(Butler, PA) Nearly four dozen Butler County Community College students from eight western Pennsylvania counties have accepted membership into BC3’s chapters of international honor societies this spring.
Rho Phi is BC3’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an international academic honor society for two-year colleges and programs. Delta Kappa is the college’s chapter of Kappa Beta Delta, an international honor society for business students.
New members of Phi Theta Kappa and of Kappa Beta Delta must have a grade-point average of at least 3.5. They represent this spring BC3 students from Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer and Westmoreland counties.
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.
“Definitely a resume-builder”
Membership in the international honor societies may benefit BC3 students who transfer to senior institutions and provide an advantage when seeking employment, BC3 administrators said.
“It’s definitely a resume-builder,” said Dr. Josh Novak, primary adviser of BC3’s Rho Phi chapter. “It’s also something that is recognized by both transfer schools and potentially down the road, employers. More importantly is the opportunity to participate in leadership, scholarship, service and fellowship.”
An increasing number of senior institutions to which BC3 students most often transfer are awarding scholarships to those who were members of Phi Theta Kappa, Novak said.
“Being a member of PTK,” Novak said, “opens up doors.”
“The best of the best”
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.
“With our accreditation, four-year institutions know the students are graduating with an exceptional education,” said Sherri Mack, dean of BC3’s business division. “Having the extra credential of the honor society means they are the best of the best when it comes to the business division programs. They are taking the classes seriously.
“Businesses want the best candidate for the job. So when they have to decide and they are looking at resumes, they pick the top people on paper as the first step. This would definitely get them to the top of the pile.”
BC3 has 25 selections in business
Business is BC3’s largest academic division with 25 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, medical office specialist, Microsoft Office specialist and social media influencer.
The new members of BC3’s honor societies are listed below by county and ordered alphabetically by last name.
Armstrong County
Bailey Bevington, Worthington, psychology
Veronica Hete, Kittanning, Nursing, R.N.
Amber Maurer, Cowansville, engineering
Annalee Moorhead, Kittanning, business administration
Riley Roberts, Manorville, Nursing, R.N.
Madison Schaeffer, Ford City, Nursing, R.N.
Justin Choltco, Apollo, networking and cybersecurity
BUTLER County
Khadija Akhouad, Seven Fields, business management
Arica Angert, Karns City, graphic design
Amber Ball, Butler, psychology
Hunter Dunlap, Chicora, criminology
Reanna Everton, Butler, Nursing, R.N.
William Geis, Cranberry Twp., business administration
Cailey Gibson, Evans City, accounting
Daniel Hamilton, Zelienople, general studies
Lillian Hunt, Slippery Rock, biological science
Rachel Kremmel, Cranberry Twp., graphic design
Chase Leisie, Cranberry Twp., general studies
Veronica Martin, Hilliards, Nursing, R.N.
Rebecca Meyer, Slippery Rock, physical education-physical activity and fitness management
Kinzie Miller, Slippery Rock, psychology
Jada Pinto, Butler, Nursing, R.N.
Liam Robinson, Herman, engineering
Wayne Sell, Saxonburg, history
Sima Shahriari, Mars, business management
Mya Slomers, Butler, Nursing, R.N.
Robert Snyder, Butler, graphic design
Nicholas Steiner, Eau Claire, Nursing, R.N.
Chelsey Stewart, Butler, health care science
Juliana Van Hoozen, Butler, psychology
Eden Wirtz, Valencia, biological science
Alexis Nixon, Fenelton, business administration
Emma Rihn, Butler, business administration
CLARION COUNTY
Amanda Claypoole, Clarion, health care science
Hunter Wolfe, Brookville, park and recreation management
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Julia McAdoo, Punxsutawney, Nursing, R.N.
Lauren Taylor, Falls Creek, Nursing, R.N.
Belinda Tinari, Corsica, health care science
LAWRENCE COUNTy
Terence Rice, New Castle, accounting
Jennifer Gangone, New Castle, business management
MCKEAN COUNTY
Katie Dase, Kane, health care science
MERCER COUNTy
Christina Critchlow, Mercer, social work
Phu Truong, Hermitage, business administration
Westmoreland CountY
Courtney Hughes, Lower Burrell, physical therapist assistant