West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s Sigma Omega chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society welcomed 15 new members during the fall 2019 semester. A formal induction ceremony was held on Thursday, November 14, in the college theater.

Dr. Blake Ellis, Phi Theta Kappa headquarters senior vice president of student engagement, joined the ceremony via Zoom and served as the keynote speaker.

Officers Fallyn Buffington, Victoria Poellet-Tauber, Brittany Sword, Allison Ezell and Seth Kerby were installed as president, vice president, and secretary, public relations officer and honors in action chair respectively.

“As president of the Sigma Omega chapter, I hope to achieve a five-star rating – that is the highest status that a chapter can receive,” said Buffington. “What I truly enjoy about Phi Theta Kappa is how much we support and push each other towards success. Not to mention, we have three advisors who constantly go out of their way for us and are with us each step of the way.”

Inductees took the official oath of membership to uphold PTK’s four hallmarks of scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship in the presence of their friends and family. New WVU Parkersburg Sigma Omega chapter members include:

Asia J. Brady

Brittany N. Brady

Priscilla D. Brady

Shannon M. Buchanan

Erin E. Gieseke

Nancy J. Goff

Amelia J. Hartzog

Fiona N. Lane

Ayaka McBee

Mikala S. Miller

Zane A. Nielsen

Jonathan M. Siegrist

Kaitlynn L. Vincent

Amy L. West

Philip R. Wilson

The Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, is the largest honor society in higher education with 1,250 chapters across the United States, Canada and Germany. Membership to PTK is by invitation only and extended to students meeting specific eligibility criteria. In order to be eligible for membership, currently enrolled students must have a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average and completed at least 12 credit hours of associate degree course work.

For more information about WVU Parkersburg’s Sigma Omega chapter, contact advisors Marie Butler (mbutler1@wvup.edu), Andrew Rochus (arochus1@wvup.edu) or Andrew Walker (wwalker1@wvup.edu).