Prestigious Recognition

More Than a Century of Celebrating Students

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society is widely considered one of the nation's most prestigious academic honor societies. Founded in 1918 at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, and recognized in 1929 as the official honor society for two-year colleges by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), PTK has a long-standing tradition of helping students grow as scholars and leaders.

Your Key to Student Success

With a 91% student success rate, Phi Theta Kappa members have a proven track record of success. It is our mission to propel you forward academically, professionally, personally, and socially. See how PTK students stack up in our Student Success Profile.

Notable PTK Members

Phi Theta Kappa members go on to make noteworthy contributions to our world every day, in every field. Here are just a few of the more than 4 million PTK members whose accomplishments you may recognize.

Wes Moore, governor of Maryland, Valley Forge Military College, Wayne Campus, Delta Epsilon Chapter

Trisha Yearwood, Grammy Award-winning singer, chef, and author, Young Harris College, Main Campus, Lambda Alpha Chapter

Fred Haise, Apollo-13 astronaut, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Perkinston Campus, Gamma Nu Chapter,

Dr. Sylvia Earle, oceanographer and explorer; record-setting diver, St. Petersburg College, Gibbs Campus, Eta Nu Chapter

David Gruel, flight director for the Mars Pathfinder Project, Holyoke Community College, Main Campus, Alpha Xi Omega Chapter,

Lee Sword, Mars Pathfinder Project engineerPima Community, College District Office, Alpha Beta Chi Chapter

Jeane Kirkpatrick, former U.N. ambassador, Stephens College, Alpha Chapter

Ross Perot, Main Campus, Zeta Sigma Chapter, entrepreneur and presidential candidate, Texarkana College

Sela Ward, Emmy Award-winning actress, Meridian Community College, Main Campus, Nu Upsilon Chapter

Jim Lehrer, longtime host of PBS News Hour, Victoria College, Main Campus, Zeta Gamma Chapter

Prestigious Recognition