(Butler, PA) More than 40 Butler County Community College students from eight Pennsylvania counties have joined Rho Phi or Delta Kappa, the college’s chapters of international honor societies whose new members must have at least a 3.5 grade-point average.
Thirty-two students are the newest members of BC3’s Rho Phi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an academic honor society; and eight of BC3’s Delta Kappa chapter of Kappa Beta Delta, an honor society for business students. One BC3 student is new member of Rho Phi and of Delta Kappa.
Phi Theta Kappa and Kappa Beta Delta recognize scholarship and promote development and leadership for students at associate degree-granting colleges or business schools.
Students who have completed at least 12 credit hours toward an associate degree or six credit hours toward a one-year certificate and who meet academic requirements are eligible for membership into Rho Phi, formed at BC3 in 1968.
“They have a commitment to their studies,” Amanda Fleming said of Rho Phi’s newest members. Fleming is college business services specialist at BC3 and serves as primary adviser of Rho Phi.
“It’s a big deal,” Fleming said. “A lot of students reach out in their first semester and ask, ‘How can I become part of the organization?’ We tell them, ‘This is your first semester. Once you reach that 12-credit limit and earn a 3.5 grade-point average, you will be able to join.”
Students who have completed at least 15 credit hours in BC3’s business division, who are pursuing an associate degree in a business program and who meet academic requirements are eligible for membership into Delta Kappa, formed at BC3 in 2019.
“Being a member of Delta Kappa lets the next four-year institution know, and any business employer know, that you are part of an elite group of students who have achieved a very high grade-point average in a business school that is accredited by an agency that holds very high standards,” said Sherri Mack, BC3’s interim dean of business.
Kappa Beta Delta is affiliated with the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. BC3’s career and transfer programs in business are accredited by the council.
“It’s an honor society for a reason,” Mack said. “It is an elite group of students who have put the time and energy into their academics.”
Meet Rho Phi’s newest members
BC3’s new members of Rho Phi from Butler County are Butler residents Chrissa Clark, Nursing, R.N.; Olivia Collins, business administration; Sarah Jackson, health care science; Tyler Leary, homeland security; Caden McElravy, computer science; Deni Mendler, health care science; Mary Oswald, fine arts; Jessica Sentgeorge, English; and Alexander Sleigher, engineering.
Also, Chicora residents Hayley Cruz, general studies; and Elizabeth Dinger, park and recreation management; Cranberry Township residents Jennifer Bass, early childhood education (Pre K-4); and Keily Tinoco, fine arts; and Haley Wiles, health care science, Harrisville.
Also, Mandi Smith, social work, Petrolia; Portersville residents Adriana Gonzalez, business management; and Evey Mertens, business administration; Sonny Ott, Nursing, R.N., Sarver; Scott Lefever, English, Slippery Rock; and Rachael Pennington, psychology, West Sunbury.
BC3’s new members of Rho Phi from Armstrong County are Lainey Hughes, business management, Kittanning; and Maria John, Nursing, R.N., Ford City; and Natalie Peffer, Nursing, R.N., Rural Valley.
New members of Rho Phi from Clearfield County are DuBois residents Christene Eschler-Rafferty, Nursing, R.N.; and Heather Fox, Nursing, R.N.
BC3’s new members of Rho Phi from Jefferson County are Macie Smith, Nursing, R.N., Brockway; and Hope Fox, health care science, Punxsutawney.
New members of Rho Phi from Lawrence County are Jaime Black, social work, New Castle; and Betsy Boyd, general studies, New Wilmington.
BC3’s new members of Rho Phi from Mercer County are Juan Yang, communications, Hermitage; and Nicholas Smither, criminology, Grove City; and from Erie County, Mallory McNeil, psychology, Erie.
Shawna Woodford, business management, Ridgway, Elk County, is a new member of Rho Phi and of Delta Kappa.
Phi Theta Kappa in March recognized Rho Phi as an ultimate five-star chapter for the fifth consecutive year following Rho Phi’s first four-star rating in 2015. Rho Phi was also recognized in March for membership acceptance rates.
To reach five-star status, a Phi Theta Kappa chapter must, among other requirements, develop an honors in action project that combines academic research, problem-solving and action-oriented services to address real-world challenges in communities.
To be honored with a Phi Theta Kappa Reach Award, chapters must increase membership acceptance rates by at least 15 percent. Rho Phi’s rate in 2020 was 15.4.
Meet Delta Kappa’s newest members
BC3’s new members of Delta Kappa from Butler County are Elizabeth Friel, business administration, Butler; Kelly Peiffer, accounting, Cabot; Nhung Do, business administration, Cranberry Township; and Erin Pletsch, business administration, Renfrew.
New members of Delta Kappa from Lawrence County are New Castle residents Amanda Cilli, accounting; Heather Doan, office administration-executive; and Brian Hammond, accounting; and from Elk County, Sharon Krise, office administration-executive, St. Marys.
BC3 offers 14 career programs within its business division that enable students to develop skills needed to enter the workforce immediately after graduation.
Those programs are in accounting, business management, computer information systems-computer support specialist, computer information systems-network administration, computer information systems-programming specialist, computer information systems-website development specialist, hospitality management, human resource management, marketing management, office administration-executive, office administration-medical, and technical trades-cosmetology management option.
BC3 also offers transfer programs within its business division in business administration and in computer science.
Business administration has been the top transfer program for graduates in BC3’s Classes of 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, according to Sharla Anke, BC3’s assistant dean of institutional research and planning.
BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing, New Castle, offers seven associate degree programs in business; BC3 @ LindenPointe, Hermitage, five; BC3 @ Brockway, Brockway, three; BC3 @ Cranberry, Cranberry Township, two; and BC3 @ Armstrong, Ford City, one.
