Northland Pioneer College’s (NPC) Alpha Gamma Tau Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for two-year college students, welcomed 54 new members during an induction ceremony held Friday, February 21, at NPC’s Snowflake/Taylor – Silver Creek Campus Performing Arts Center.
NPC’s President, Dr. Von Lawson, addressed the new PTK scholars, along with their family and friends, applauding their academic achievements and the significance of joining the PTK honor society. Lawson asked the group, “What is success?” He then encouraged the scholars to look over their shoulders. “Success is a mindset,” he told them, “I know each of you have the mindset of success. You took the responsibility, put in the hard work, the study, the sacrifice, and the time away from your family, children, parents, and friends so that you could have this moment in time.” He said, “You weren’t afraid of failure. You didn’t let anything stop you. You decided that you would be a success.” He explained why he had asked the students to look over their shoulders. “Success for me is not money or possessions; It's not degrees.” He explained, “For me, success is when I can look over my shoulder and say I’m happy with what I did yesterday and know that I will do better tomorrow.” He told the inductees, “You are a success not only because of what you’ve earned tonight but because of everything that you will do from this day forward. Share your knowledge and you will do phenomenal things.”
NPC’s 2025 PTK Alpha Gamma Tau Chapter President and NPC student Madison Lane gave charge to the inductees, swearing them in by oath. Assisting with the ceremony were NPC Mathematics Faculty and Chapter Advisor, James Gil, student inductee and PTK Vice President of Leadership, Rivke Huma, PTK Vice President of Public Relations and student inductee Adriana Benally, and PTK Vice President of Fellowship and student inductee Daniel Reabe.
To be eligible for PTK membership, students must complete a minimum of 12 hours of associate degree coursework and earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. Students must also maintain a high academic standing throughout their enrollment in the two-year college, generally a 3.25 GPA. As members, students are eligible for a number of scholarship programs, and in some cases, distinguished placement at four-year colleges and universities.
For membership information, contact NPC’s PTK Chapter Advisor James Gil at (928) 289-6563 or visit www.npc.edu/ptk.
Joining the NPC PTK chapter were:
Shantell Baird – Show Low
Karen Baker – Holbrook
Kim Baumkoetter – Snowflake
Adrina Benally – Kayenta
Lelaney Benally – Pinon
Kyra Benally – Holbrook
Kailee Bryant – Shonto
Fallon Butterfield – Whiteriver
Erica Camplell – Show Low
Drew Chee – Keams Canyon
Layla Cisco – Saint Johns
Corey Cummings – Winslow
Mannix Czech – Snowflake
Keri Daggett – Concho
Eliza Escobedo – Concho
Marcella Garcia – Lakeside
Ramzi Gonsalves – Snowflake
Tristan Greene – Saint Johns
Alejandro Guzman – Winslow
Jayda Halverson – Show Low
Melissa Holan – Snowflake
Rivke Huma – Holbrook
Gabriel Johnson – Lakeside
Jennifer Kerr – Show Low
Sara Kress – Show Low
Madison Lane – Pinetop
Graecyn Lewis – Show Low
Amanda McCoy – Concho
Brandon McLaws – Winslow
Gabriella Medina – Pinetop
Amber Mitchell – Holbrook
Sariah Montonya – Lakeside
Alyssa Mowers – Snowflake
Jana-Ray Nielipinski – Heber
Scott Noreen – Show Low
Karlita Pablo – Whiteriver
Laci Padilla – Winslow
Nancy Palmer – Show Low
Nathan Peterson – Snowflake
Kee Powers – Winslow
Genevieve Quay – Lakeside
Daniel Reabe – Taylor
Tinequea Sales – Winslow
Trace Shaffery – Show Low
Jocelyn Tewalt – Show Low
Eli Thompson – Pinetop
Ammon Tingey – Taylor
Anna Uscilo – Show Low
Steven Vickers – Eagar
Maggie Wagner – Springerville
Blake Wegele – Concho
Tina Wilson – Winslow
Sara Young – Lakeside
Kaylan Young – Taylor
