readiness – Xi Pi (Andrea Gutierrez)
Honorary Member Medallion – Beta Upsilon Upsilon (Melvin Thompson)

Florida Region Awards

Most Distinguished Chapter – Xi Pi
Most Distinguished Chapter Officer – Beta Upsilon Upsilon (Paula Schwarz)
Distinguished Honors in Action Project – Xi Pi
Distinguished College Project – Xi Pi
Distinguished Chapter Member – Xi Pi (Princess Lucena-Alicea)
Distinguished Alumni – Xi Pi (Anthony Cornett)
Spotlight Award – Xi Pi (Kenny Harp and Imperial Roofing of Polk County Inc.)
Horizon Award – Xi Pi (Anthony Cornett)
Art Award – Xi Pi (Tracy Bunting)
Music Award – Xi Pi (Ellie Borah)
Award for Service as 2018 Leadership Chapter – Xi Pi
Award for Service as 2018 Honors Institute Chapter – Beta Upsilon Upsilon
Elected as 2019 Leadership Chapter – Xi Pi
Hallmark Awards Participation Certificate – Xi Pi
Hallmark Awards Participation Certificate – Beta Upsilon Upsilon
Regional Awards Participation Certificate – Xi Pi
Regional Awards Participation Certificate – Beta Upsilon Upsilon

Advisors Penny Morris and Paula Celestey and the Beta Upsilon Upsilon officers were also recognized for purchasing, packaging, and dispersing the regional shirts to the 350 Florida region members who attended the Phi Theta Kappa International Catalyst Convention.