In the Gateway Auditorium
on Friday, March 4, Phi Theta
Kappa and Kappa Beta Delta
held their spring International
Honor Society induction ceremony.
Phi Theta Kappa or Pi Xi was
established by Missouri twoyear
college presidents in
1918. Phi Theta Kappa
International Honors Society
serves to recognize and
encourage the academic
achievement of two-yea
college students and provide
opportunities for individual
growth and development
through honors, leadership
and service
Programming.
Today, Phi Theta Kappa
is the largest honor society
in American higher education
with more than 2 million
members and 1,200
chapters located in 50
United States, U.S
Territories, Canada and
Germany.
In 1929, the American
Association of Community
Colleges recognized Phi Theta
Kappa as the official honor
society for two-year colleges.
Kappa Beta Delta, a national
honor societ,y was also present
at the event. Created in 1997,
this is for students in accredited
associate degree programs
for their high academic
achievement in business.
Rich Lipsack, a business
administration major from
Bristol, attended the ceremony
to be inducted into both Phi
Theta Kappa and Kappa Beta
Delta. “To me this is awesome
because it gives me opportunities
I wouldn’t have a chance
to experience if I hadn’t joined
this at all. I look forward to the
scholarship and leadership
opportunities that I will
receive.”
Wisdom, aspiration and purity
are the cornerstones of this
organization. Phi Theta
Kappa’s presence was strong at
the community college. The
entire organization came out
for the celebration.
“This is a group of great
hard working people,” said
John Joey Ramirez III.
“As far as opportunities go it
looks awesome on a resume,
being active has given me
things to talk about when I go
in for an interview. I feel like
being a member of Phi Theta
Kappa has really prepared me
for life.”
The auditorium was packed,
completely filled with families
of all sizes. The 77 inductees
filled the first eight rows.
When asked what the induction
meant to Amelia Pikovsky,
the psychology major from
Ivyland said, “This ceremony
gives me the opportunity to get
involved, they have a lot of
leadership opportunities. I
think that this definitely makes
my time at Bucks more valuable
and will open a lot of
doors for me in the future.”
“This ceremony gives me the
opportunity to recognize the
hard work that I and my fellow
inductees put forth all the
time.” said another spring
inductee, Emily Ruzicka, a liberal
arts major from Newtown.
“I think it’s a chance to meet
people, get to know new faces
and other people that put forth
as much effort as I do into my
schoolwork.”
The ceremony began with a
welcome and introduction of
the honored guests by
Professor Charles Beem.
Among this group was VP of
Student Affairs Barbara
Yetman, Dean of Academic
Affairs Dr. Annette Conn,
Foundations Coordinator
Adrienne Clark and Director of
Student Life Matt Cipriano.
This was followed by a
speech from Bucks President
Dr. James Linksz. He spoke
about the great occasion, future
orientation and life of scholarship.
Even quoting Alltime
ice hockey great
Wayne Gretzsky,
“Skate where the puck
would be.”
Phi Theta Kappa
President Amy
Gallagher introduced
the night’s guest
speaker, Mary Nickle,
Phi Theta Kappa president.
A member of the
Pennsylvania academic
team, Nickle spoke
about her Pi Xi experience
and the leadership
opportunities she
gained including a fullpaid
scholarship to Millersville
University. “Fun, fellowship
and food,” were three words
she used to describe what Phi
Theta Kappa was to her.
After the speaker Gallagher
spoke about Phi Theta Kappa,
its values and an explanation
of the organization’s coat of
arms. She spoke about how Phi
Theta Kappa was available to
everyone; part-time students,
full-time students and even
online students.
Gallagher even showed that
Phi Theta Kappa isn’t just
about hard work and striving to
excel. She spoke about how the
Bucks chapter is having an
upcoming Philadelphia Phillies
red goes green event stating,
“This is a volunteer event;
we actually get to go the
Phillies game free of charge
when they play the New York
Mets on April 30.”
After all of the introductions
and speeches it was time to
recognize the students; the
inductions were officially
ready to begin.
Each new member’s name
was called and they walked on
stage and shook the hands of
Linksz and Gallagher. They
then received a white rose and
a burning white candle.
The inductees were then
ordered to gather back at their
seats and remain standing.
When the inductee’s names
were finished being called
Gallagher proceeded to swear
the new members in with the
pledge to Phi Theta Kappa.
President of Kappa Beta Delta
Arezo Baca then swore in their
new members and the ceremony
was complete.
The ceremony was followed
by a wonderful variety of food
for the new members and their
families in Gallagher Hall.
This included an official cake
cutting by Nickle and a chance
for Phi Theta Kappa to celebrate
in full.