(Butler, PA) Nearly four dozen Butler County Community College students from eight western Pennsylvania counties this fall have accepted membership into the college’s chapters of international honor societies.
Thirty-eight students from Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clearfield, Elk, Lawrence and Mercer counties are the newest members of BC3’s Rho Phi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an international academic honor society for two-year colleges and programs.
Seven students from Armstrong, Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties have become members of the college’s Delta Kappa chapter of Kappa Beta Delta, an international honor society for business students.
Phi Theta Kappa and Kappa Beta Delta recognize scholarship and promote development and leadership.
New members of Phi Theta Kappa and of Kappa Beta Delta must have a grade-point average of at least 3.5.
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 in Rho Phi, formed at BC3 in 1968.
Students who have completed at least 12 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 in Delta Kappa, formed at BC3 in 2019.
“It’s also good from a resume perspective for a brand-new graduate.”
Phi Theta Kappa members can pursue scholarships, professional development and leadership development opportunities, and career training through the society, said Dr. Josh Novak, primary adviser of BC3’s Rho Phi chapter.
“It’s also good from a resume perspective for a brand-new graduate,” said Novak, the college’s dean of student development.
“We have a dozen students each year who are able to state they were the president or vice president or treasurer or who held other offices. We give students an opportunity to be not just a member, but to develop and demonstrate leadership skills.”
Kappa Beta Delta also offers members opportunities for scholarships and professional development, said Ramin Hajave, primary adviser of BC3’s Delta Kappa chapter.
“And if you have two people applying for the same job with the same credentials, this will put them over and beyond,” said Hajave, an instructor in BC3’s business division. An employer “can look at their resume or transcript and they are going to say, ‘Wow. Look at this. He or she was in an honor society.’ This gives them an edge.”
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.
“And if you have two people applying for the same job with the same credentials, this will put them over and beyond.”
Phi Theta Kappa in March recognized Rho Phi as an ultimate five-star chapter for the sixth consecutive year. 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.
Chapters that increase membership acceptance rates by at least 15 percent are honored with a Phi Theta Kappa Reach Award.
BC3 has 23 selections in business
Business is BC3’s largest academic division with 23 associate degree, certificate or workplace certificate programs.
BC3 offers associate degrees in 12 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-networking and cybersecurity, 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 has associate degrees in transfer programs within its business division in business administration and in computer science.
Certificate or workplace certificate programs within BC3’s business division take one year or less to complete. They include accounting skills, business skills, entrepreneurship, hospitality management-meeting and event planning; human resource management specialist; human resources; management of applied technology; marketing management; and Microsoft Office specialist.
Business administration was the division’s most popular program among new students and the division’s most popular among all BC3 students as of Aug. 8, according to Sharla Anke, the college’s assistant dean of institutional research and planning.
The new members of BC3’s honor societies are listed below by and ordered alphabetically by last name.
ALLEGHENY County
Meghan Thomas, Pittsburgh, Nursing, R.N.
Armstrong County
Alyssa Albini, Worthington, health care science
Hannah Baker, Ford City, park and recreation management
Kendra Davignon, Worthington, psychology
Emily Johns, Adrian, human resource management
Megan Shellhammer, Kittanning, general studies
Caleb Zell, Ford City, criminology
Joshua Myers, Ford City, computer information systems-computer support specialist
Beaver County
Kimberly McClean, Aliquippa, accounting skills
Butler County
Stephen Brooks, Saxonburg, engineering
Riley Danner, Butler, Nursing, R.N.
Kallee Harrison, Butler, graphic design
Zachary Humes, Cranberry Township, computer science
Justin Kludo, Evans City, computer science
Zachary Kress, Cranberry Township, engineering
Kathleen Lassinger, Butler, Nursing, R.N.
Breanne McKissick, Butler, business management
Blaise Meanor, Cranberry Township, business administration
Matthew Murphy, Cranberry Township, computer science
Abigail Natili, Butler, psychology
Ian Petrick, Butler, business administration
Aslyn Pry, West Sunbury, general studies
Sydney Reott, Butler, Nursing, R.N.
Taylor Schultz, Butler, business administration
Joseph Skursky, Butler, computer information systems-programming specialist
Sara Soltis, Valencia, Nursing, R.N.
Jacob Wendt, Sarver, engineering
Silas Wilson, Butler, physical education-sport management
Morgan Vandergrift, Cranberry Township, general studies
Justin Bajema, Butler, business administration
Ashley Brewer, Cabot, marketing management
Olivia Collins, Butler, business administration
Thomas Cornelius, Butler, computer information systems-programming specialist
Clearfield County
Michael Dillree, DuBois, Nursing, R.N.
Jordan Miller, DuBois, business management
Elk County
Danielle Cappiello, Ridgway, Nursing, R.N.
Lawrence County
Jacob Abraham, New Castle, engineering technology with CADD
Rachel Black, New Castle, photography
Jeffrey Lombardo, New Castle, psychology
Brody Newman, Wampum, business administration
Brandy West, New Castle, business management
Sydney Kolas, New Castle, business management
Mercer County
Alison Humes, Sharon, emergency services-police services
Kalsi Kolding, Mercer, child development and family studies
Shyanne Leist, Farrell, accounting
