SUNY Chancellor, NYCCT President Honor 53 New Phi Theta Kappa Members

Albany – State University of New York Chancellor John R. Ryan and New York Community College Trustees Association President Anton N. Kasanof today honored 53 new members of the national honor society Phi Theta Kappa.

The purpose of Phi Theta Kappa is to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year college students. Members must have a GPA of between a 3.25 and 4.0 and must sustain high academic standing throughout the two-year enrollment.  

In addition, members have very strong records of service to the campus or greater community.

“The outstanding young women and men we honor today have achieved academic excellence, have demonstrated leadership and possess strong character and integrity,” said Chancellor Ryan. “While this generation represents just 25 percent of our population, they are 100 percent of our future.

“To the parents and loved ones, as well as the faculty, staff, campus presidents and community college trustees who nurtured, mentored, advised and instructed these wonderful students, our sincerest thanks and praise.”

“It is a great honor for the New York Community College Trustees organization to sponsor and organize the annual Phi Theta Kappa award ceremony,” said NYCCT President Anton N. Kasanof.  “As trustees, we are dedicated to providing students at our community colleges with the means and opportunity to do their best, to excel and to be recognized for it.  At this ceremony, recognition of our students’ accomplishments by Phi Theta Kappa provides community college trustees with a deep sense of gratification because it is all about the pursuit of excellence and the efforts made to achieve it.

“It is so rewarding to see how the tireless efforts of SUNY, the college presidents, faculty, staff and trustees have fostered excellence in our students and at our colleges.”

Chancellor Ryan and President Kasanof acknowledged the support of Phi Theta Kappa at a recognition ceremony by the Association of Presidents of Public Community Colleges and the Faculty Council of Community Colleges.

Forty four SUNY students and nine CUNY students were named to the prestigious national honor society.  A complete listing of this year’s recipients is available online, at www.suny.edu, under “News & Announcements.”

Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education, with more than 1.5 million members and 1,200 chapters located in all 50 of the United States, U.S. territories, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Germany, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau.

For more information about Phi Theta Kappa, please visit: www.phithetakappa.org

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more than 417,500 students in 7,669 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses.