Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is the International Honor Society for two-year colleges. Brightpoint’s Chester Campus is the home of the Tau Rho chapter. 

About Phi Theta Kappa, ΦΘΚ

Phi Theta Kappa is an internationally recognized honor society serving colleges that offer associate degree programs. It is the largest higher education honor society in America with more than 1.3 million members and 1,200 chapters in the 50 United States and U.S. territories, as well as Canada, Germany, and Japan. It is the official honor society recognized by Brightpoint and the Virginia Community College System. 

Phi Theta Kappa recognizes and encourages scholarship among community college students. All Phi Theta Kappa activities are centered on the society's four hallmarks: scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship.

At Brightpoint, we seek to:

  • recognize and encourage the academic achievement of our students, and
  • provide opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service and fellowship programming.

PTK Activities

Phi Theta Kappa members engage in a wide variety of activities and projects to benefit our world, country, local community and Brightpoint. Past projects sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa members include blood drives; book drives for Africa; canned food and Thanksgiving meal drives to benefit the families of Brightpoint students; care packages for U.S troops stationed overseas; local river clean-ups; Relay for Life; Angel Tree; and many more. If you have a passion for helping others, PTK can help you put your ideas into action!

Members also have the option of attending regional and national Phi Theta Kappa conventions to learn what other chapters are doing, showcase their work and compete for awards, and network with fellow Phi Theta Kappa members.

Eligibility and Benefits

You can learn more about the benefits of joining Phi Theta Kappa on the national website.

Membership is open to all associate degree-seeking and certificate-seeking students who have completed at least 24 hours of coursework at Brightpoint and have satisfied the following criteria:

  • Minimum of 12 completed credit hours for degree-seeking students

  • Minimum of 6 completed credit hours for certificate-seeking students

  • 3.5 minimum GPA for both degree-seeking and certificate-seeking students

  • All students seeking membership must adhere to the institution’s student conduct code and exhibit a commitment to honor and civility. 

Joining PTK

Each fall and spring semester, students who meet the minimum requirements for membership will be extended invitations to join Phi Theta Kappa by mail in September and February. You will be asked to attend an information session at which the chapter advisers and officers will give a short presentation on the advantages of joining Phi Theta Kappa. 

If you believe that you have met the requirements for membership and have not received an invitation to join, please contact one of the chapter advisers:

Tau Rho Chapter
Co-advisor: Lisa Payne
Co-advisor: Sarah Huss
Co-advisor: Molli Gonzalez
Co-advisor: Jill Anderson
Tau Rho Facebook page