WILBURTON, OK (May 6, 2021) – A group of academically high-achieving students were recently inducted into the national honor society Phi Theta Kappa during a campus ceremony in Wilburton. The group consisted of students who met the requirements for membership in the spring and fall semesters of 2020 and spring semester of 2021.

The society was founded in 1918 and is recognized as the official honor society of associate-level institutions and programs. According to its website, the mission of Phi Theta Kappa is two-fold: recognizing and encouraging academic achievement and providing opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership service and fellowship programming.

Eastern’s Theta Pi chapter upholds this mission by sponsoring a number of events and initiatives to serve their campus and community. These efforts include an annual Toys for Tots campaign and Voter Registration Drive. The chapter earned ten consecutive wins in the statewide registration drive prior to 2020.

“Two of our largest student-led events on campus are the Voter Registration Drive and Christmas Toys for Tots campaign,” said Brenda Strange, chapter advisor and dean of the Business Division. “Service opportunities not only help students build skills and meet new people, but they can also help lead students into a career path for their future. We feel community service is an important part of a student’s experience at Eastern.”

Membership is granted by invitation once certain academic qualifications are met. To qualify, students must have completed 12 to 29 hours of coursework towards an associate degree with a cumulative 3.75 grade point average or more than 30 credit hours with a cumulative 3.5 grade point average.

Strange said induction into Phi Theta Kappa empowers these students with a competitive edge. In addition to becoming eligible for over $37 million in scholarship opportunities, they become part of a network of nearly three million fellow scholars. Members also enjoy special benefits and discount offers from the organization’s corporate partners such as GEICO and Bank of America.

Members graduating from Eastern are recognized during commencement ceremonies and their membership is noted on official college transcripts.

Those inducted this spring include: Maggie Armstrong, McAlester; Curren Bailey, Moore; Rebeccah Barnes, Antlers; Kimberly Bean, Choctaw; Morgen Bellar, Lenapah; Ketelyn Blocks, Haileyville; Elizabeth Brewer, Stuart; Ashley Brown, Stuart; Viktoria Buck, Colbert; Madelyn Burks, McAlester; Kason Cathey, Jones; Taylor Chambers, Atoka; Kallie Clifton, Soper; Karson Coffee, Bentonville, Ark.; Madelyn Compton, Norman; Jaleigh Dorrell, Wilburton; Michelle Evans, Wilburton; Nolan Feazle, Ada; Ashleigh Gay, Washington; Gabriel Gibson, Blocker; Priscilla Graham, McCurtain; Seth Gray, Drummond; Wyatt Gray, Drummond; Makayla Hamilton, McAlester; Kortnie Haney, Coalgate; Keely Harrelson, Springdale, Ark.; Tiffani Henry, Kingston; Kally Henson, Angleton, Tex.; Keegan Hertensen, Cashion; Vilma Higginbotham, Wilburton; Alexis Hise, Stonewall; Avery Hoggard, Ratliff City; Jenna Hulsey, Red Oak; Kayla Jean, Quinton; Jacob Johnson, Ruth, Miss.; Misty Jones, McAlester; Alton Jones, Jr., McAlester; Pamela Latham, Canadian; Cade Lott, McAlester; Christian McGowan, Bokchito; Ashley Mills, Eufaula; Jordan Monroe, Wilburton; Jennifer Montana, Wilburton; Baylee Nix, Carnegie; Rebekah O’Neal, Elkins, Ark.; Jayme Pantle, Indianola; Zayne Parks, Wilburton; Montanna Patzack, Wilburton; Alyssa Pemberton, Krebs; Bree Phelps, Ardmore; Jodie Pool, McAlester; Jill Pruitt, Stilwell; Morgan Reese, Roland; Randi Riley, Gowen; Ethan Robertson, Wilburton; Gracie Roe, Cleveland; David Sandlin, Owasso; Stormie Shores, Stuart; TiJanae’ Simmons, Baytown, Tex.; Kara Smith, McAlester; Sydni Smith, McAlester; Madison Sonaggera, Wilburton; Riley Spears, Quinton; Shaina Spears, Wilburton; Tanner Stevens, Yukon; Keelie Tsosie, Wright City; Madison Wall, Talihina; Jonanne Walters, Broken Bow; Deja Williams, Manvel, Tex.; Sarah Williams, McAlester; Rynda Wilson, Quinton; and Hadleigh Workman, Caney.

Eastern students granted membership into Phi Theta Kappa gather together following their induction ceremony. Students inducted who met the requirements for membership in the spring semester of 2020 include: (front row, left to right) Rebekah O’Neal, Taylor Chambers, Avery Hoggard, Kayla Jean, (back row) Keely Harrelson, Karson Coffee and Alton Jones, Jr.

Eastern students granted membership into Phi Theta Kappa gather together following their induction ceremony. Students inducted who met the requirements for membership in the fall semester of 2020 include (front row, left to right): Michele Evans, Curren Bailey, Maggie Armstrong, Ashley Brown, Madelyn Compton, Tiffani Henry, Riley Spears, Alyssa Pemberton, (back row) Tanner Stevens, Kason Cathey, Wyatt Gray, Cade Lott, Seth Gray, Madison Wall and Kallie Clifton.

Eastern students granted membership into Phi Theta Kappa gather together following their induction ceremony. Students inducted who met the requirements for membership in the spring semester of 2021 include (front row, left to right): Montanna Patzack, Jodie Pool, Vilma Higginbotham, Morgen Bellar, Viktoria Buck, Rynda Wilson, Makayla Hamilton, (middle row) Jill Pruitt, Morgan Reese, Kortnie Haney, Bree Phelps, Baylee Nix, TiJanae’ Simmons, Sarah Williams, Jennifer Montana, (back row) Deja Williams, Ethan Robertson, David Sandlin, Nolan Feazle, Ashleigh Gay, Zayne Parks and Jenna Hulsey.