March 12, 2026
The Iota Mu Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at 91福利 proudly welcomed 49 students during an induction ceremony held Monday, March 9, 2026, at the Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts. The evening honored the students鈥� academic success and their pursuit of excellence in and out of the classroom.
PRCC President Dr. Adam Breerwood represented the college when he addressed the inductees and those who came to support them.
鈥淲hat an honor to be here tonight to celebrate these outstanding students for this remarkable accomplishment,鈥� said Breerwood. 鈥淓very single day at Pearl River, we strive to provide our students with a path to success. You’re on a very clear pathway to take advantage of all the opportunities that we offer. We’re so very proud of you for your induction into this remarkable honor society.鈥�
Breerwood was recognized by the chapter for his selection as a Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction recipient, with the official presentation to occur at PTK鈥檚 Catalyst later this month.
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the premier honor society recognizing academic excellence at two-year colleges, includes more than 1,200 chapters worldwide. The Iota Mu Chapter, representing both the Hancock County and Poplarville campuses, is celebrating its 69th year.
Membership in PTK is reserved for students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, requiring at least 12 hours of college-level coursework and a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher.
Built on the hallmarks of scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship, PTK challenges its members to pursue excellence beyond the classroom. During the ceremony, current officers reflected on how these guiding principles have shaped their own PTK journeys.
For students planning to transfer to a four-year institution, PTK serves as a valuable resource. Many colleges and universities, particularly in Mississippi, offer dedicated scholarships for PTK members, with additional opportunities for chapter officers.
University of Southern Mississippi (USM) President Dr. Joe Paul served as the evening鈥檚 guest speaker. USM has been a longtime supporter of transfer students who make up approximately half of its student body. He recognized the inductees as developing traits that will serve them well both at a four-year school and in the workforce: uncommon discipline, task-relevant maturity, and the ability to delay gratification with an eye toward the long haul.
鈥淵ou’ve earned this; you are among the top percentage of community college students, not just here, but literally around the globe,鈥� said Paul. 鈥淭his is the highest academic honorary society in the world of community colleges, and you’re about to be inducted into it. So don’t take it for granted.
鈥淵ou need to look in the mirror and know that you are a mature, emerging young adult. You’ve shown what you鈥檝e got academically, and you will be as successful or more successful at the next level. If you show up with those kinds of expectations, I can promise you that you will be highly successful.鈥�
Iota Mu Advisor Kira Arthurs shared more about the level of excellence the chapter has obtained. She mentioned previous recognition, recent awards from the Mississippi/Louisiana Region, and the projects completed this academic year. The Honors in Action Project focused on the environmental and economic impacts of artificial intelligence with a public presentation of their findings. The College Project involved collecting current information on all student organizations and communicating the benefits of attending a community college. Chapter members will attend PTK鈥檚 international conference, Catalyst, where they will learn of any awards for the current year.
Representatives from聽Delta State University,聽Mississippi State University, the University of Alabama,聽the University of Mississippi, the University of New Orleans,聽the University of South Alabama,聽and聽the University of Southern Mississippi聽greeted inductees after the ceremony.聽
Spring 2026 PTK Inductees
PRCC students inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Iota Mu Chapter for the spring 2026聽semester are:聽
Nicholas Acker 鈥� Pearlington, MS聽
Morgan Alexander 鈥� Bay St. Louis, MS聽
Maja聽Alombro聽鈥� Bay St. Louis, MS聽
Jamayiah Anderson 鈥� Foxworth, MS聽
Bailey Babin 鈥� Carriere, MS聽
Livia Bennett 鈥� Carriere, MS聽
Madelynn Bennett 鈥� Starkville, MS聽
Shelby Benson 鈥� Bay St. Louis, MS聽
Madilyn Berry 鈥� Carriere, MS聽
Sophie Bilbo 鈥� Carriere, MS聽
Alajah Buckley 鈥� Columbia, MS聽
Mollie Byrd 鈥� Lumberton, MS聽
Margaret聽Compretta聽鈥� Waveland, MS聽
Laney Deitz 鈥� Mobile, AL聽
Kaylee Divine 鈥� Hattiesburg, MS聽
Morgan聽Eleuterius聽鈥� Long Beach, MS聽
Alycia Emmons 鈥� Purvis, MS聽
Byron Ferrell 鈥� Poplarville, MS聽
Emily Ferrell 鈥� Poplarville, MS聽
Lauren Feuerstein 鈥� Bay St. Louis, MS聽
Emmalee Funk 鈥� St. George, KS聽
Carli Hayes 鈥� Carriere, MS聽
Julia Hoffman 鈥� Bay St. Louis, MS聽
Madison Hughes 鈥� Olive Branch, MS聽
Jaxon Hunter 鈥� Picayune, MS聽
Nikolas Jensen 鈥� Carriere, MS聽
Beaudalaire Kerr 鈥� Hattiesburg, MS聽
Cali Kirkbride 鈥� St. Martin, MS聽
Jamila Luckett 鈥� Canton, MS聽
Neya Marshall 鈥� Diamondhead, MS聽
Braxton Martin 鈥� Lucedale, MS聽
Daniel Martin 鈥� Silver Creek, MS聽
Zanorah Martin 鈥� Picayune, MS聽
Maya Messenger 鈥� Ocean Springs, MS聽
Bryson Malpass 鈥� Clinton, MS聽
Brady Morse 鈥� Kiln, MS聽
Nyla Myers 鈥� Florence, MS聽
Shayla Nguyen 鈥� Long Beach, MS聽
Mye鈥橝sha Peters 鈥� Angie, LA聽
Jessica Powell 鈥� Carriere, MS聽
Joshua Reid 鈥� Lumberton, MS聽
Emily Reinike 鈥� Pass Christian, MS聽
Cy鈥橬ara Robinson 鈥� McGehee, AR聽
Gabriel Robinson 鈥� Carriere, MS聽
Alana Smith 鈥� Southaven, MS聽
Landon Smith 鈥� Hattiesburg, MS聽
Mileah Vince 鈥� Pearlington, MS聽
Alexis Williams 鈥� Foxworth, MS聽
Mason Williams 鈥� Picayune, MS聽
According to Iota Mu advisor Dr. Chambers, the total number of new Iota Mu members so far this semester is聽149.聽Students who received an invitation have until May 15 to accept and become聽a member.聽
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Article by Laura O’Neill. Photography by Patrick Peerboom.
