CONCORDIA -- Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) has selected Cloud County Community College’s Dr. Mitch Stimers as one if its 30 chapter advisors and alumni to serve as faculty scholars and lead discussion groups during the organization’s 2020 summer conference.
Faculty Scholars are key figures at Honors Institute, PTK’s annual weeklong honors conference, as they lead small groups of the attendees in discussions about presentations by keynote speakers. Each speaker is an expert on an idea related to PTK’s Honors Study Topic, the focus of the organization’s honors program.
“Honors Institute sets the stage for many of our chapters to begin their honors projects, which is where some of the deepest benefits of PTK membership come into play,” said Dr. Blake Ellis, PTK’s Vice President of Student Engagement. “The guidance Faculty Scholars give can be the first step in igniting a student’s passion, getting them involved, and setting them on a course to gain leadership experience and develop soft skills.”
Stimers is the chapter advisor of Beta Eta Xi, Cloud County’s Geary County Campus PTK chapter. He is also the chief information officer for Cloud County.
Phi Theta Kappa’s honors program guides chapters in a research-based, action-oriented project on their campuses and in their communities. The timely, interdisciplinary topic is developed biannually by a group of volunteer chapter advisors known as the Honors Program Council.
Stimers is one of eight Honors Program Council members who also serve as Faculty Scholars.
“The training that Faculty Scholars receive is a professional development experience like no other,” said Susan Edwards, PTK’s Associate Vice President of Honors Programming and Undergraduate Research. “Faculty Scholars come away with new skills and a completely new way to engage with and learn from a diverse group of individuals.”
Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 nations, with approximately 250,000 active members in the nation’s colleges.