October 27, 2026
Twenty-two new members of the Beta Tau Gamma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa international honor society were inducted Monday, Oct. 19, at 91福利.
The induction ceremony was held at the Forrest County Campus with family members, friends, faculty, staff, and administration filling the audience.
Students inducted included Ella Bergman of Petal, Karla Contreras of Hattiesburg, James Conner of Oak Grove, Cristina Dickerson of Jacksonville, Fla., Bella Dubose of Hattiesburg, Ayriel Fortune of Hattiesburg, Jonathan Gwin of Oak Grove, Charles Hicks II of Prentiss, Hunter Hooper of Hattiesburg, Miya Hullum of Hattiesburg, Ihaile Johnson of Hattiesburg.
Tanya Jones of Laurel, Camron Kapinski of Hopewell, Pa., Hayden Navarro of Petal, Logan Pitts of Petal, Lucas Robbins of Petal, Brianna Terry of Hattiesburg, Angie Ventura of Petal, Jackson Walters of Hattiesburg, Tia Washington of Hattiesburg, Stella Whalum of Columbia and Rodney Young of Prentiss.
Phi Theta Kappa is known as the foremost honor society for two-year colleges with more than 1,300 chapters worldwide.
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.
Scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship are the four hallmarks of PTK. The current officers briefly shared how those hallmarks have played out for them as members of PTK.
Dr. Jana Causey, Vice President of the Forrest County Campus, told students that PTK membership will open many doors for their futures.
鈥淭hese students are going to achieve great things while they are here at Pearl River and moving forward,鈥� said Dr. Causey. 鈥淲hat you are going to achieve would not be possible without the help of your teachers at PRCC. You have shown the ability to have pride in what you鈥檙e doing.鈥欌��
Beta Tau Gammas advisors are Drs. David Collum, Terri Smith Ruckel, Ryan Ruckel and Doug Donohue, and Said Otwane.
Dr. Ryan Ruckel, Dean, William Lewis Honors Institute and PTK Regional Coordinator, welcomed the audience.
鈥淭ransfer scholarship opportunities are available to these students as they continue with PRCC,鈥� said Dr. Ruckel. 鈥淭hese students also qualify for membership in our Dr. William Lewis Honors Institute, as well as various research opportunities. We welcome the opportunity to encourage and work with these students as they move forward.鈥�
The program began with the induction of chapter officers by Dr. David Collum, Dean of Career and Technical Education, and Said Otwane, instructor of Computer Coding.
Chapter officers include Jonathan Gwin as President, Ella Bergman of Sumrall, Vice President of Leadership; Amaria Bowie of Hattiesburg, Vice President of Leadership; Karla Contreras of Hattiesburg, Vice President of Scholarship; Akayliah Donaldson of Hattiesburg, Vice President of Service; Charles Hicks of Hattiesburg, Vice President of Service; Alex Miller of Petal, Vice President of Chapter Engagement; Daniel Robinson of Sumrall, Vice President of Chapter Engagement.
Noah Stasny of Lumberton, Vice President of Fellowship; Marin Sumrall of Sumrall, Vice President of Fellowship; Angie Ventura of Hattiesburg, Vice President of Membership; Asia Walker of Hattiesburg, Ambassador of Dual Enrollment; Chloe White of Sumrall, Vice President of Career Readiness; Sam Whittington, Vice President serving as Regional Officer; Grace Kitchens of Oak Grove, Vice President of Officer in Training; and Emory Smith of Hattiesburg, Officer in Training.
Dr. Greg Underwood, Academic Dean at the FCC, told inductees, 鈥淭his is a night where you can all be proud.鈥�
The induction ceremony was sponsored by the Ole Miss Admissions office. Dr. Rudy Gatlin, PRCC instructor of Psychology and Music Appreciation, provided special music for the event.
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Article by Chuck Abadie. Photography by Cullin Rogers.
