April 19, 2023
Story and photo by Maggie Harris
Six students from Barton Community College in the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society were recognized as members of the PTK All-State Academic team during an award luncheon on Friday at the Courtyard by Marriott in Junction City.
Barton’s PTK honorees were Ariannah Heller of Easton and Phyne Pettis of Leavenworth, who represented the Fort Leavenworth campus, along with Bethany Cline and Jesica Haygood, both of Fort Riley, who represented the Fort Riley campus, and Joshua Ball of Great Bend and Charlie Seifert of Osborne, who represented the Barton County campus.
PTK is the international honor society for two-year colleges and symbolizes excellence in higher education. Students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher are invited to join PTK. The PTK group at Barton spends significant time sponsoring local events and volunteering to support others’ events.
The students had to go through an application process, and their applications were reviewed by an anonymous selection panel on their respective campuses. All six students will have a chance at being named to PTK’s All-USA Academic Team, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
Seifert is involved in several student groups, including serving as the PTK Phi Psi chapter president and president of the Community Service Organization, along with being a Hilltop Singer. She is also a member of various vocal and instrumental groups. She plans to transfer to Wichita State University to earn a degree in Business. She said she has been honored to be so involved during her time at Barton and especially enjoyed her PTK experience.
“Through Phi Theta Kappa, I have gotten more involved with the community and with other college students,” she said. “The events that we put on brought together many people and brightened their day just a little bit. It has shaped my college experience in ways I never imagined.”
While Cline has had a slightly different experience as a non-traditional student balancing school and her four children, she is thankful for the opportunities PTK has afforded her through her experience at Barton.
“Barton has helped me find myself again,” she said. “I was convinced that being a parent meant I had to give up my dreams of earning a college degree, but Barton proved me wrong. Barton has allowed me to follow my dreams while remaining a stay-at-home mom by offering classes 100 percent over Zoom.”
Cline will graduate with her associate degree from Barton in May. She plans to transfer to Upper Iowa University, where she will enroll in online courses to help her continue to balance family obligations and school in pursuit of a career in psychology.