Wallace-Dothan Selects Phi Theta Kappa President for 2016-2017

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: May 25 2016 8:45 AM

Dothan, Ala. – Wallace Community College-Dothan’s Omega Beta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) will have a new president leading its members this fall. Jessi Helms, a sophomore physical therapist assistant major from Donalsonville, Georgia, has been selected as the president of the national honor society. Helms, who has served as an integral part of the Wallace Lady Govs softball team over the past two years, is excited about the opportunity to serve some of the best and brightest students at Wallace. "I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve our students in this capacity, and I look forward to building upon the rich success that our local PTK chapter has enjoyed over the past several years."

 

According to Ryan Spry, Wallace’s director of student life, Helms is a natural leader who will transition her leadership skills from the field to PTK. “I first noticed Jessi’s leadership skills on display at a fall exhibition game in 2014; she was encouraging, inspiring, and willing to do whatever it took to see her team succeed,” said Spry. “This year, as a sophomore leader, her leadership is a big reason why our softball team experienced resounding success, and I look forward to her contributions to PTK.”

 

Jessi earned a spot on the spring semester President’s List (4.0 semester grade point average) while completing 19 credit hours and balancing her role on the Lady Govs softball team. It is that academic acumen and passion for success that has Spry excited about PTK’s potential under Helms’ leadership. “Her ability to balance her schoolwork, outside commitments, and involvement on campus has been so impressive. Her work in the classroom this past semester solidified my confidence in Jessi’s ability to maintain the high levels of recognition our local chapter recently achieved.”

 

This past March, Wallace Community College-Dothan’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter was recognized for obtaining the Five Star Level status, the highest level that can be achieved. The levels of membership guides chapters from local awareness to involvement in regional and international events. In addition to attendance at regional and national conferences hosted by PTK, members worked with the Alabama State Parks for a clean-up day at the Chattahoochee River in Eufaula, and have researched the impact that clean waterways have on the state. Students also researched and shared solutions to assure potable water.  On the local level, members assisted basic community needs such as food drives and delivering coloring books and crayons to children in hospitals. PTK members were also active in the C-4 (Community College Completion Corps) initiative to encourage completion of an associate degree.

 

Being a member of PTK has benefits beyond a bullet point on a resume. While PTK members have very similar profiles to other college students, their completion rate at a community college stands at 83 percent. Overall, 71 percent of PTK members ultimately transfer to a four-year university.

 

To be eligible for membership in PTK a student must be enrolled in a regionally accredited institution offering an associate degree program, must have completed at least 12 hours of college-level coursework, have a grade point average of 3.5, must receive an invitation to join from the chapter at the college where they are enrolled, and must adhere to the moral standards of the society.

 

For more information go to www.ptk.org or www.wallace.edu/PTK.

 

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