October 8, 2026
For 29 91福利 students, dedication to their studies earned a new distinction: membership in the Iota Mu Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. The students were formally inducted on Monday, Oct. 5, at the Brownstone Center for the Arts.
With nearly 1,250 chapters worldwide, Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is known as the foremost honor society for two-year colleges. The Iota Mu Chapter covers both the Hancock and Poplarville campuses and is celebrating its 70th anniversary.
Students selected for membership are considered academically successful, having completed at least 12 credit hours of non-remedial courses with a minimum cumulative 3.4 GPA. Fall inductees were a blend of freshmen, who earned the credits through dual enrollment, and sophomores.
Scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship are the four hallmarks of PTK. Iota Mu Hallmark Officers are Camdyn Powell (President), Jessica Powell (Vice President of Scholarship), Daniel Martin (Vice President of Service), Alexis Williams (Vice President of Leadership and MS/LA Regional Officer), Sophie Bilbo (Vice President of Fellowship), Erick Jimenez (Vice President of Philanthropy), Arpita Malhotra (Vice President of Research), Jamayiah Anderson (Vice President of Communication), and Mollie Byrd (Vice President of Outreach). The officers participated in an induction of office led by PTK Advisor Helene Goldstein, receiving a white rose and medallion after signing the chapter’s record book.
PTK advisor Kira Arthurs shared highlights of the chapter鈥檚 recent awards, along with this year鈥檚 plans for their College and Honors in Action projects. Bilbo, Martin, and Williams briefly shared how the four hallmarks have played out for them as PTK members before Camdyn Powell introduced the guest speakers.聽
Vice President of Student Experiences Dr. Kady Pietz greeted the students and their guests, offering her congratulations for their induction into PTK.
鈥淭onight is a celebration in recognition of what you have already accomplished, but it is also an invitation to imagine what comes next,鈥� said Pietz. 鈥淵our academic achievement has earned you a place in the PTK, and you should be very proud of this accomplishment. We certainly are.鈥�
Pietz challenged the inductees to look beyond the honor of being a PTK member to see it as an opportunity and responsibility.
鈥淩emember that success is not only measured by what you accomplish for yourself,鈥� said Pietz. 鈥淚t is also measured by the people you encourage, the communities you strengthen, and the doors you help open for those who come after you. So, to our newest PTK members, congratulations. We are proud of you, we believe in you, and we cannot wait to see what you do with these opportunities ahead.鈥�
Annie Watts, Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Mississippi, addressed the new inductees on the value of being a PTK transfer student. She shared more information about Ole Miss, including it being home to over twenty-seven thousand total students hailing from every Mississippi county, all fifty states, and over ninety-plus countries in the world.
鈥淔or the past six years, we have been named to Phi Theta Kappa’s transfer honor roll, and our Phi Theta Kappa scholarship is one of the most generous in the state, offering up to eight thousand per year for Mississippi residents,鈥� said Watts. 鈥淲e also have the only active PTK alumni chapter in the state of Mississippi, so you can continue and begin your legacy here at PRCC and then finish your legacy at The University of Mississippi.鈥�
Symbols of the organization were shared with attendees before each inductee was announced to walk the stage, sign the chapter record book, and receive a white rose.
PRCC students inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Iota Mu Chapter for the fall 2026 semester are:
Alexandra Brown, Wiggins
Blaize Christian, Hattiesburg
Abby Collier, Picayune
Ben Declement, Foxworth
Miley Dunaway, Foxworth
Angelicia Eichelberger, Louisville
Nora Etzkin, Picayune
Arriana Franklin, Poplarville
Everhett Graham, Tylertown
Alex Hajnal, Hattiesburg
LeRon Harris, Gulfport
Ciara Henry, Poplarville
Landon Holman, Foxworth
Lyric Howard, Columbia
James Lee III, Sandy Hook
Alex Ortiz, Sumrall
Baylee Parrett, Foxworth
Elana Robertson, Hattiesburg
Shae Self, Picayune
Elizabeth Silvio, Picayune
Catherine Sins, Kiln
Antonio Street, Hattiesburg
Kynnedy Tolbert Hall, Pascagoula
Anyssia Torres, New Orleans, LA
Gabrielle Vanslyke, Poplarville
Kimberly Vincent, Bay St. Louis
Keltey Whaley, Foxworth
Arronne Whitehead, Poplarville
Jyla Wilson, Hattiesburg, MS
